Hannah Collins talks to myGwork about the power of feeling accepted
BY DYLAN MANN-HAZELL, IMAGE PROVIDED
Braze Account Executive Hannah Collins speaks to myGwork about her unconventional path from small-town Ohio to tech sales, reflecting on her journey to owning her identity as a lesbian after years of limited LGBTQIA+ visibility. She also shares how Braze turns its commitment to inclusion into concrete action through leadership engagement, strong benefits, and empowered ERGs.
Hi Hannah! Could you tell me a bit about your background and career journey leading up to your current position at Braze?
I joke that my career in sales started in kindergarten, when an Elmer’s glue side hustle landed me in the principal’s office. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak. I learned early that I had a knack for spotting opportunities and monetizing them. I knew I’d end up in sales. I just didn’t know what kind.
At 18, I was selling used cars. After college, I landed in Texas and found my way into the alcohol and beverage industry, selling beer for an Anheuser-Busch distributor in downtown Austin. It was true in-person sales, where your word meant everything and deals were sealed with a handshake. I built relationships across bars, restaurants, gas stations, venues and grocery stores. It’s a relationship business, and that foundation still shapes how I sell today.
When COVID hit, I reassessed what I wanted in the long term. I was ready for a new challenge and a different rhythm. Drawn to marketing and technology, I chose Braze because as the leading customer engagement platform, they take what makes relationships powerful and special, and help brands translate that relationship digitally. The culture sealed it. It felt like the right place to bet on myself.
I started as a BDR supporting enterprise. It was an absolute grind. A mentor once told me to treat the role like school, except I was being paid to learn. So, I absorbed everything. I was promoted to an SMB Account Executive role and recently promoted again to our mid-market segment. The industry pivot was a risk, but it’s been worth it. I’m proud of the path and excited for what’s ahead.
Can you tell me about your childhood – where did you grow up; did you have any hobbies?
I grew up in a small country town outside of Cincinnati, Ohio (O-H!), on land and with a grandpa who was a farmer. It was the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, your curfew is dictated by the sun, and you learn early to work hard and rub some dirt on it. There was a strong sense of pride, a sense of contribution, and a sense of showing up.
I played every sport I could. Fun fact, I was the first girl in Ohio to score a touchdown. When I wasn’t on a court or field, I was riding four-wheelers, baling hay, or building something with my dad.
In the off-season, we lived on the lake. I started skiing behind a boat at three years old. Weekends meant grilling out, progressive Euchre tournaments, and cornhole. It was active, competitive, loud, and community-centered.
Can you share your personal journey with the LGBTQIA+ community?
My journey with the LGBTQIA+ community has been long and deeply personal. Growing up in a small town, there wasn’t much visibility. And while I’m incredibly grateful for the work ethic and values I was raised with, small-town environments don’t always leave much room for nuance. I internalized more than I realized at the time.
For years, I didn’t fully process or acknowledge parts of myself. I even went to Pride parades as “an ally” before I understood what I was actually exploring. It wasn’t linear. It wasn’t quick. And it certainly wasn’t without discomfort.
But it’s also been beautiful. I’m a lesbian, and I’ve never felt more comfortable in my own skin. The journey was long, but the liberation on the other side has been worth it.
What has been a standout moment in your career so far?
As meaningful as hitting quota and earning accolades have been, a true standout moment in my career was being named a top three finalist for Braze’s Global Social Impact Innovation Award. Part of the annual Braze for Impact Awards, the program recognizes employees who go above and beyond to create positive change, with winners directing a $10,000 grant from the Braze for Impact Fund to a nonprofit of their choice, a reflection of how deeply social impact is embedded in our culture.
The Social Impact Innovation Award specifically celebrates employees who bring creativity and fresh thinking to social impact efforts, helping Braze make a more meaningful, material impact. Being recognized not just for performance, but for how I contribute beyond my day-to-day role, was incredibly moving!
I’ve always believed that one person can make a difference. I try to live that out by making everyone feel like somebody. To be acknowledged for that, on a global stage, felt bigger than any number on a scoreboard. Impact isn’t just about revenue. It’s about people, community, and leaving things better than you found them.
How does Braze strive for inclusivity and provide an open space for LGBTQIA+ employees?
Inclusivity at Braze starts at the top. It’s something you feel. One of our executives once said that people work for people, not companies.
As the former President of Pride@Braze, our LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group, I’ve been in ERG meetings with Bill, our CEO and Cofounder, where he’s asked directly, “What can we do better? What’s working?”. That matters. He’s focused on creating ERGs not to check a box, but to influence our broader organizational culture and to humanize our policies, programming, and perspectives. When leadership shows up, listens, and engages in real conversation, it sets the tone for the entire company. This isn’t performative. Inclusivity is in our DNA.
Braze has earned a 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s U.S. Corporate Equality Index for three consecutive years. That matters. The CEI evaluates companies across non-discrimination protections, equitable benefits, inclusive culture, and responsible corporate citizenship. A perfect score means policies are clear; families are protected, and benefits reflect real lives. My domestic partner is on my insurance. That’s not theoretical. It’s tangible.
Beyond policy, there’s real investment. Our ERGs are funded and supported, not just symbolic. We’re given space to build community internally and partner with Social Impact to support LGBTQIA+ communities beyond our walls. We also partner with myGwork, a global LGBTQIA+ professional network and job platform, to connect LGBTQIA+ professionals with inclusive employers, mentorship, and career opportunities. It’s one way we ensure our commitment to inclusion extends beyond our internal culture and into how we attract, hire, and support talent. Inclusivity isn’t performative here. It’s practiced.
Throughout your career, have you noticed any developments in attitudes towards the importance of diversity and inclusion?
I have noticed meaningful shifts over the course of my career. In more traditional industries, like beverage distribution, conversations around diversity and inclusion often felt quieter or slower to evolve. In tech, I’ve seen it embraced and celebrated more openly, which has been powerful to experience.
At the same time, progress isn’t always linear. Broader cultural and political shifts can influence how companies show up. I’ve seen moments where some organizations pull back, and others, like Pride@Braze ERG, double down. Strengthening partnerships with organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, myGwork, and Out in Tech — especially during times when our community feels more exposed or uncertain — has meant a lot. It signals commitment when it matters most.
Representation does matter. Visibility matters. Continuing to acknowledge and celebrate diversity matters. Because when people can see themselves reflected and supported, it changes what feels possible.
What immediate improvements would you like to see being made for LGBTQIA+ equality in the future – both in the workplace, and wider society?
The most immediate improvement I’d hope to see is simple: don’t lift your foot off the pedal. Progress requires consistency. Especially for communities that have spent years feeling unseen or different, sustained support matters more than ever.
Speaking from my own experience, when you have quietly wondered if something about you is wrong or if you don’t quite fit, acceptance can become a lifelong process. That’s why continued investment, celebration, and protection in both the workplace and broader society are so important. It cannot be seasonal or symbolic.
When people feel accepted, cared for, and supported for who they are, they thrive. And when individuals thrive, so do teams, companies, and communities. It changes lives in ways that are hard to quantify but impossible to ignore.
Is there anything we haven’t discussed already that you would like to include?
If there’s one thing I’d add, it’s this: if you’re reading this and quietly questioning yourself or wondering where you fit… you are seen. You matter. And there is space for you exactly as you are.
And I’m grateful. Grateful to work at a company that makes room for authenticity and backs it with action. Being able to show up fully, both in my work and in who I am, is something I don’t take lightly.
Braze is a proud partner of myGwork, the LGBTQ+ business community. Find out more about LGBTQIA+-friendly job opportunities at Braze.
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