On July 27th, commercetools celebrated Pride with a bang at the Berlin Pride Parade (Christopher Street Day), spreading the message of inclusivity and self-expression.
On July 27th, commercetools proudly participated in the Christopher Street Day (CSD) Parade in Berlin. For those unfamiliar, CSD is an annual event held in various cities across Europe, with Berlin being a notable location. It celebrates LGBTQ+ pride and advocates for the rights and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals. Named after the street in New York City's Greenwich Village where the Stonewall Riots took place in 1969, the CSD Parade is both a celebration and a demonstration for equal rights, diversity and inclusion.
This marks our first year at the Berlin parade, so we wanted to go above and beyond for our commercetoolers and the community by hosting our “Be Your Beautiful Self!” party. This year’s motto was “Diversity Needs Democracy,” and we leaned into this theme with personal statements and speeches from our very own Sherilyn Ooi, Product Manager, Priceless Team and Roxana Dobrescu, Chief People Officer.
Roxana's speech
Happy Pride!
I was thinking, what can I share that's truly meaningful for this year’s vibrant Christopher Street Day? Beyond my role as Chief People Officer at commercetools, how do I connect with the spirit of Pride?
I'm proud to stand with you in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. At commercetools, diversity is our strength, and inclusivity is our mission. But for me, it's personal too. As a woman, coming from Southeast Europe, I've faced my own fair share of challenges.
I know what it’s like for people to ignore you, to speak above you, to discriminate against you. I am still carrying the bruises in my heart.
And as a mom of two wonderful kids, I want them to grow up in a world that celebrates who they are.
This year's Pride motto in Berlin is about democracy. Let’s defend it by learning more about LGBTQ+ issues and becoming vocal advocates for equality, sharing stories of courage and resilience from the community to lift others and foster understanding, championing inclusive policies and practices while encouraging open dialogue, and getting involved in Pride initiatives throughout the year to stand against discrimination.
Let’s create a world and a workplace where diversity is celebrated every day. Together, we are stronger.
With Pride and Gratitude,
Roxana
Our Pride season started in March with our participation in Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and will conclude in Durham, North Carolina later in September by participating in the local Pride March.
This year’s design on all of our shirts and merchandise was selected through our “Pride Design Contest.” Berlin-based Karolina Karolczak was the selected winner, and we proudly wore her designs during the parade.
Check out The Toolbox: Pride Month, a part of commercetools’ DEI series, hosting a dialogue on how to foster a healthy, inclusive and equitable working environment that reflects the diversity of the communities we operate in all over the world.
Rabea Tamm, Global Director Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at commercetools Rabea is an advocate for lifelong learning and creating an equal and inclusive environment for all to thrive in. She has 15+ years of work experience in HR Consulting, Operations, Learning & Development and People Engagement functions.