For one Tax professional, Pride is every day – and he was there at the beginning

His role at Deloitte: Senior Manager, Deloitte Tax LLP, Chicago. Sergio came to Deloitte 12 years ago – “144 months, give or take,” he says. As part of the Global Employer Services group, he now works with individuals going on international assignments to help manage the tax consequences of their transition abroad. “I love that I’m able to focus on the human experience of my clients and their employees while helping them with the tax technical matters,” he says. The son of Costa Rican expats, Sergio travelled to Honduras when he was three weeks old, where his father was on assignment for his company, and Deloitte was assisting them with their taxes. “It’s funny to me that many years later, I ended up working in the same group that helped my family when we were in Honduras, Chile, and Costa Rica,” he says. When Sergio joined Deloitte, he was also coming to terms with his identity as a gay man and was only out to his close friends. “It was a different world for me,” he said. But he learned about Deloitte’s Inclusion Councils and National Communities (what was then known as business resource groups) and attended a happy hour – “and that was when I started finding my community,” he said. Not long after joining LGBTQIA+ & Allies Community, Sergio accepted a leadership role in the community.

His purpose in action: In 2015, Sergio obtained the support of Deloitte leaders to organize a group to participate in his local pride parade. “We had no goodies, no float, nothing,” he laughs. Flash forward to 2024, and it’s a different, bigger story: Deloitte participates in more than 30 Pride celebrations across the United States “In 2019, I marched with Deloitte in New York for the 50th anniversary of Stonewall along our chief inclusion officer, while our CEO was marching in Washington,” Sergio says. Establishing and contributing to the growth of Deloitte’s participation in Pride parades is one of his proudest accomplishments, he says. “I was just a young consultant then, but felt, ‘We really need to do this,’” he says. “And it’s only grown since then.” He’s quick to emphasize that he shares in the success: “There’s a whole village behind every Pride event,” he says. “It’s truly a collective effort.”

His impact: In Chicago, Deloitte now has a float at Pride. “And we’ve got swag, we’ve got DJs,” he says. “It’s grown so much from that small group made up of mostly my direct coworkers and friends.” Sergio has also worked to live authentically as a gay man and help others live their authentic lives as well. “I decided that I was just going to be me and no longer hide who I am,” he says. “And that really changed a lot for me. I felt more empowered at work, and it helped me work to help others.” He’s inspired by the many LGBTQIA+ & Allies Community professionals who have risen to leadership roles, as well as many junior professionals, who are continuing to drive and plan Pride and other events. To Sergio, the growth of Deloitte’s Pride observances and celebrations is a testament to Deloitte’s culture – that inclusive spirit that has always been there, he says. “It’s just more showcased and highlighted,” he says. “It speaks to me that our community is supported so much by Deloitte’s leadership that listens.’”