Lou Rooker: "The Main Reason Why I Joined Diageo Was Due to Their Diversity and Inclusion Policies"

Lou Rooker is involved in the graduate program working in Customer Activation at Diageo. Lou told us about her uni studies and why she chose Diageo for her graduate program.

1. Hello! Can you please introduce yourself, the name of your organisation and the university you attended?

My name is Lou, I am a current Grad in Diageo’s Northern Europe Graduate Programme, working in Customer Activation in Hamburg, Germany with great Brands such as Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Zacapa, and Baileys. I attend the University of Birmingham and studied German and History, before being accepted onto the programme and moving to Copenhagen for my first year, of the 2-year rotation programme at Diageo 😊

2. When in university, were you out to your university friends and/or your teachers? If yes, how important was that for you?

During my uni years, I never kept it a secret and would correct people if they just assumed I was straight, so yes, I was out. For me it was important that people didn’t just put me in a box and assume I was straight, hence correcting people, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to tell everyone as I never felt the need too and was never discriminated against it. For me, it was the same acceptance as recognizing the colour of my eyes or my hair, it didn’t openly affect people’s judgement of me.

3. Have you ever experienced discrimination from your fellow students and/or teachers?

I have never felt discriminated by my fellow students and/or teachers. The uni was a rather open and accepting place of any nationalities, sexual or gender identities etc. There was sometimes some ignorance as to what pansexuality was, but I never felt it led to discrimination.

4. Do you feel your university supported LGBTQ+ students?

Yes, there were many campaigns and communities created by the university and its students so if I ever needed to turn to someone I could. Freedom of expression and speech was also active on campus so you would always see and hear a variety of individuals being free to express them.

5. Do you feel that your university prepares you for what is to come as a future professional and a member of the LGBTQ+ community?

I think in general University is, as the famous phrase goes, ‘a right of passage’, preparing you for the world thereafter – and that is the case with meeting a variety of people with many differing opinions. Even though I never experienced any discrimination (most probably as many assumed my sexuality as straight and I also spent most of my uni career with LGBTQ+ friends and allies), I was still faced with ignorance and lack of understanding which I feel I still face during my post-uni life.

6. Are you out in your new job? If yes, was that the case from the start?

Like in Uni, I have not actively promoted myself as pan, as I felt included and in a space where your sexuality isn’t something that needs to be thrown in other faces to make a statement – it is just a part of who you are, same as your hobbies or hair colour – but at the same time if it has come up in conversation then I haven’t felt the need or pressure to hide it.

7. How did you first come out at work and to who? 

It’s hard to recall exactly when, where or who I came out too as like I said, for me and the environment I work in, it isn’t something that needs to be a big outing or celebration. If I was to try to pinpoint, it would most probably be within the first week of the job with a colleague who I worked directly with. They themselves are part of the LGBTQ+ community and we quickly became very close. I think it came up casually in conversation and nothing more was really ever mentioned, unless talking about relationships of course 😊

8. In your opinion, how connected is coming out while in university to being out in the workplace?

Do you feel inspired by an LGBTQ+ role model? If yes, please state their name and why they have inspired you.

9. Before applying for a job, do you check their Diversity and Inclusion policies?

The main reason why I joined Diageo was due to their Diversity and Inclusion policies, it’s something I always check, even more so now since my recent diagnosis of ADHD. It’s something that is very close to my heart, and brain of course 😉, and I believe it is incredibly important to work with people of diverse backgrounds, of diverse ways of thinking and including all those around you – you never know where the spark of an idea might start and where it can go! Without inclusion and diversity, you are not actively reflecting the bright and beautiful world around us and are limiting yourself to a narrow, and in my opinion, boring straight road.

10. Are there any LGBTQ+ networks within your organisation? If yes, are you an active member?

Yes there is an LGBTQ+ network called Rainbow Network that actively promotes and supports the LGBTQ+ community within Diageo. Whilst I am not an active member, I am volunteering for Spirited Women Northern Europe, I try to take part and support where I can, such as taking part in this interview.

11. Are you excited to switch from a student to a professional? Has your organisation made it easy for you?

Switching from a student to a professional was hard at first, as you go from a sort of structured environment where you have lectures here and there, to a more fixed structure throughout the day. Diageo has helped a lot with the process, especially with their flexibility policy, which allows me to not only work flexible hours, but also work from different locations if needs be. This allows me to still explore my passion of travelling and visiting new places, whilst working and adapting my hours accordingly, - of course as long as I still do the work! Additionally, whilst being an entry level grad and learning many new things about the organisation and role, I am still being challenged with new tasks that allow me to grow and thrive in my role and am allowed to learn for myself rather than just being told.

12. From your experience so far, do you have any advice to share with students before they go into the workplace?

Don’t be afraid to speak up with your ideas or challenge something, even from the beginning. No matter your employee level, you are still important and have brilliant ideas that deserve to be heard. In Diageo, yes you have the physical employee hierarchy, but that does not mean that you are limited in your access to your boss’ boss to ask for feedback on an activation or idea. Diageo is a very open and welcoming organisation that thrives off ideas being shared so don’t let an employee level hold you back from speaking up.