Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Brownlee.
Hi Nancy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
People notice gaps that need to be filled all the time. I found myself in a reversed situation where I was in a position to offer someone aid beyond what the typical job allowed. I created Prideworks Agency LLC to offer career services to other LGBT+ people who were intimated by the processes that a traditional, hetero-norm job center required. As a masculine-presenting woman, I know how it felt to go into a job interview worried about whether or not I “looked the part.” I felt deflated going on interviews and there were not many people that looked like me that could help me. At the time, I was a career advisor and quickly subconsciously was the token “gay advisor.” Despite what qualifications and skills I had, that stood out first. I soon learned that I could capitalize on that.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road at all. If anyone tells you that running a business is easy, they lied. To be accredited as a Minority, Woman-Owned, LGBT business sounds like a gold mine in resources, but it is not. I seek jobs for people that can easily be discriminated against. So I take it personal when someone tells me their story about how they were treated with an employer. Finding jobs that believe in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a lot harder than one might think. Of course, many companies preach DEI, but their work culture says otherwise. Sadly, in the south, we still are in the bible belt, and not many are progressive as we would like them to be. However, this comes with being an entrepreneur. It takes nights of reviewing resumes, cold-calling jobs in between work breaks (I still have to work to supplement my income in the meantime), and early morning meetings to make sure someone can even get their foot in the door. There are more no’s than yes’. But I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s all worth it when someone announces they got the job!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Probably never think, while going into a career development center, that this is a safe space. The thought of “safe space” may cross their mind when it comes to the type of job they want to work at. At Prideworks Agency, we seek out the safe spaces. We seek out employers that truly are affirming and inclusive and send our people to work there. Many of the rights that the LGBT community faces are simply just asking for basic morals and ethics from people who are not like them. We take that pressure off. Representation matters. So by looking like the people we serve is important.
Exclusive to members of the LGBT community, we provide: Resume building assistance, interview prep and best practices, business consulting, access to resources, and direct hiring for employers seeking to fill and diversify it’s staff.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Social Media and Networking is Life!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.prideworksagency.com
- Instagram: @prideworksagency
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrideworksAgency
Image Credits
Ashley Weaver Larry Cashmere
