Most companies nowadays talk about #Diversity and Inclusion and embrace some type of no dress code so people can be more comfortable not only in their own skin but also not having to feel the pressure of having to dress up to show up for work. But wait...then why the F does it matter when I wear a cap to a virtual meeting when I am in a non-client facing role and work from home since the beginning of the pandemic. I sometimes get comments like "I see you still have your cap on" or that when I finally take it off, some senior leader rewards me and say "You look good. I see that you decide to take your cap off today".

I remember a few months ago when i saw my niece and we were about to go out, she decided she wanted to wear a princess costume and her parents asked why as they were horrified of all the unnecessary attention they were going to attract. My niece replied: "because I want to...you said I can be anything". I applaud the little girl for telling her parents what she wants. Because at the end of the day, her parents did tell her she can be anything she wants.

So when will companies actually live up to the words they say? A company's culture is not determined by the words they say, but by the action they take.

I can be who I want to be and I should not feel ashamed because I chose not to look the same.

Who am I?

I am #different.

I am #proud.

I can be anything and this is why I choose to be who I am today... I am me.