Lindsay Torivio: Building a More Inclusive Workplace

As Community Account Professional in the Mountain West Region, Lindsay Torivio is responsible for managing relationships between Comcast and multi-dwelling units and planning community engagement events for residents. She also co-leads the Indigenous Employee Resource Group (ERG) Events Committee. As a member of the Kiowa and Comanche tribes, Lindsay is passionate about giving back to her community and using her voice to inspire inclusivity.

You’ve been a Community Account Professional at Comcast for more than five years. What are you responsible for in this role, and what do you like most about your job?

Community Account Professionals are the face of Xfinity for apartment complexes. My team develops and manages Comcast’s relationships with apartment communities by supporting their marketing, handling customer escalations, and holding events for the residents in order to attract new customers to Xfinity services.

A lot of my role also includes community work, which I like most about my job. We’re out in the community, engaging with the Apartment Association of New Mexico and holding events – such as Pride and Strides Against Breast Cancer walks – to meet the people we work with. I love the feeling of creating an impact in the communities around me.

When and why did you join the Indigenous ERG?

I joined right when the Indigenous ERG launched in 2021 – I was super excited to see it!

I felt like it was my responsibility to join and help build an environment that supports people who come from the same background as I do and share similar cultural traditions. It’s hard to find that kind of tight-knit community in the workplace, but Indigenous allows us the space to connect and be proud of who we are.

At the start of 2024, you became an Events Co-lead for the Indigenous ERG. Why did you take on this leadership role, and what are you most proud of accomplishing?

When I first joined the ERG, I helped the original Events Co-Leads and felt inspired to continue the work they were doing once their term ended. I want to be the person who can bring conversation about the Indigenous community into the corporate environment, so it felt like the right time for me to step in and help build the foundation of growing allies and educating others.

I’m most proud of our work to normalize inclusive language about the community. I worked really hard to influence the language surrounding holidays. For example, Thanksgiving or Fourth of July holiday plans are often discussed in team meetings, but many Indigenous people don’t celebrate these holidays. Therefore, I’ve been creating awareness and working with managers on using more inclusive language, suggesting phrases that apply to everyone like “enjoy your time off” or “have a nice long weekend.”

What do you see as the role of ERGs at Comcast?

I see ERGs as a place for inclusivity where Comcast employees can be their full selves. I have never worked at a company that celebrates so many differences and appreciates that the diversity of our communities adds so much value to the workplace. Personally, the Indigenous ERG has given me a platform to proudly represent my community.

Have there been any aspects of your identity that have influenced your career journey?

Coming from a small and marginalized community has made me a more inclusive person. I understand how it feels to be excluded, so throughout my career, I’ve gone out of my way to meet others and learn from their perspectives. I made it my goal to network across different departments and involve others in my career journey.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell her to speak up and be proud of who she is and where she comes from.

It was difficult for me to be authentic when I was younger because I felt like I didn’t belong. Having grown up in Oklahoma, I learned about historical events like the Land Run repeatedly in school – which made me want to minimize myself. I would have wanted my younger self to understand that her differences brought so much value to the world. Today, I embrace my background, and I have the opportunity to teach my daughters to also be loud and proud of their Indigenous identity.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

It’s never too late to start your DE&I journey.

It took a while for me to know where I fit in at Comcast, but the Indigenous ERG gave me a platform to amplify the voice of my Indigenous community and helped me fulfill my responsibility to represent them. I believe that if I can teach just one person how to be more inclusive, then I’m doing the right thing. Having a voice is crucial for that.