Honoring Diversity and Promoting Equality at Pride

“Approach Pride with a respectful and inclusive attitude. This is a time to honor diversity, promote equality, and express support for the LGBTQ+ community.” Todd Parsons, Chief Product Officer at Criteo, spoke to myGwork about what Pride means to him, and the standards of inclusivity at Criteo. He also shared advice to people attending Pride for the first time and explored how LGBTQ+ support can be maintained all year round.

Image Credit: Canva

Please introduce yourself and tell us about yourself and career

I am Todd Parsons and I have the privilege to serve as Chief Product Officer at Criteo.

Throughout my career, I have been driven by a passion for creating products that improve people's lives. I wanted to solve their problems and inspire them. While I have had diverse experiences, advertising has been the common thread that has allowed me to make the greatest impact through the two companies I’ve founded: BuzzLogic & Aditive.

At Criteo, my focus is on enhancing the overall consumer experience on the open internet while providing greater opportunities for marketers and media owners.

I also act as the Executive Sponsor of the Pride Community at Criteo for which I am a spokesperson and ally. This role involves driving engagement, supporting the community's strategies, and aligning them with Criteo's business priorities.

Part of my sponsorship involves supporting an annual calendar of engagement events that foster a culture of inclusion and are open to everyone. These events are tied to global calendar events such as Pride Month, International Coming Out Day, International Transgender Day of Visibility, and Lesbian Visibility Day. By actively promoting and participating in these events, I aim to create an environment where diversity is celebrated, and everyone feels respected and valued.

What does Pride mean to you?

Pride, in my opinion, is a time for celebration, self-acceptance, and support of LGBTQ+ visibility and rights. It's a time of year to celebrate being true to who you are, honor your sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, and connect with others who have had similar experiences.