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ACE Employee Network: Leigh Hulme’s Story
Finding a sense of belonging
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As part of our Boldly Moving Forward Strategy, we’re focused on intentionally building deep, trusting relationships for our people and nurturing our inclusive culture, including in how we approach wellbeing.
Wellbeing is foundational to everything we’re able to do and accomplish. We continually evaluate our wellbeing programs and benefits to best support our people – and we’re sharing stories of how these programs and tools are helping each of us individually be at our best, so we’re able to do more – together.
In this feature, we connected with Principal GIS Consultant Leigh Hulme to see how he found a sense of belonging with our ACE employee network.
Featured benefit:
ACE Employee Network
What prompted you to take advantage of this benefit?
Seeing the awareness of promotion and positivity of Neurodiversity across Jacobs thanks to the ACE employee network gave me the confidence of no longer fearing “being found out” that I am neurodivergent and the stigma that traditionally came with being dyslexic.
How did it help?
It gave me the confidence to be proud of being neurodiverse and highlighted the strengths that come with it rather than the weaknesses. I was not aware of my strengths until I started sharing my story with my peers because previously it was only ever talked about in a negative way.
What did you like most?
There are loads of things I like about the network, such as the sunflower lanyards, dyslexic email signature, Foleon guidebook “An internal guide for colleagues, managers and neurodivergent employees.” The biggest thing I like the most is to give me a platform and confidence to share my story with people outside of the network. Having a safe space with peers to talk about issues and find out about developments in neurodiversity and promote the positivity of being dyslexic.
Are you still part of the network?
Yes, I have recently started in a voluntary role for the network as Client Lead for ACE in Europe. This involves liaising with some of our key clients and promoting the work we have been doing in the ACE employee network and seeing how we can work with clients to learn from each other to promote disabilities across the industry.
What do you want others to know?
There is no longer a need to hide disability in Jacobs and there is a huge network of people that can support you with your needs whether you yourself needs help or advice, or advice on supporting a family member/friend or a colleague please just reach out to someone in the network.
Everybody’s story is different if you hear a story from one individual do not broad brush everyone with a similar neurodiversity trait.
“Neurodiversity in the workplace is something to be proud of and the ACE employee network at Jacobs gave me the confidence to let dyslexia be my superpower, rather than my weakness.”
Leigh Hulme
Wellbeing at Jacobs
At Jacobs, the wellbeing of our people is fundamental to our success. When we’re each able to be well, our collective power is limitless.
A world where you can is only achievable when we’re each functioning at our highest abilities. We can’t be our true selves, get our work done, and develop and grow unless our ideal states of being are sustained. We embed wellbeing into all, so we’re able to deliver on our purpose – today and into the future.
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