For Lauren Pulido, inclusion isn’t just a career goal — it’s a lifelong commitment. His journey, shaped by both personal and professional experiences, has fueled his dedication to creating spaces where equity and justice can thrive, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals.
As the Outreach and Engagement Manager for the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, Pulido now works to strengthen the connections between LGBTQ+ business owners and broader networks, fostering new opportunities for growth and collaboration. Recently, he took his commitment to the next level by enrolling in the Applied Inclusive Leadership Certificate program at Brown University’s School of Professional Studies.
Finding a passion for DEI
Pulido’s path to becoming an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) wasn’t a straight line — it began on the softball field at Sierra College.
“At the time, I identified as female and was offered a spot on the Sierra College softball team,” Pulido says. “But I had a difficult first year, and I had to decide between being a collegiate athlete, being a full time student and also holding a job. Ultimately, I decided that school was more important, so I stopped playing softball and focused on school. That's when I started to do a deep dive into myself and my own journey.”
After transferring to Sacramento State, Pulido earned his bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies and Behavioral Sciences. It was there that he helped establish the school’s first LGBTQ+ Studies minor, a milestone that would allow future students to explore LGBTQ+ issues in greater depth.
This experience fueled his passion for creating change, but Pulido knew he wanted to do more than just study diversity and inclusion — he wanted to make a real-world impact.
Advocating for visibility and policy change
Driven by this passion, Pulido took on a role as a field representative for a Sacramento assembly member, where he worked on LGBTQ+ issues as well as environmental justice, cannabis reform and recidivism. One of his proudest moments came when he helped raise the transgender pride flag at both the California State Capitol and the City of Sacramento — marking the first time the flag flew at a national building.
Pulido’s work continued at the Sacramento LGBT Center, where, as the Outreach and Engagement Manager, he led initiatives such as the 2021 Trans Visibility March. He also served as Co-Executive Director at the Gender Health Center, a transgender-led nonprofit, where he helped establish the Black Trans Fund and advocated for healthcare equity.
“I think a lot of people think our biggest issues are things like pronouns and bathrooms,” Pulido says. “But the real issues are the societal judgment and mistreatment we face, which often lead to violence and even death. I wanted to help highlight the complexity of these issues and stress how important it is to not just be visible, but to show support.”
Despite his extensive advocacy work, Pulido recognized that to drive lasting, systemic change, he needed to deepen his understanding of DEI. That’s when he discovered the Applied Inclusive Leadership Certificate program at Brown University.
Learning leadership at Brown
For Pulido, the decision to enroll in the program wasn’t just about the content, it was also about connecting with like-minded individuals who were equally committed to finding solutions to DEI challenges. “When I saw the course, I thought, ‘This is exactly what I’ve been looking for,’” he says. “I wanted to bring what I learned back to our community.”
Pulido says the program was transformative, giving him evidence-based strategies for creating more inclusive workplaces and helping bridge cultural divides. One of the key takeaways was learning how to elicit buy-in for DEI initiatives by backing them up with data-driven evidence.