What makes a workplace feel welcoming?
Sometimes it’s finding colleagues who share your interests. Sometimes it’s discovering people with similar experiences. Sometimes it’s knowing you can talk openly about your life, ask questions, share perspectives, and be yourself without giving it a second thought.
JetPride, our LGBTQIA+ employee resource group (ERG), is one place where people find that connection and support.
This post is a look at the people behind the community, the ideas that shape it, and what it means to those who are part of it.
What is JetPride?
One of the things that makes JetBrains unique is how many initiatives begin with employees themselves. JetPride is one example.
JetPride was created by employees who wanted a dedicated space for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies at JetBrains. The community brings together people from different teams, disciplines, and locations.
One of the principles behind JetPride is that nobody needs to arrive with all the answers.
Some members are deeply involved in LGBTQIA+ communities. Others are encountering certain topics for the first time. Some join because they are looking for community. Others want to better understand the experiences of colleagues and friends.
The aim is simply to help people connect, better understand one another, and build a stronger sense of belonging.
A personal perspective
For Content Marketing Manager Conrad Schwellnus, belonging often shows up in small moments:
“Small moments of expression and shared language can help create a joyful, light-hearted, and welcoming environment, whether in person or on Slack.
Even playful cultural references or LGBTQIA+ terminology can help people feel seen and included when used respectfully and authentically.
At the same time, it’s important to leave room for questions, different comfort levels, and open dialogue. Curiosity, kindness, and mutual respect are what ultimately help create a space where everyone feels safe together.”
His perspective reflects one of the ideas at the heart of JetPride: understanding often starts with curiosity, conversation, and a willingness to learn from one another.
Growing with Pride
Pride Month is a time to celebrate LGBTQIA+ lives, history, creativity, resilience, and joy.
This year, JetPride is marking Pride Month with the theme Growing with Pride. The theme and visual identity were developed by JetPride Community Lead Gregorio Sanchez, who wanted to capture both the diversity of LGBTQIA+ communities and the idea that understanding grows over time.
“Growing with Pride came from the idea that understanding rarely happens all at once. It grows through conversations, curiosity, shared experiences, and a willingness to listen to one another.
We also wanted the visual identity to reflect the diversity within LGBTQIA+ communities. Each flower draws inspiration from the colors of a different Pride flag, representing lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex, asexual, aromantic, pansexual, queer, and other communities across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.
Pride is often talked about as a single community, but it’s made up of many different identities, experiences, and stories. The flowers were designed to celebrate that diversity while reflecting the idea of growth at the heart of this year’s theme.”
Pride Month in action
While JetPride is active year-round, Pride Month is one of the community’s largest and most visible projects, bringing together employees across offices, teams, and locations.
This year’s activities include:
- Employee stories exploring what helps people be themselves at work.
- A Pride Month quiz covering LGBTQIA+ history, culture, and community.
- Resources and guides on inclusive language and LGBTQIA+ terminology.
- Country-specific resources highlighting local support organizations and information.
- Talks, discussions, and learning sessions across offices.
- Film screenings and community conversations.
- Informal gatherings and local Pride celebrations.
- Pride-themed pins and T-shirts created for community members and participants.
- A social media campaign highlighting LGBTQIA+ visibility beyond JetBrains.
What makes Pride Month at JetBrains special is that activities are shaped locally. Rather than following a single format, offices organize events that reflect their own communities, interests, and ideas.
This year, colleagues in Amsterdam are hosting talks and a fireside chat. In Berlin, activities include DJ sets, a makeup station, and interactive games. Employees will also come together for a screening of the award-winning short film The Flowers, while colleagues in Cyprus, Munich, and other locations are planning to attend local Pride events together.
Other offices are organizing their own gatherings, conversations, treats, and community activities throughout June and beyond.
Together, these activities offer opportunities to learn something new, start conversations, celebrate Pride, and spend time with colleagues from across the company.
Looking ahead
Like many employee-led communities at JetBrains, JetPride exists because people saw an opportunity to create something meaningful and took the initiative to make it happen.
That’s one of the things that makes JetBrains special. People are trusted not only to contribute through their roles, but also to shape the experiences that become part of life here.
JetPride is one example of what can happen when people decide to build something together.
If you’re looking for a place where you can do meaningful work, keep growing, and help shape what comes next, explore our open roles and learn more about life at JetBrains on our careers page.
