More than words

Merel Geerts, Supply Chain & Procurement Consultant, Advisory Manager, PwC Netherlands

When Merel joined PwC Netherlands in 2018, it was because of the diversity of experiences PwC could provide her as an operations management consultant. About four years into her time at the firm, diversity of a different kind rose to the forefront of Merel’s professional life. It was at this time that, as a trans woman, she felt ready to begin the process of coming out at work. 

Merel describes this coming out experience as a series of moments, consisting of telling different groups of people at different times. Merel wanted to bring her whole self to work, but was wary as coming out in a professional environment involved confronting a very real, very scary possibility. While she consciously knew that she worked at a firm where diversity, acceptance and inclusion were a stated priority, she unconsciously feared that the reality could be different. And no matter how it went, positive or negative, coming out would have a permanent impact on her career. In Merel’s case, “the actual consequences were about the best they could have been” as she “felt the love” from her team.

“Coming out at work was very scary, but the actual consequences were about the best they could have been. That's been a very nice experience.”

Fortunately, PwC Netherlands has a robust support system in place offering support throughout the ongoing gender transition experience. Merel was able to reach out to her firm’s Shine inclusion network, who provided support and pointed her in the direction of resources. She also had access to an external coming out coach who helped her develop a communications strategy to share her story with her consulting team and the wider PwC community, in addition to supporting her colleagues through this change. Merel was also able to take advantage of transition leave. PwC Netherlands was one of only two groundbreaking organisations in the country at that time to offer medical leave for those going through a gender transition. 

Merel leaned on these resources to share her lived experience with her colleagues and to come out as her authentic self at PwC. She found this to be an overwhelmingly positive experience. From a colleague offering to take a new headshot, to her team running to get her a bottle of champagne when she came to the office presenting as a woman for the first time, Merel’s colleagues and peers were happy to celebrate and support her. In Merel’s words, it has been a lovely experience to have teammates who understand that while they can never fully put themselves in her shoes, they can show empathy, care and support. 

“Every time I've come out to a teammate has been a very special moment. The way my teammates have handled my coming out and my transition has been just beautiful.”

As a naturally sceptical person, Merel knows that many companies in the corporate world verbally commit to inclusion and diversity but the reality is often very different. Based on her positive experience of coming out at PwC, Merel sees it as her responsibility to share her story and be an example for others who have yet to take that step. She knows that at PwC, the commitment to Inclusion & Diversity is more than just words - it is something that has had a real and positive impact on her life. While there is still work to do, Merel appreciates the positive strides PwC has made over the past few years and is looking forward to being a part of further progress in the future. 

Merel is excited for what the future holds for her at PwC and, following her recent promotion to manager, is looking forward to continuing to grow her career. In her free time Merel is passionate about cooking and baking, as well as exploring the countryside in her new home town of Gouda. Like many in the Netherlands, she does much of this exploring by bike. 

LIGHTNING ROUND: quick questions and quick answers

From your experience, how do you sum up Inclusion & Diversity at PwC?

Empathy.

What should others know about PwC’s commitment to Inclusion & Diversity?

It’s more than words; it is real.

Merel Geerts
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