Learn more about how Santander creates an inclusive work environment for LGBTQIA+ employees
BY DYLAN MANN-HAZELL
Kate Wilkinson-Hill spoke to myGwork about her experience of coming out, what inclusion and support look like at Santander, and the pivotal role of the Embrace network. She also discusses her charity work in South Africa, reflects on changing attitudes to LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and talks through her and her wife’s journey to parenthood via shared motherhood.
Hi Kate! Could you tell me a bit about your background and career journey leading up to your current position at Santander?
I have been with Santander since I was 17! I’ll let you work out how long that is. I started as a personal banker in the branch network, leading to management roles across various sites, ending as Branch Director before jumping ship into a totally new role as Customer Research Manager in our head office teams. I quickly realised that my passion was still helping customers and made the move into operations, where I am today. Someone asked me if I would ever go back to branch. I don’t think I would, not because I didn’t value or love my time there, the people, the customers, but because in the role I’m in today, I can influence so many more customer and colleague journeys than I could in one branch.
Can you tell me about your childhood – where did you grow up; did you have any hobbies?
I lived in a village with my mum, dad and younger sister (who now also works for Santander!) I loved dancing, singing, sports (playing netball and watching rugby league until in my early 20’s I decided to give playing a go!) We went on amazing family holidays every year to France with our parents and sometimes grandparents!
Can you share your personal journey with the LGBTQIA+ community?
I’ve been really lucky. I remember “coming out” to one of my best friends, and her response was “I know”. My family has always been great, and no one close to me has ever been any different; my life is just normal. What’s also been so nice is how to my friends’ children, our situation is so normal. When I came out at work, I was in a branch, and the team was amazingly supportive. I think the hardest part has been “coming out” to customers when I was in the branch, especially when we got engaged, and regulars noticed my ring and asked questions like “How did HE propose?” with no harm meant, but having to make the decision whether to correct them or not.
What has been a standout moment in your career so far?
I also can’t do any kind of interview without mentioning that I was lucky enough in 2016 to go on a charity trip to South Africa through Santander where we built three houses for families in one of the communities, I was questioning who I was at the time and being around so many amazing people gave me the confidence to “take the leap” changing my life forever and I met some of the best people from across the bank widening my understanding but also making some best friends for life!
How does Santander strive for inclusivity and provide an open space for LGBTQIA+ employees?
In my experience, Santander has always seen people as people. We live in a world of change and actively promote ourinclusivity, but I have genuinely experienced that. I just mentioned before about “coming out” to customers on a regular basis, but when you meet new people at work, you have to do the same. I talk about my wife openly, and I wouldn’t everchange that, and I have never been questioned, colleagues have been really eager to understand more about how our journey to our little boy happened and excited that science has made it possible for us to be parents. When I was “coming out”, I joined the Embrace network looking for support, guidance, understanding and I found that! The network was small with around 50 members at the time, with so much opportunity to grow, but it was amazing nonetheless. Fast forward a couple of years, I had met my now wife and became more confident and started to play an active role in leadership in the network, actively encouraging colleagues across the bank to bring their whole selves to Santander, and I genuinely believe that this is a place everyone can do that, every day.
Throughout your career, have you noticed any developments in attitudes towards the importance of diversity and inclusion?
Absolutely, the Embrace network started with a few colleagues and has turned into us sharing best practices globally. We have moved our in strategy regularly and showed up when it really matters.
What immediate improvements would you like to see being made for LGBTQIA+ equality in the future, both in the workplace and wider society?
One thing I’d like to see more of is people being more confident in the conversation. Not being afraid to ask questions, as long as they are respectful and come from a good place, if we don’t ask more questions, we will never learn about other people’s journeys. We recently had a leadership meeting for our network, and after the meeting, a few of us sat for hours learning about one of our colleagues’ journeys, and I was honestly fascinated and really proud that I could learn more from other people.
Is there anything we haven’t discussed already that you would like to include?
I need to mention our gorgeous boy, Jaxon. My wife and I went through shared motherhood to conceive. I carried my wife’s child – how amazing! Our journey was through a fertility clinic in Leeds. It wasn’t easy, but it was so worth it. My boss was one of two people in my life that knew about our second round after a failed first attempt and I’m not sure I could have got through without her support and the banks open policy for supporting the numerous appointments, time sensitive trips to the clinic and the opportunity to speak to other colleagues in the bank through our Embrace and Let’s talk fertility networks about different journeys, because let’s be honest no two are the same! We love being parents, and it’s amazing that Jaxon can be a “part” of both of us!
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