Welcome Maro, our first guest in our #QueerAtWork interview series this year!
For about one year now, he has been part of the ProSiebenSat.1 Tech Team in Berlin as a Scrum Master. In our interview, we talk with him about his professional and personal journey, which already includes many stations – from his home country Argentina, through Italy and Spain to Germany. 🌎 Openly and personally, he speaks about his coming-out process as a gay man and why he believes its important to make DE&I initiatives visible in companies.
He also reveals a fact about himself that might be new even for many of his colleagues. Well just say: "RocknRoll!" 🎤
Our "warm-up question" for you: On a scale of 1 to 10, how much are you looking forward to spring?
Good question, on a scale of 1 to 10, I would choose an 8.
Could your anticipation of spring perhaps also be related to the fact that you are from Argentina and actually used to a different climate?
Yes, I have to admit that Im really looking forward to warmer temperatures. Luckily, Im flying to Buenos Aires this month, where temperatures around 25 degrees await me – an early summer for me so to speak (laughs).
Youve been with ProSiebenSat.1 for about a year now. What was your path to joining us like?
My husband and I originally wanted to see more of the world. Since we both have also Italian roots, we first moved to Italy to get the Italian citizenship. After that important milestone, we decided to move to Barcelona. I worked for two years as an Agile Coach at a Polish start-up, supporting a client in this fantastic city.
In summer 2024, we were in Berlin for the first time for a short house-sitting vacation and immediately knew: this is love at first sight! When a position as an Scrum Master at ProSiebenSat.1 in Berlin was then advertised, I applied right away and finally got the job.
That sounds really exciting. What exactly does your day-to-day work look like?
In my role, I support all relevant stakeholders in the tech department in mastering their challenges as effectively as possible. For example, I moderate workshops and retrospectives – regular team meetings to reflect together and continuously improve collaboration and processes. My environment is multicultural, very appreciative, and gives me a lot of freedom. For me, thats perfect for growing both professionally and personally.
Would you like to tell us about your own coming out journey and what experiences youve had in professional and private contexts?
Yes, of course. In my private life, I first told my parents and then my best friends that I was gay in the early 2000s. It wasnt easy for me at the time, but fortunately my family and friends were very understanding and supportive. In my professional environment, I unfortunately didnt come out for a long time due to fear of exclusion. After ten years, however, I no longer wanted to live these "two lives," especially since many of my colleagues had become like friends to me by that point. It was very relieving to tell them, and I have not experienced any negative reactions.
I finally felt truly arrived and belonging as a gay man in 2010, when Argentina passed the law for same-sex marriage. The feeling of equality was very encouraging.
How do you perceive the acceptance within society towards queer people? Are you actively involved in the LGBT+ scene?
In Berlin, I perceive great acceptance and feel safe in most situations. Ive found good queer friends here and can be myself. Weve also experienced equality at an institutional level — for example, when we were able to register as a married couple and received a residence permit as a family. Unfortunately, thats not the case in many other countries in the world, where queer people are still persecuted and threatened.
Personally, Im a strong supporter and participant of all CSD and Pride parades like in Berlin, Buenos Aires or Barcelona. Furthermore, I want to contribute to greater queer visibility by being a guest in this wonderful "Queer at Work" interview series today and sharing my story.
You have already worked in several companies in Argentina and Europe. Based on these experiences, what can companies do to create a culture in which queer people feel safe and accepted?
I think the first important question companies should ask themselves in this regard is: What kind of corporate culture are we striving for? I understand this as an ongoing journey shaped by actions, decisions, and communication. That requires trained people who take responsibility for implementing appropriate measures and demonstrate integrity when faced with unacceptable behavior.
In the past, I had the opportunity to lead Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at a global company. Together with a group of ambassadors, we conducted monthly workshops to make the DEI agenda visible throughout the organization. This was very successful and encouraged teams and departments to engage with topics such as interculturalism, Subtle Acts of Exclusion (SAE), or the privilege walk*. I believe companies should explicitly invest in this kind of trainings.
Of course, we also have our classic question for you: Is there anything your colleagues dont know about you yet?
Absolutely! Many probably dont know yet that in my 20s and 30s I founded several pop-rock bands and was the lead singer and guitarist. A wonderful time! In my 40s, however, I gave up the rock star life and nowadays only sing in the shower (laughs). However, Ive found another way to live out my love of music by recently developing an online multiplayer music quiz called HITAZOS.
Thank you very much, Maro, for these great insights and for sharing your story with us!
*The Privilege Walk is a group exercise designed to make structurally rooted social inequalities visible and tangible. It aims to facilitate conversations about the effects of systemic privilege and encourage reflection and exchange.