Fio Trethewey: My smooth journey of gender transition at Elsevier

Names are special things, and this podcast talks about how I was able to find mine. I’m a transgender man, and for the last 2 years have been exploring my gender identity. With Elsevier’s support I’ve been able to allow my body and mind to find what it’s needed to grow.

It all started with a simple question, a sea of faces surrounding me in The Lancet office in London.

“Do you mind calling me Fio?”

This was in October 2022. I had recently come out as queer, separated from my long-term partner and starting to lead a more authentic private life. I had begun dating my current girlfriend in London and was living in Bristol. I desperately wanted to move to London, so I started to reach out to friends, and an opportunity came up at The Lancet.

From the podcast below, hear from me as I peel back the layers of what it means to transition, exploring the support that shaped my experience. Through an intimate conversation, you’ll hear about the power of living authentically and thriving at Elsevier.

Whether you’re here to understand, support, or simply broaden your horizons, this episode promises to inform and deepen the way we view our inclusive culture at Elsevier.

So, settle in, open your mind, and listen - not just with your ears please, but with your heart too.

My story isn’t just about gender; it is also about the universal quest for belonging and the courage it takes to be true to oneself in any environment.

My recent portrait photo

Listen to my podcast: Embracing my true self at Elsevier: A smooth journey of gender transition

I have always been a person who’s tried to fit in - to adapt and mould myself into what I was needed for. But at this company, I have not had to be anything more but myself. Being authentic meant that I was feeling the most myself I had ever felt in the workplace - and that in itself is a kind of magic.

Read Fio's full story here.