‘A place where I can be myself’: Teto

Story By: Teto Rincon-Moller - Senior Customer Marketing Manager, Brand & Marketing, Marketing & Media. Published Thursday October 31

At Westpac, I can be myself at work. I'm South American, so I have a vibrant personality. I can be loud, and I love cracking jokes. I can be cheeky too, though I do have a serious side and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves at any time. Our leadership team encourages us to bring that kind of energy to work. Yes, we work hard, but we are individuals. I feel that I can express myself in a way that is authentically me. I don’t have to think or act like a robot!

Westpac demonstrates that it values diversity and inclusivity by having a diverse workforce. In my immediate team, I have colleagues from Canada, the Philippines and India. I've worked in other teams with people from the UK, Colombia, Canada, India and the Middle East. It's very, very diverse. And with that diversity comes a richness of ideas and different points of view.?

This may seem superficial, but in corporate environments the unofficial dress code seems to be black. That’s not my style at all. I love wearing bright shirts with stripes and patterns. Yesterday I bought a colour block shirt: one panel is yellow, while the other is blue. One sleeve is pink and the other is green. I won’t think twice about wearing it to work. Having an individual style is not looked down upon or anything. If anything, it's encouraged.?

There have been many times in my life when I’ve felt that I’ve had to think twice before sharing an idea, and second-guessing how it would be received. Those kinds of environments cause me stress and anxiety. I’m not a shy person, but it makes me act like one.

Westpac fosters a culture of inclusivity, and this comes from the leadership team itself. We see how they are themselves, which allows us to do the same. We also have around ten employee advocacy groups. I'm part of the Youth Network (even though I'm over 30!) and I'm also part of Westpac Pride, because I'm part of the LGBTQI+ community. Recently we celebrated Wear it Purple Day, and everyone was invited to a session with author and comedian Benjamin Law. He shared his story around growing up in Queensland as a gay person of Asian descent, and how it shaped who he is today. I really enjoyed it, and it made me feel represented.

You don’t have to be part of a particular group to take part in their activities. For example, I have participated in events hosted by Women of Westpac and ABLE, which supports employees with visible or invisible disabilities. There is always something happening, and you can join in as an ally.

I signed up to Westpac’s Curious & Wise intergenerational mentoring program pretty much as soon I started working here 18 months ago. It has been really helpful. I’ve learned how to navigate the corporate environment and to give thought to my future career progression.

Aligned to the “We Thrive” pillar of our People Promise, Westpac supports everyone to be themself at work and find communities that support, uplift and acknowledge them. We have 10 Employee Action Group’s that support and encourage Westpac Group's diverse and inclusive workplace:

·?????? The Youth Network

·?????? Westpac Pride

·?????? Women of Westpac

·?????? Cultural Diversity of Leadership

·?????? RESPECT

·?????? ABLE

·?????? Brothers & Sisters

·?????? Skilled Volunteer Network

·?????? Military and Mates

·?????? 50PLUS