“I can be myself freely”: Daria on finding the Agoda Pride community

Hi, I’m Daria, Supply Operations Lead at Agoda and a member of the Agoda Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG).

I got pretty lucky: coming out wasn’t technically a part of my life, or at least not a stressful part. I didn’t really have to come out to myself, or to my parents and classmates, and I’m very grateful for that. But I’ve seen the struggles faced by others in our community.

I know how difficult things can be, and that’s why I have a sense of duty to do my part and help advocate for all of us.

In my opinion, indifference is what creates these unwelcome environments. It’s not because people are full of hate; it’s that they’re full of indifference, and they don’t care about people who aren’t like them.

I feel privileged to live here in Bangkok and work at Agoda where I can express myself freely, receive support, make friends, and just be who I am. We have the Agoda Pride ERG working on community-building and advocacy, and I proudly support them in any way I can. During Pride month, I was part of an employee panel, sharing stories and advice for LGBTQ+ employees and our allies.

Having the group feels like I have a bunch of friends in the company, even if I don’t know all their names or faces yet.

For others who are seeking community, I want them to know that the ERG is here. We have educational events, we have gatherings, and we took part in Bangkok Pride. It only takes one message to easily find community here. It’s good to know that I’m never alone, both in the company and the city.

Join our vibrant team. We’re hiring!