What requests or advice are you happy to help with?
I love talking all things tech, especially in a world increasingly focused on AI hype. I’m a technologist who is determined that humans are the best part of technology. This means I offer real-talk analysis of tech trends and opportunities that would actually have a meaningful impact on you or your business. I focus on small business owners who are passionate about what they do but get caught up in the day to day - with the right partner, tech can cut through the noise and get you back to what you actually want to spend your time doing. For more specifics, talk to me about Notion and automations with Relay.app.
Outside of work I am always happy to participate in conversations around higher education, gender and language, being a transplant to the US after growing up in Paris, and fostering kittens!
Which queer role model has most inspired you?
In my business - Trixie Mattel. She is a world-famous drag queen who hustles. She runs her YouTube account, a makeup brand, a motel, has several successful TV shows, a podcast, and is involved in dozens of additional events and initiatives each year. Her work ethic is unimpeachable, especially since she recently took several months off to stave off burn out. Her dedication to her craft is awe-inspiring and I think she’s one of the most effective sales and business people out there. Anything I know about make up is thanks to her, because I watch her product launch videos for the incredible sales approach she nails each time.
In life and closer to home - AJ Hikes. I was first introduced to their advocacy in their position as Philadelphia’s Executive Director of the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, a municipal position that only exists in a handful of US cities. In that role they advanced local anti-discrimination protections and helped pass one of the nation’s most trans-inclusive police policies. They also helped reshape global LGBTQ symbolism by creating the More Color, More Pride flag, which added black and brown stripes to the pride flag and sparked an international conversation about race and exclusion within queer communities. They now deliver executive-level leadership at the ACLU, pushing their social justice work to a national scale, and I have continue to follow their career with awe and gratitude. One to watch!
What has been your greatest contribution to the queer community?
I wish I had a grander answer, but honestly it’s probably living as my queer and true self. I identify as trans and non-binary, talk about my top-surgery with pride (and as much detail as is helpful..!), and advocate continuously around pronouns and gender inclusive language. As part of this I’ve delivered several training workshops, including a keynote on gender and language at the 2019 Polyglot Conference in Japan, re-written policy in several businesses, taken part in trans-focused initiatives and fundraising / grant giving programs, and am an active member in my local LGBTQ chamber of commerce. I believe that showing up consistently as myself, with openness and gratitude, and a willingness to share and educate, is among the more meaningful things one can do.
If you had one pearl of wisdom you could gift the future LGBTQIA+ generation, what would it be and why?
It gets better, but not in a vacuum. Our generation is largely better off than our foremothers, by almost all metrics, but there’s still a long way to go. And improvement takes work, it takes advocacy, it takes showing up, it takes commitment, and it takes self care. Don’t settle for the status quo or for good enough, don’t let yourself get fed fake news and mollified into inaction, preserve your critical thinking skills and radical rest. There is more room than ever for advocacy and resistance and endless ways to take part. Start local.