To celebrate Pride Month in June, Zynga is highlighting employees from our LGBTQIA2S+ community who are championing diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. We embrace the history, struggles and achievements the LGBTQIA2S+ community has made in advancing equal rights, and are proud to support a culture where everyone can be their authentic selves. Join us as we ask our incredible employees to share what it means to #PlayWithPride.

We’re wrapping up Pride Month with our final spotlight of Ladimir Geake, Senior Product Marketing Manager, VIP at Zynga. Read on to learn more about Ladimir, what Pride means to him and ways he believes people can show up for the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

What does Pride mean to you?

Pride is a time of celebration and reflection on the milestones and communities that have fought, over time, to bring LGBTQ+ rights to the forefront of modern politics. We celebrate our successes and remember the areas in which we continue to push for full equality.

What are some ways we can help foster an inclusive environment so that everyone can bring their authentic selves to work? Why is this important?

First, everyone should be listing their pronouns on their Zoom calls, Slack profile, and in their email signature. Normalizing this allows space for folks who do not identify with their assigned pronouns to more openly share their actual pronouns.

Second, simply showing up to zPride employee resource group (ERG) events and engaging in Slack is a great way to show your allyship, learn something new and broaden your point of view. I think people feel like they don’t want to take up space in these communities, but it’s actually the opposite!

What positive policies or actions have you seen at Zynga that help promote equity in the workplace?

Zynga signed onto the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Business Coalition for the Equality Act in 2021, which signals the company’s support and pursuit of equality for all LGBTQ+ employees. As one of a very short list of gaming companies, this forges a progressive path for an industry that hasn’t always been very inclusive. Additionally, funding zPride alongside other ERGs with substantial budgets shows genuine and authentic care.

What is a LGBTQIA2S+ movie, tv show, book, or game you think is a “must”?

I’d like to take this space to promote a friend’s podcast “Legends Only – A Pop Culture Podcast” – if you’re into that kind of thing!

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?

You’re beautiful. You’re a model. You look like Linda Evangelista.