Senior Account Executive Freddy Orange explains how Pridebox supports the community and helps people of all backgrounds to thrive
This month we celebrate Pride, and the theme, “Werk! (from home)” is a nod to the ballroom culture of the late 80s and early 90s. Senior Account Executive Freddy Orange, the Austin, TX lead for Pridebox (our LGBTQ+ employee resource group), told us what he’s learned about himself from past Pride months and how he’s trying to help pay that understanding and confidence forward to LGBTQ+ youth.
How are you werking from home?
For me, it’s about getting a little more time to understand who I am as a person with work. Normally, I separate work and home or play, but now it’s been forced together, so I’ve been realigning myself with who I am. Which relates to pride — understanding who you are internally and how you showcase that to others.
Are there specific elements of Drag or Ball culture that you’re especially drawn to?
I think it’s the excitement, the talent, and the rawness of it. A lot of people don’t tend to open up in that fashion, so I get excited about seeing a side of people that they typically wouldn’t show.
Any memories from your first day at Dropbox?
The first thing I really noticed was that people weren’t afraid to showcase who they are. So many times, there’s a corporate version of someone. But not only does the company support coming as you are, they have programs to help you enhance that, as well as community options to raise awareness inside and outside Dropbox. Seeing that support from the company itself is really unheard of — I was blown away and recognized that it’s how ideal society should be, but it’s definitely not normal.
What team are you on?
I’m a Senior Account Executive on the Global Sales and Channel Team.
What office do you work in?
Austin.
What is your favorite part of the Pridebox ERG?
I really think it’s giving back to the community. We do a lot in addition to giving our money — we do a lot of camps where we bring students in and teach them about coding or technology. These teenagers are part of the [LGBTQ+] community, but they may be having some issues with their friends or teachers or whoever because of who they are. When I was younger I struggled with who everyone wanted me to be too, so being able to lead the way now and say, “it’s okay to be who you are, and look what you can do in the future” speaks so much to them.
What have you learned about yourself from (current or past) Pride months?
I’m an ally, and I’ve been the lead for Pridebox here in Austin for about two and a half years. It’s opened my eyes so much — even growing up as a straight black male, there are a lot of other people who grew up the same way I did but were suppressed or afraid to speak out about who they are. What Pridebox has helped me learn and understand is that everyone has their own woes and their own upbringings and support systems. But without a support system and a good LGBTQ+ community, people can’t become who they really are. I really relate to that because I felt that way in middle school and high school — I didn’t connect to people and I felt really lonely. I want to eradicate that feeling and do as much as I possibly can within that realm. I also feel we should be more cross-functional with other ERGs as well. We shouldn’t just go to the ERGs we conform to — support other causes as an ally as well, because when you’re in need, they’ll come support you too.
Do you have a favorite Dropbox moment?
The most memorable was probably when we went public. We just celebrated all day, and it was so cool to see everyone, new and old, come together to celebrate one common goal. Aside from that, we also had a family night with our Pridebox in Austin. Seeing the younger kids asking questions and being curious made me proud and happy that not only Dropbox was doing this, but that their parents were trying to help them learn and to expose them and educate them at a young age.
What’s your go-to song in a lip sync for your life?
Phone by Lizzo or Latch by Disclosure.
What Dropbox office would you most like to visit?
I’d love to go to the New York office. New York is one of my favorite cities in the world, there’s so much diversity and hustle and bustle there.
What part of the office do you miss most during distributed work?
Angry Flannel, our music room. I used to play the guitar and drums every day, as a stress reliever, and I miss that a lot.
What queer content have you been binging during distributed work?
Queer Eye, Moonlight, Strike a Pose.
The category is Orange Extravaganza… what lewk are you serving?
I’m wearing my leggings, this short midriff crop top shirt with a hoodie, some 70s glasses, tighty whities, and a rainbow fanny pack.
You can learn more about the various ERGs that support team members of all different backgrounds at Dropbox here.
