BLOG

F5 Latinx: Bringing One’s Authentic Self to Work

Andrea Carlos サムネール
Andrea Carlos
Published October 07, 2024

To assimilate into the American workplace, Rene Neri for a long time hid his identity. Many people didn’t recognize him as Latinx. And he didn’t bring it to their attention. “I did a lot of work to assimilate myself to the culture when I came here, almost to a fault,” says Neri, who serves as Marketing and Art Director at F5. “And a lot of times people didn’t see me for who I am.”

The desire to be recognized for his Mexican heritage led Neri to join the F5 Latinx Employee Inclusion Group (EIG). And today, he serves as Global Co-Chair, working to create a safe space for other Latinx employees at F5 to share their experiences.

“It’s challenging to stay true to yourself yet at the same time advance your career,” says Neri.

Suppressing one’s identity to fit in

Unfortunately, Neri’s experience isn’t common. According to a report from the Center for Talent Innovation, Latinx professionals advance faster if they suppress their identity, with 76% of Latinos expending energy to suppress parts of their personas to fit in at work. The study found that those who downplay their identity are three times more likely to be promoted. 

What’s more, discrimination and micro-aggressions are widespread. Nearly a quarter of Latinx professionals across the U.S. do not feel their manager vocally supports their ideas in meetings, according to a Coqual report. And 21% say their colleagues regularly make negative comments about immigration or immigrants. “As diversity and inclusion has made its way into the political spectrum, immigrants are discussed in a very disrespectful way, which further discourages people from talking about their identity,” Neri says. 

A safe place to share experiences

Started in 2019, the F5 Latinx EIG is focused on creating a safe place for Latinx employees to share their experiences and discuss difficult topics. The EIG is made up of 230 F5 employees from around the globe who come together for monthly virtual discussions. The meetings are informal without an agenda. The idea is to create the opportunity for people to get to know each other and openly discuss whatever’s on their mind.

“When I realized a part of me was missing coming to work, it was an awakening,” says Neri. “I realized I needed to make my voice heard. And I wanted to create a forum where everyone else could voice their opinion and take pride in their background.”

Obed Francisco Colin, who co-chairs F5 Latinx with Neri, says he’s sometimes felt dismissed because of his accent. “Some people tend to be a bit more distant when they see you’re not a native speaker of English, and they don’t seem to really pay attention to what you’re saying because of your accent,” he says. “Luckily, I’ve never felt that at F5.”

A Senior Customer Success Manager, Colin joined the Latinx EIG because he wanted to better understand how other Latinx professionals navigate their careers and provide them with the skills and resources to help them thrive.  

In addition to monthly meetings, F5 Latinx offers events throughout the year, many of them centered around Hispanic Heritage Month. This year, the EIG is working with the nonprofit HITEC to offer a webinar about engineering a thoughtful career path and with Coqual to discuss workplace sponsorship. It is bringing in a modern health provider to discuss mental well-being and personal growth.  And it is hosting in-person celebrations in F5’s Seattle and Guadalajara offices. 

Members of F5’s Latinx EIG gather together in the Guadalajara office to commemorate Mexican Independence Day as part of the EIG’s month-long Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.
Members of F5’s Latinx EIG gather together in the Guadalajara office to commemorate Mexican Independence Day as part of the EIG’s month-long Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.

The EIG also hosts events to mark the Day of the Dead, a festival held in Latin American countries to honor family and friends who have died. And last year, it organized a panel discussion moderated by F5’s CEO François Locoh-Donou, in which F5 Latinx employees shared their challenges and insights for thriving in the tech world. 

“I feel opportunities like this increase employee engagement,” says Colin. “When you belong to a community, it makes you feel more committed and want to stay with your company longer.” 

Overcoming workplace challenges

Participants say F5’s Latinx EIG has created a sense of belonging, while increasing their confidence to show up as their authentic selves.

Stephanie Otero, a Business Analyst at F5, says she’s often felt like an outsider in a predominately white, male tech industry. At times this has led to imposter syndrome, in which she’s doubted her skills and achievements and questioned whether she belongs.

Joining the Latinx EIG has helped to counteract these feelings. “On a personal level, being part of the Latinx EIG has given me a sense of community and support—a place to connect with others who share similar experiences and cultural backgrounds,” she says. “Professionally, the EIG has provided a range of career development workshops that have enriched my skills and knowledge. It's a network that fosters growth, encourages mentorship, and inspires me to advance in my career.”

F5ers Ana Claudia Quevedo and Alan David Gomez stack as many paper cups as part of a team building exercise during Hispanic Heritage Month.
F5ers Ana Claudia Quevedo and Alan David Gomez stack as many paper cups as part of a team building exercise during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Ariana Francia Mosqueda, a SOC Analyst at F5, says one of the barriers she’s faced is that English is her second language. “I have an accent,” she says, which in the past made her “feel embarrassed to speak up in meetings to explain my ideas.”

Joining the Latinx EIG has helped her move past this barrier. It’s also given her a forum in which to express pride in her culture. “I think it’s important for companies to have an EIG for Latinx professionals because it gives the Latinx community a voice,” she says. “It also provides a space for Latinx to promote our culture by educating our colleagues about our heritage, traditions, and contributions to F5.”

Helping Latinx employees to thrive

After surveying members about the EIG’s direction, Neri and Colin are planning to offer more networking and professional development opportunities in the future. They will also continue the informal monthly meetings that many Latinx employees say are vital to helping them thrive in the workplace.

“I feel it’s important to create forums where people can openly talk about experiences and challenges in a non-judgmental way,” Neri says. “It’s really about pulling each other up. And it’s about advancing our careers while still bringing our full selves to work.”

To learn more about F5’s EIGs, please see our Allyship at F5 webpage.

Also, please see our other blog posts featuring F5 employee inclusion groups:

Building a Vibrant LGBTQ+ Community at F5 | F5

Championing People with Different Abilities | F5

Connecting Women Across F5 | F5

A Force for Black Professionals in Tech | F5

Helping Veterans Thrive in the Corporate World | F5