Alex Booker, Account Executive, on lifting the blinds on how we identify ourselves
For Black History Month this year, our Black employee resource group (ERG) BlackDropboxers chose the theme: Shades of Black: Inclusion to Innovation.
Shades of Black is an acknowledgment of the incredible diversity that exists within the Black community. Just as a prism holds a diverse array of unseen color that exists within light, Black identity is multidimensional, intersectional, and kaleidoscopic. Shades of Black encapsulates the various backgrounds, stories, and people that encompass the Black experience.
During this month, we’ll be introducing you to Black Dropboxers to learn more about who they are and what the theme means to them.
Q: What is your name, what office do you work out of, and how long have you been at Dropbox?
A: My name is Alex Booker. I’m an Account Executive in the San Francisco office. I joined Dropbox in July of 2018.
Q: What does this month’s theme — Shades of Black: Innovation to Inclusion — mean to you?
A: In my opinion, “Shades of Black: Innovation to Inclusion” means more than just the differing ideologies of different races in the workplace. It also means expanding that difference to give all shades and origins of “Black” a voice. Diversity in the workplace encourages innovation and challenges people to collaborate in unique means. Typically, the ideas of many people who come together result in flourishing innovation instead of simply agreeing to get to a comfortable solution.
That being said, “Shades of Black” allows me to have a unique voice rather than being categorized into one single silo of identity. Despite skin tone being similarly pigmented, my coworkers and I may have differing opinions based on our upbringing, other identities, and many other factors. “Shades of Black” continues to encourage us to step out of judgment and assumption based on physical appearance.
Q: Why is it important for you to be a part of BlackDropboxers?
A: Culture and diversity is something that I seek in my everyday life. Traditionally, Black people have been a heavily underrepresented demographic in the tech industry. So collaborating and coming together with the intent to make a change, not just in this line of work but socially as well, is something that is important to me. BlackDropboxers has been a breath of fresh air. Finding individuals with similar demographics has created opportunities to hear more about the background of members who share one of my physical identities. This has challenged me to think deeper about how we can begin to eliminate the segmentation and the boxes that we are often naturally placed into.
I feel that I have found family so far away from home. Every single member of BlackDropboxers has made me feel welcomed and heard. Feeling recognition for diversity is something that I have not been familiar with in the workplace before. I am happy that BlackDropboxers has changed my thought process and has allowed me to be open and proud to identify who I am from inside out.
Q: Was there a time when you felt like you had a unique and valuable perspective to share based on your life experience?
A: As silly as it sounds, I am recognizing for the first time some significant events from my past. I grew up in a community where I solely identified as an athlete — not a woman of color, not queer, not a salesperson, etc. I was rather blinded to my identity in the past and was not aware of my differences.
Since moving to the Bay Area back in July 2018, I have had moments where I felt that I was approached differently than others. An event that comes to mind was hearing a coworker say something that may have struck a chord as indirect, offensive language. There have been multiple times at Dropbox where another team member will speak up to correct that language. In this regard, I feel that these individuals are banding together for a larger movement and a higher purpose.
Q: Can you share your favorite Dropbox moment since you started?
A: My favorite Dropbox moments involve going to various events such as Sandler training in Austin, the Fall Picnic, Educause, the attending a holiday gala with the BlackDropboxers, the Dropbox Holiday Party, and the Sales Kick-Off. These events helped me see the capacity of Dropboxers around the country and how coming together can help us all work together for the greater good.
Q: How do you get your best work done? What keeps you in flow?
A: I get my best work done in a a flexible and open environment. That was one of the appealing factors in accepting a position here at Dropbox. I feel that we have access to every work environment that someone could possibly need. From the busy coffee shop environment in Little-r, to an extremely calm low-light environment in Deep Focus (the name of this room speaks for itself), to the rooftop gardens, to our desks and meeting rooms. I feel like there is a comfortable place for everyone.
Personally, I enjoy working on an open floor where I can ask my colleagues questions or just put on my headphones and listen to podcasts while I knock out emails. Having the ability to “get away” to the rooftop has been a huge help when I just want to be connected to nature while still being able to do my job.
A mix of comfortability and structure are both necessities in my ideal work environment. Those two factors along with being fueled for success are critical to the perfect work environment — giving me more time for what’s important!
Check back soon to meet more Dropboxers. In the meantime visit us at dropbox.com/jobs.
