This Pride Month, we’re celebrating the voices and impact of LGBTQ+ employees across PayPal. Through the work of our Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG), we’re committed to building an inclusive and welcoming workplace where LGBTQ+ employees feel seen, supported, and valued. We’re excited to spotlight individuals from across our global teams who are helping foster belonging, supporting employee wellness, and leading with pride.
Meet Yael, a Director, Legal Commercial, located in France. We interviewed Yael in celebration of Pride Month to learn more about what this month means to her.
What does Pride Month mean to you?
Pride Month is a time to be visible and unapologetically yourself – to celebrate how far we've come, while remembering that the journey is far from over. For me, it's both a celebration and a call to action. Every year, I'm reminded that visibility matters: when people see someone like them thriving, it changes perceptions and opens doors. Pride Month gives me the energy to keep showing up, speaking up, and never taking for granted the freedoms we've fought so hard to win.
“Pride Month is a time to be visible and unapologetically yourself — to celebrate how far we've come, while remembering that the journey is far from over.”
Is there a person or milestone in LGBTQ+ history that has inspired you? If yes, please explain.
The legalization of same-sex marriage in France in 2013 was a milestone that felt deeply personal. I never imagined I'd be able to marry the person I love with the full recognition of the law. That moment – and the years of activism that made it possible – remind me that change is possible, even when it feels impossibly slow. It's also a reminder never to take those hard-won rights for granted.
Share a proud moment – big or small.
Stepping into a leadership role with PayPal's Paris Pride chapter is something I'm genuinely proud of. It wasn't something I had planned – it felt necessary. Given recent setbacks affecting LGBTQ+ rights around the world, I felt I had to do more than just show up. Seeing our team come together, march, collaborate, and support one another – that fills me with real pride every time.
How do you show up as an ally at work, or how would you like to see allyship manifest across the company?
I show up by being visible. Transparency about who I am is, I believe, one of the most powerful contributions I can make – it shifts perceptions and normalizes the idea that LGBTQ+ people are everywhere, including in leadership. For allyship more broadly, I'd love to see it be consistent and collaborative, not just symbolic. In our Paris office, Pride and Community Impact work hand in hand, and the results speak for themselves. True allyship means showing up year-round, leveraging every opportunity to stand alongside the community – not just in June.
How do you see inclusion supported at PayPal?
Encourage and formalize collaboration between ERGs. When communities join forces – Pride, Community Impact, and others – the impact is multiplied. We've built something special in Paris by treating our ERGs as partners rather than separate silos, and I'd love to see that become a company-wide practice. Inclusion is stronger when it's collective.