Pride Month Spotlight Series: Cody Porcoro

As part of our Pride Month celebration, we’ve asked our colleagues to reflect on the significance of this month.

Cleary Gottlieb senior knowledge solutions specialist Cody Porcoro shares some of her thoughts below.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Cleary.

My name is Cody Porcoro (she/her). I’m a senior knowledge solutions specialist based out of the New York office, and I’ve been with Cleary for about 3.5 years. Knowledge Solutions (KS) is a part of the global IT team that configures and manages the products that provide attorneys and professional staff with essential knowledge and resources to do their jobs efficiently and effectively. My primary focus area is the firm’s experience management system, Foundation, which is a product that captures and delivers matter knowledge across teams for a variety of purposes. It’s been wonderful to collaborate across teams and projects during my time here at Cleary.

What does Pride Month mean to you?

In my personal life, I say that every month is Pride Month, because I choose every day to live my life out, proudly. As a recognized and celebrated month, Pride month provides a time for reflection, acknowledgement, and a call to action. Pride started as a protest, and this month is a reminder that there were many who fought, at a great personal cost, before us for equality. It’s a time for gratitude for their bravery, and a recognition that the fight is far from over. As the world seems to be taking steps backward, away from inclusion, we must build upon the bravery of the pioneers before and continue charging forward for acceptance, safety, and equality.

Has your identity impacted how you approach your work and career?

As a queer, cisgender but more masculine presenting white woman, my identity impacts how I am able to and choose to show up in the workplace. It influences how I present myself outwardly to others, from the clothing I wear to the photographs on my desk. My identity comes out in the space I take up in every room, and the space I invite others to take up. It influences every conversation I’m a part of, as my perspective influences how I navigate conversations through a more open and understanding lens.

Are there any leaders, activists, writers/artists, professionals, or family members who have inspired you?

My wife Erynn inspires me. The way she moves in the world, tackling every day head on with curiosity, courage, and grace gives me the bravery to stand taller and firmer in my beliefs. She creates a safe space and gives me the confidence to be more myself, at home and as I navigate the world. Marrying her was the smartest and easiest decision of my life, and every day I get to call her my wife, I am filled with gratitude.

When you’re underrepresented in your chosen field, why is it important to have mentors and sponsors who are invested in you and your career?

It’s important to feel seen in your workplace, and to feel valued not just for your work product but also the contributions you can make to the team beyond completing a project. This mental investment in your work can make the difference not just with quality, but also morale. Having a sponsor or mentor in the workplace isn’t just a validation of your skills and potential, but also a testament to your character. This support creates an environment where you can comfortably show up as yourself, but also continue to push forward and grow professionally. Also, a mentor doesn’t need to be someone from the same background, as oftentimes differing experiences can lead to a wider breadth of knowledge sharing. A mentor can use their privilege to hold open the metaphorical door or lift you up, creating opportunities that may not have been available to you otherwise.

What are the benefits of joining an affinity group at Cleary?

It’s incredibly important for folks to have the opportunity to find community and feel a sense of belonging with others—especially at work where people may spend more time with colleagues then with our families. Creating a space where all are and feel welcome allows people to just focus on doing their job, without feeling othered. Affinity groups as well as other Cleary events create a space for folks to come together outside of work tasks and projects, and connect with one another, including across teams you may not normally interact with. This connection is key to creating a workplace where folks are confident and engaged.

Is there anything I haven’t asked you about that you would want to share with the Cleary community?

Something I’d like to share about myself, which I may not have explicitly mentioned, is that I deeply value inter-community allyship and intersectionality, as I believe our differences should be recognized and celebrated.

The LGBTQ+ community includes different people, with unique identities and perspectives, and presently the “T” in LGBTQ+ is being overwhelmingly and unjustly persecuted. The rest of the community needs to stand with their trans siblings.

In this political climate, whether a member of the LGBTQ+ community or not, every person would be better for embracing and celebrating our differences. At the very least, let people live their lives in peace.

The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of their employer/firm. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.