National Coming Out Day 2022
October 3, 2022
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2 Minutes 30 Seconds
October 11 is National Coming Out Day, a day to celebrate the courage of coming out as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
In support of the day, Dan Bosman, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, TD Securities and Treasury and Balance Sheet Management, shares his professional and personal journey as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
In support of the day, Dan Bosman, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, TD Securities and Treasury and Balance Sheet Management, shares his professional and personal journey as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
What is your career journey?
Originally, I envisioned working for a software company but found myself in technology in the capital markets sector. I moved from the U.K. to New York – where I've been for nearly 20 years – and have spent my career learning the business and its technology. At TD, I've been able to lead digital transformations, nurture an engineering culture and build high-performing and supportive teams. There's an entrepreneur trapped inside here somewhere!
How has the 2SLGBTQ+ community at TD, which includes community members and allies, supported or impacted your journey, either personal or professional?
I was closeted through the early parts of my career – it was only when I joined TD that I felt comfortable coming out and being my authentic self. Part of that was owed to the visibility of senior leadership, giving me the confidence to come out to my family and then ultimately to my work colleagues. My only regret is that I wasn't in this environment sooner. I can say that coming out at work has been a turning point for my happiness and mental health. Holding onto that nervousness all those years impacted me in ways I couldn't imagine but being myself at work was a weight lifted.
What does being your "authentic self" mean to you?
I am able be my authentic self when I'm comfortable being myself at work, in an environment where everyone is treated with respect and feels included. Put simply, I like to think it's about treating people as you wish you would be treated and being open to everyone to make sure they all have a seat (and a voice) at the table.
What has been the most rewarding part of being involved with the 2SLGBTQ+ community at TD?
The people – through participating in the employee resource group, I find the energy and passion of our people to be amazing. Having such strong visible support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community and our amazing network of allies across every part of the bank is fantastic. We have a great speaker series where we've gotten to meet folks from outside of our industry to learn about their journey, and hearing the parallels to the financial industry is always very interesting to me.
What advice would you give (professional or personal) to 2SLGBTQ+ community members new to TD?
Engage your Forever Proud employee resource group and connect with others – either as a member or an ally. If you are out and proud, get involved, but if you're not, we still have a place for you. Many others have been through this journey and we are all here to help! Remember that visibility goes a long way. When I shared I was a 2SLGBTQ+ tech executive, I had folks message me saying how important that was for them to hear that and it meant a lot. If I can pay it forward and help any of our members or allies, then it's a win in my book.
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, TD Securities and Treasury & Balance Sheet Management (TBSM)
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, TD Securities and Treasury & Balance Sheet Management (TBSM)
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, TD Securities and Treasury & Balance Sheet Management (TBSM)