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A blog that looks behind the scenes at how we bring our mission to life, every day

CJ McCartin ‹ We are EF

During the summer of 2023, <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/">EF Education First</a> embarked on a journey to create a new employer brand campaign, capturing how a career at EF differs from careers anywhere else. Because of the wide variety of places our teammates live, the opportunities they have, and the people they meet and work with worldwide, careers at EF have a unique energy and vibrancy. We asked our world-class creative team to turn the idea of “something different” into something visual. Many talented creatives came together to make this campaign happen, and Senior Art Director Kay Klos was the obvious choice to lead this creative challenge. 

 Kay feels deeply connected to EF's mission—opening the world through education—which makes them feel connected to their work. "The mission of EF is very authentic to me—by learning about one another and being open to different perspectives and experiences, we make the world a better place," says Kay. From Kay's perspective, being creative at EF is challenging in all the right ways. “I get the chance to work with many different businesses and people, so I never get bored." 

 When Kay joined EF's creative team in Zurich, one of their first projects was creating the Something Different campaign, communicating EF's values, culture, and mission in a clear and impactful way. "I had a lot of freedom," Kay notes, "which was very important for me and my creative process to best capture the thought behind the visuals." 

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 EF’s Worldwide Creative Officer Joel Hladecek knew Kay was a great choice for the job, both due to their skills and their ability to evaluate EF’s employer brand without bias. “Aside from Kay’s great natural skills, their newness to EF turned out to be a perfect qualification for this particular project,” Joel said. “It meant Kay was fresh to the idea of evaluating our company and what it would take to capture attention. Additionally, it meant they weren’t beholden to any corporate groupthink. The resulting wildness of this design approach was exactly what we needed to bust through the din of boring brands. EF is the most aspirational brand I know and deserves such strong representation.” 

 Kay's creative process requires a focused environment and research. "I wish I had a switch that turns on my creative mode, but unfortunately, that’s not how it works," Kay jokes. "I start with research—I want to learn as much as possible about the project, audience, and background. Knowledge is the basis of my approach to design. For this project, I needed to focus on what it is like to work here at EF, and how to translate that feeling visually." 

 A key stakeholder in the Something Different campaign was Brooke Parker, Director of Marketing and Content. “When we briefed the creative team on this project, our goal was to establish a distinctive visual identity for EF as an employer that reflects continuous learning and career growth,” Brooke said. “We needed a dynamic and global solution to highlight what a career at EF feels like.” 

 Kay notes that when creating the look and feel for the Something Different campaign, "The key visual itself is very dynamic and colorful because that is EF. Working here is colorful and surprising every step of the way, so the campaign needed to replicate that." 

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 The campaign showcases the variety of people and personalities in our offices and schools, and the individuals in the organization inspired the campaign visuals. "Our jobs can have traditional elements—we have technical and business-focused roles like any other company,” Kay said. “But at EF, we add something different, something creative, bold, and witty to our careers. We have Excel Slayers and Front-end Magicians at EF. These people inspired the idea to adapt the iconic rings of Paul Rand's EF logo to visually represent the different career paths you can have at EF." 

 Making an employer brand stand out in today's oversaturated market is no easy feat. “Great people can work almost anywhere they choose,” Amy Van Aarle, Executive Vice President of EF, said. “Working at EF is truly special, so to stand out to applicants, we needed a campaign to convey that. A palpable, positive, dynamic energy runs through EF— an energy created by the people who work here and their passion for our mission. This new campaign perfectly captures that feeling and helps us stand out in a crowded employer brand marketplace.” 

 Creating the Something Different campaign was unlike other projects Kay worked on in the past. "I think this campaign is distinguished by its incredible openness, great dynamism, and unapologetic approach, especially for an employer branding campaign," Kay said. "Usually, campaigns like this can be much more constrained, but we wanted to do–something different!" 

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During the summer of 2023, EF Education First embarked on a journey to create a new employer brand campaign, capturing how a career at EF differs from careers anywhere else. Because of the wide variety of places our teammates live, the opportunities they have

A Senior Art Director’s perspective: Kay on creating Something Different

Here at <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/">EF Education First</a>, one person can work in multiple locations and hold various roles, all while working towards one mission—opening the world through education. Lori van Dam, the Chief Executive Officer of <a href=" https://www.hultprize.org/">Hult Prize</a>, knows this well. 

 As the daughter of two educators, learning in the classroom and from the world around her were core parts of her upbringing in Barrington, Rhode Island. "My dad went on two sabbaticals while I was growing up," Lori recalls. "When I was seven, we lived in Holland for a year, and when I was 13, we lived in Switzerland for a year." 

 This early exposure to experiential learning impacted her view of education, especially when learning new languages—Lori can speak five. In addition to her native English, she learned Dutch the year her family lived in Holland and during the summers she spent there afterward. She learned French and German while living and attending school in Switzerland and she studied Swedish as an early EF team member. "I do not take credit for the languages that I speak," Lori reflects. "They were given to me as a gift." 

<img alt="Lori at work" src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/204637/2000x1333/a79d06a5f3/hult-prize-9.jpg"style="width:600px;height:400px;"> 

 After attending Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and working for a startup, Lori found EF through her best friend. Lori’s first project at EF turned into one of EF's associated organizations: "I started what became <a href=" https://culturalcare.com/">Cultural Care Au Pair.</a> Having had that radical opportunity so young was quite an adventure." She chuckles, saying, "Looking back now, I was allowed to do things I had no business doing." 

 Lori spent the next 20 years of her career in the EF family of companies. One of her favorite experiences was reporting directly to EF's founder, Bertil Hult. "It was something different daily,” Lori says. “I learned so much from him." He influenced her leadership style, and she reflects that Bertil "has a true humility about him. One of the things baked into who he is, is the belief in continual improvement and the idea that you can constantly reevaluate and learn from mistakes." 

 Lori left EF to lead organizations in the nonprofit space. She was the Executive Director of One Fund Boston, the nonprofit established by Mayor Thomas Menino and Governor Deval Patrick in the aftermath of the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Lori oversaw the distribution of more than $20 million to survivors and families who lost loved ones, which came a year after the initial distribution of nearly $61 million. She was also an executive at Susan G. Komen, the world's leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, for nearly seven years. "I have always cared about doing something with a mission,” Lori said. “If you're a person who has an interest in humanity and wants to make the world a better place, you can do that in many ways.” 

 In 2021, Lori brought her nonprofit expertise back to the community of people she grew up with professionally when she signed on as the CEO of Hult Prize. Lori describes it as "a global student social entrepreneurship competition with a million-dollar prize." Hult Prize's mission, members, and global impact energize and inspire Lori daily. 

 “We have a campus director in Sudan named Maiy," Lori notes. "She won best campus director in the program last year out of the 2,000 campus directors worldwide. She ran a program at her university while the entire country was at war. There was fighting in the streets, and there was no electricity, no water, and definitely no Wi-Fi. Despite this, she and her organizing committee got over 200 student proposals for an on-campus pitching event. Their world was in chaos, but she had so much perseverance in the face of obstacles that I cannot even visualize, and she pulled off an amazing program." 

<img alt="Lori and Maiy" src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/204637/4016x6016/165053d835/lori-and-maiy.JPG" style="width:400px;height:550px;"> 

 Maiy's story and countless others fuel Lori’s passion for pushing Hult Prize forward. "Hult Prize offers participants who might not have many opportunities, and certainly do not have the opportunities that I have had, a path to become part of a bigger community, to envision themselves as entrepreneurs, and to give them agency in their futures," she says. "Being able to do that as my job? That is an incredible privilege." 

 Hult Prize fuels social entrepreneurship, and Lori believes the nonprofit's most significant impact is through its ripple of awareness. "We have over a million alumni, which means that there are over a million people out there who, over the last 14 years, have understood social entrepreneurship and how they can be a part of it," Lori says. "They walk away understanding they can take steps in their own lives and improve the world. That is a big ripple effect, and I think that is our biggest impact." 

 The 2023 Hult Prize Challenge was "redesigning fashion," and encouraged teams to launch an innovative social venture in the clothing and fashion industry to make it more sustainable. The finals occurred in Paris, France, on September 22, 2023, and the winner was Banofi Leather, a startup making vegan leather from banana crop waste. 

<img alt="Hult Prize 2023" src="https://a.storyblok.com/f/204637/6582x4388/02e3021d7d/hult-prize-2023-banofi.jpg"style="width:600px;height:400px;"> 
 
 Reflecting on her early days at EF, Lori advises anyone starting their career not to sweat the small stuff and to stay open-minded. "I did not know where my career would lead me when I started, nor did I know that this would be a job that I would even one day be considered for. I try to teach my kids to be open to possibilities. Say yes more than you say no because you never know where it might lead you."

Here at EF Education First, one person can work in multiple locations and hold various roles, all while working towards one mission—opening the world through education. Lori van Dam, the Chief Executive Officer of Hult Prize, knows this well.

Work that matters: Lori's EF journey

Incorporating sustainable habits into your daily life is essential, but figuring out where to start can be intimidating. Luckily, there are people in the world and at <a href"https://www.ef.com/wwen/"> EF Education First </a> like Millie. Millie is a Senior Tour Consultant at EF Educational Tours the global captain of the EF Green Team, and she is inspiring EFers at the EF Austin office and beyond with her passion for creating a sustainable future.
Millie is a lifelong nature lover, a passion rooted in her childhood in rural Pennsylvania. "I grew up before cellphones and laptops, and we didn't have cable TV, so I played outside in the woods all the time," Millie reflects. "That is really where my love of being in nature comes from."
She also credits her parents for influencing her sustainable habits. "My parents were ahead of their time—we composted and recycled almost everything. Our family of four created very little waste, to the point where we did not have garbage pickup, and my dad could take our waste every couple of months."
Millie found EF after spending a few years teaching English in Thailand, and she started her EF journey with EF Educational Tours at the <a href="https://we-are-ef.ef.com/meet-the-ef-denver-office-the-top-things-to-know-about-living-and-working-in-denver/"> EF Denver office</a>. It was in Denver where Millie first joined the EF Green Team, a staff collective focused on inspiring eco-conscious habits at EF and beyond. To Millie, "The EF Green Team is a group of people who care about protecting the planet and protecting people."

<h2>"It is special that EF allows us to bring our passions outside the office and incorporate them into our in-office culture. Having that in the workplace is rare.”</h2>

When offered the opportunity to help open the <a href="https://we-are-ef.ef.com/ef-office-in-austin-texas/"> EF Austin office </a> in the fall of 2021, Millie traded in her hiking boots for what she classifies as the best tacos and live music in the US. Of course, creating an EF Austin Green Team was at the top of her list of things to do. "It is a community that I did not want to give up, so creating that in Austin was a big priority for me."

Co-founding the EF Austin Green Team gave Millie a chance to directly influence the culture of the new office from the start. "It is special that EF allows us to bring our passions outside the office and incorporate them into our in-office culture. Having that in the workplace is rare."
<h2>"The awareness we create in our office makes a broader impact.”</h2>
From turning the Austin office compost-friendly to hosting sustainable clothing events, the EF Austin Green Team is doing its part to make a difference in the Austin office and beyond. The most significant indicator of the team's success in Millie's eyes is their ripple of impact on the community.

"What makes me the proudest and most aware of our impact is when one of my colleagues tells me they started composting at home, or convinced their family to start recycling, or stopped buying clothes from fast fashion sites. That's when I realize the awareness we create in our office makes a broader impact. "

Millie recently became the EF Green Team global lead. She will host quarterly meetings for EFers to come together and share what is happening in our offices and schools, what is working, and how to approach any challenges. "I think it really helps for people to feel like they are part of a bigger movement here at EF."

For the first time, Millie will attend the <a href="https://www.eftours.com/educational-tours/collections/student-summits"> EF Global Leadership Summit </a> in Berlin this summer, a three-day conference EF hosts that asks students from across the globe to create a solution to a global problem. The winning team's prototype is displayed at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.

This year's Summit theme, creating a sustainable future, speaks directly to Millie's passion, and she hopes to come back inspired by the next generation. "I am so curious to hear what solutions the students will come up with, and I am excited to learn more about their vision for the future. I want to bring some of that passion and some of those ideas back to Austin and use that to continue to inspire me in my work."

<h2>“It is not just about the impact we are making with events we are hosting; it is also about making structural and long-lasting changes in our offices."</h2>

In addition to inspiring her coworkers and community, Millie focuses on creating changes that will last. "In Austin, I want to be at the forefront of helping get this building running on renewable energy. When I talk to other EF Green Team captains, they think similarly. So, it is not just about the impact we are making with events we are hosting; it is also about making structural and long-lasting changes in our offices."

If you are looking for a way to start incorporating more sustainable habits into your everyday life, Millie suggests starting small and specific. She references Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's <a href="https://www.ayanaelizabeth.com/climatevenn"> Climate Action Venn Diagram </a> designed to help individuals address the climate crisis.

"It is not a one size fits all solution," Millie notes. "We need people doing different things that work towards sustainability and decrease emissions in different ways. That is how you can figure out where you can make the biggest impact and have the largest ripple effect in your community."

Living sustainably starts with small changes, and Millie, a global captain of EF's Green Teams, understands this well. As an active member of the EF Austin Office and her local community, Millie is driving change toward a greener future.

Ripples of change: Making a difference with Millie

Have you ever wondered what creating unforgettable experiences for your coworkers would be like, from curating the office's rainy Monday playlist to filling a grocery cart full of ice cream for a surprise treat? Meet Hannah, Office Life & Events Specialist at the <a href=" https://www.ef.com/wwen/">EF Education First</a> Austin office. Many employee experience and office life jobs exist, but at EF, you can expect an exciting career that is truly something different. 

 How would you describe your job? 

 As the Office Life & Events Specialist for EF Austin, I try to make sure my fellow team members love working at EF and that any guest of EF feels the impact of our mission. We constantly strive to make their experience as positive as possible. Many things fall into my job description to make that happen. Still, at the end of the day, whether it's giving a new hire a welcome tour or organizing an event, my main goal is to create an environment that's fun, allows people to be their authentic selves, and is a conducive space for people learn and grow in their careers. 

 What does a typical day at work look like? 

 I start my days by opening the office, making sure everything is in tip-top shape from the front desk to the kitchen, and even matching the lobby playlist to the vibe of the day (we have come to love our Rainy Monday playlist). I greet guests, new hires, or visiting team members to ensure they are set up and ready for their day. 

 Then I dive into my projects! Some days, I am making a list of potential venues for our holiday party, booking site visits, and researching catering vendors. On other days, I work with a local contractor to install a new water machine. Yesterday, I ran to the grocery store, bought out a full freezer of Ben & Jerry's for an office "surprise & delight," and decorated our utility cart like an ice cream truck. 

 What made you apply for a job at EF? 

 My first experience with EF was back in 8th grade when my class went on a tour to Philadelphia & Washington D.C. Fast forward about ten years later when it came time for me to search for full-time jobs shortly after graduating college, I crossed paths with EF again. 

 My dad visited the EF Boston office, and he raved about how lively and vibrant it was. He noted that everyone was genuine and welcoming—everything I wanted in my ideal work environment. I immediately remembered how much I loved my experience with EF as a student and thought, how could I not at least check it out? 

 While browsing <a href=" https://careers.ef.com/">the EF careers site,</a> I saw the listing for an Employee Experience Coordinator (what would become my first EF job), and I could not apply fast enough. The idea of contributing to people's first impressions of EF and helping create the culture in the office was so exciting to me and still is the biggest reason why I am passionate about what I do. 

 Describe EF with 3-5 adjectives. 

 Fun, welcoming, dynamic, creative, and mission driven. 

 What has been your favorite experience at EF so far? 

 The opportunity to open our brand-new Austin office and build our office culture alongside my manager Kelsey has been a rewarding and impactful experience for me personally and professionally. Just in the past year, I got to go on my first staff tour (and my first time in Europe!) to Portugal & Spain, celebrate EF Austin's first birthday with two-step dance lessons from a local instructor, and plan and execute our first holiday party and summer party. I'm about to go to the EF Global Leadership Summit. 

 However, my favorite memory was hosting Employee Appreciation Day in full gameshow host garb, handing out treats and prizes, and playing games throughout the day. The pure laughter we got from team members walking into the office is why I do what I do. 

 What, in your opinion, makes your job unique? 

 While many people work with customers outside of the EF offices, I take pride in the fact that a key part of my role is to make the EF employee experience great. As my career evolves and grows, I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with more community members, customers, and global staff as well. I could not do what I do without the ideas, feedback, and support of my colleagues, who contribute to our office's success and push me to continue to improve. 

 Any advice for someone joining EF? 

 Lean into the entire experience, be bold, and branch out and get to know people outside your immediate team. It is natural to want to stick with your start class initially, but making connections and understanding other sides of the business will enrich your overall experience in the long run.

Meet Hannah, Office Life & Events Specialist at the EF Education First Austin office. Many employee experience and office life jobs exist, but at EF, you can expect an exciting career that is truly something different.

Tell us what you do: Something different with Hannah

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an expert travel advisor, support customers as they prepare for transformative travel, and become a traveler yourself at work? Meet Adrian, Traveler Support Specialist for <a href="https://www.efexploreamerica.com/"> EF Explore America </a> at the <a href="https://www.ef.com/"> EF Education First</a> Austin office. Many customer support specialist jobs exist, but at EF, you can expect an exciting career that’s truly something different.
How long have you worked at EF?

I just hit my first anniversary in July!

How would you describe your job?

As EF travel experts, we give travelers the information they need to prepare for their trip. Our role goes beyond a typical customer service representative by combining communication skills, sales instincts, and a solution-oriented attitude to give our customers the best experience possible. I work with teammates from all departments within EF Explore America – sales, travel, and operations – to resolve traveler issues and provide outstanding customer service. My day-to-day tasks vary from giving IT help to supporting a traveler as they prepare for an upcoming trip.

What made you apply for a job at EF?
I saw an advertisement for EF Ultimate Break, and thought it would be super fun to travel with EF. I was exploring the website and came across the careers site. I looked at careers in my area and saw an IT position in Austin, so I applied for it and got a call from EF the following week. The interview process was terrific— I had never had such a warm and welcoming experience.

Although I did not get that position, I did not let that discourage me. I saw a spot for a Traveler Support Specialist the following week. I filled out the application and again had a speedy interview, and I got the job!

What was your favorite experience at EF so far?

My first staff travel experience! I got to tag along on our Washington D.C. and New York City tours. A teammate from the Boston office also came. During the tour, I got to know him better. He was from New York and showed me around the city during our free time. It was a unique experience—I enjoyed touring the cities, seeing new things, and making new friends.

What, in your opinion, makes your job unique?

The ability to get to know the customers—every person I talk to has their own story.

Any advice for someone joining EF?

Be yourself, have fun, and come in with an open mind!

Tell us what you do: Something different with Adrian

In the spring of 2022, Sabrina was finishing her master's degree in international management and working for a startup in Switzerland when she first came across<a href="https://www.ef.com/"> EF Education First's </a> flagship trainee program, the <a href="https://careers.ef.com/categories/ef360-global-management-trainee-program/"> EF360 Global Management Trainee Program </a>. The one-year management trainee program gives recent graduates a chance to be mentored by an EF senior leader and have firsthand experience in multiple facets of the business. At the end of the year, trainees earn a position at EF that best suits their unique talents and strengths.

Sabrina knew applying meant facing significant competition—there are only 11 spots available in the program with applicants from across the world. Nonetheless, she applied, and her decision was twofold. First, the program perfectly captured what she was looking for in a professional career. "All my life, tourism, education, and languages have been some of my biggest passions," Sabrina notes.

The second reason she applied was that she knew EF well—the organization is part of her family history. "I am an EF baby! My parents met in 1988 on an EF language program in San Diego, California,” Sabrina says. “A year later, they were married and are still together to this day."

Sabrina embarked on an EF language program herself, spending a summer in Santa Barbara, California when she was 16. Sabrina’s experience was transformative, and she was able to form a lasting bond with her host family. She says, "I became a part of their family. I visited them almost every year after that trip."

When Sabrina was accepted into the EF360 Global Management Trainee Program, she was excited to officially be part of EF, saying "I felt like I was coming home. That is what is so great about EF—it is such a good community, and I get a sense of belonging here working with so many different people from all around the world. When you walk into any of our offices, whether in Hong Kong, Nigeria, London, Zurich, or Boston, you have people you are connected with."

Sabrina's year as an EF360 has been a whirlwind filled with travel, opportunity, and connection. She notes that “as an EF360, you get a great grasp of the business. I've traveled to nearly ten different places in the last year and worked on about 20 different projects!”

Sabrina's year has been special because she has worked with two different businesses in the EF family of companies. “My mentor was in EF High School Exchange Year when I started,” she reflects. “He moved over to <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/en/"> EF Academy </a> during the year, so I moved with him. It was a huge learning curve, seeing two businesses within such a short time at EF is unique. Not many 360s can work with two EF businesses within one year."

Her favorite work trip was the mid-year EF360 summit in Austin, Texas, saying “It was so cool to connect with all the other 360s worldwide. And Austin itself is so vibrant!"

As for what she loves most about working here so far, her answer is classic EF: "My favorite part is the people. There are so many different people here who have so many different experiences and cultural backgrounds. Working with a diverse team helps you open your mind and see different points of view."

Sabrina has two pieces of advice for future applicants: "First and foremost, be authentic. When you come here, you realize you are encouraged to be yourself at work. And most importantly, ask questions! ‘Why do we do this? How do we do this?' Is there a more efficient way to do this?’ That will help you succeed and make an impact."

Sabrina's connection to EF is unique, which extends to her passion for EF's mission: to open the world through education. She believes working towards that mission will create a better world and future.

"For me, opening the world through education means working towards true globalization and helping people understand each other. My world has opened through education—I have been lucky enough to study abroad in Singapore, Sweden, London, and the US, which ultimately helped me get outside my comfort zone. And I think in the world we live in now, it has never been more needed to understand other people, cultures, and languages to create a better global future."

“Working with a diverse team helps you open your mind and see different points of view.” - Sabrina

During her time at EF, Sabrina has collaborated with colleagues around the world and worked on language and education projects she’s passionate about. Learn more about how one year transformed her perspective.

Travel, opportunity, connection: Sabrina’s EF journey

True or false:<a href="https://www.ef.com/"> EF Education First </a> owns professional cycling teams.

If you answered true, congratulations, you are correct!
True or False: Johannes, the Senior Marketing Manager for <a href="https://efprocycling.com/"> EF Pro Cycling</a>, found EF through his dog-sitting job while he was in college.
Also true!

Johannes's EF journey is anything but traditional, and like a wheel on a bicycle, it has many full-circle moments.

Travel has always been part of Johannes's life—he was born and raised in Switzerland, lived in Korea, went to college in Colorado, and currently lives in Utah.

"Home for me is wherever my house is at the moment! When I was young, traveling was how I saw my family," Johannes reflects. "Now, it's fun to travel to see new places. And there is no better way to see a place than from a bike."

While majoring in political science and economics at Colorado College in the US and competing for the swim team, Johannes was unsure what he wanted to do after graduating. He knew he wanted to work in sports.

"My dad was an athlete, and I always played sports, so I always knew I wanted to work in sports. If you had asked me what my dream job was, I would have said a job where I get to travel, work in sports, and work with cool people." Spoiler alert: he says he gets the trifecta at EF. 

Johannes became a huge cycling fan when he discovered a YouTube channel called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTaETsuCOkJ0H_GAztWt0Q"> Global Cycling Network.</a> "I love cycling because you meet so many super passionate people. Also, from the outside, cycling looks like an individual sport, but the team aspect of it is so essential. The first thing any winner will say is, 'This wouldn't be possible without my teammates.'"

Johannes worked for the Colorado Classic cycling race between his junior and senior years. At the race, he met "this guy Matt," the Marketing and Communication Director for EF Pro Cycling. Matt asked Johannes to dog-sit his German Shorthaired Pointer named Bird. Johannes said yes, and once he graduated a year later, Johannes asked Matt if he had any openings on his team. After starting as a contractor at EF, he moved to Boston to intern in the <a href="https://we-are-ef.ef.com/things-to-know-about-living-in-boston/"> EF Boston </a> office before becoming a full-time marketing manager for the pro cycling team.

Today, as senior marketing manager, Johannes says his goal is to humanize the riders through storytelling. "My job is to tell stories. Sometimes in sports, especially when athletes do such incredible things, fans see them as superheroes. At the end of the day, we are all human. Even the best rider in the world is a person at home. Telling those stories is my job."

EF's men's pro cycling team has 32 riders and 21 nationalities, and there are 11 languages spoken on the team. The women's team has 16 riders and 10 nationalities, with seven languages spoken. Johannes thinks this sets EF apart from the other pro teams. "What is unique about our current cyclists is the philosophy EF brought to the team. EF's core belief is that the world is a better place when people try to understand one another, and our cycling team is a diverse group of elite riders from all over the world. Each team member brings their own culture and experiences. Seeing everyone come together and learn from one another is amazing."

Johannes is working his third Tour de France this summer. The iconic event, which he describes as "a big traveling circus," gives Johannes a unique perspective on his journey. "Last year, the Tour de France route went right in front of the house I grew up in. I was standing there working for the team, and it was such a full-circle moment. It felt surreal that I was there watching the race a few years ago and wishing I knew the riders' names –– now I am working for a team!"

The men's cycling team was recently featured in the new Netflix series <a href="https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81153133"> Tour de France: Unchained</a>. The series provides an in-depth look at the sport of cycling in hopes of making it more widely understood. Johannes worked directly with the production team and thinks the series is an exciting opportunity for the sport. "People who have never watched cycling will get a good look at what the sport is like from the inside, and hardcore fans will get a look into what goes on behind the scenes."

Johannes followed his instincts and found a role at EF where he is pushed outside of his comfort zone daily ––and he would encourage others to find the same. "If your gut is telling you something is right, and you truly believe you will make the most out of the opportunity –– you should do it. It is not always fun or comfortable. I was a contractor and moved to Boston without knowing a single person, which was kind of scary. But it turned out to be the best experience of my life."

Ever imagined that being a dog-sitter could get you a marketing manager role with a pro cycling team? Meet Johannes, whose career path at EF has been anything but ordinary. Read more about his journey beyond his comfort zone.

From dog-sitter to sports marketer: Johannes’s EF journey

At <a href="https://www.ef.com/"> EF Education First </a>, we are always looking for ways to make our workplace more welcoming and supportive for our LGBTQ+ team members. And as an education organization, staying up to date with the latest research is vital to evolving in the right direction. Harvard Business Review recently conducted a four-year <a href="https://hbr.org/2023/04/research-how-to-be-a-better-ally-to-the-lgbtq-community"> study</a> exploring genuine and effective allyship based on the responses of thousands of LGBTQ+-identified participants across the US. Based on their findings, we compiled a few ways to be better allies to our LGBTQ+ coworkers.

<h4>Create an accepting working environment for all</h4>
Our mission is opening the world through education, and we believe the world is better when we try to understand one another. Acceptance is the practice of understanding someone or something without changing or passing judgment. It is the foundation of being a good ally. Here are a few examples of how to practice acceptance at work:

1. Consider this: When you walk into the office after a long weekend, instead of saying, "Hey guys, how was your weekend?" say, "Hey everyone," "Hey team," or "Hey y'all!"

Why: Using gender-neutral language in the workplace is a great way to make everyone feel comfortable and accepted.

2. Consider this: Include your pronouns in your email signature, on virtual meetings, and on LinkedIn. Example: John Doe (he/him/his)

Why: Including your pronouns helps normalize the use of personal pronouns publicly for everyone and helps create an accepting and respectful workplace culture.

<h4>Turn your words into action</h4>
Acceptance must be paired with action for an ally to be effective and meaningful. According to the study, "allies are people who take action to improve the climate around them and to improve themselves." Here are a few examples of how to take action at work:

3. Consider this: Attend a session focused on a LGBTQ+ topic or issue at work or join a book club with a LGBTQ+ focused reading list.

Why: Educating yourself is the starting point for better understanding. Confronting your conscious or unconscious biases is essential to becoming a better ally.

4. Consider this: Encourage leaders of your organization to include marginalized voices in the conversation of drafting or discussing company policies. If you are making the policy, be sure to include people from the LGBTQ+ community and other minority communities to avoid any potential bias.

Why: It is up to allies to create space and include marginalized voices in conversations that they have been traditionally left out of to move your workplace in the right direction.

<h4>Be open to correction and have humility</h4>
Humility, in the context of allyship, means self-awareness and a lack of ego. The study found that allies with humility are good listeners, open to correction, and willing to learn. Here are a few examples of how to practice humility at work:

5. Consider this: When conversing with a colleague who might be sharing a personal story about their identity, make it your goal to hear directly from them and learn from their story. Do not take control of the narrative or make the conversation about you and your own experiences.

Why: Being a good listener is essential to being a good ally. Allies amplify underrepresented voices and create safe spaces to hear those voices.

6. Consider this: You use an antiquated or unintentionally offensive term. Instead of being defensive or worrying about how people perceive you, learn from your mistake, apologize to those who heard you use the term and anyone you offended, and move forward.

Why: We are all human, and making mistakes is inevitable. By being open to feedback and correction, you learn from your mistakes and make yourself a better ally.
Given how much time we all spend at work, it is important that the people we work with feel welcomed and accepted.<a href="https://hbr.org/2023/04/research-how-to-be-a-better-ally-to-the-lgbtq-community"> Read more </a> about the findings of Harvard Business Review's four-year study.

Together, we can help build workplaces for everyone to thrive. Fostering environments where people feel respected and valued can create a more inclusive workplace to support our LGBTQ+ team members. Here are six tips for being a better ally and coworker.


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CJ McCartin

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