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nr-article-Military-Appreciation-5-22-20.desktop - T-Mobile Newsroom

Employee Spotlight: How Military Veterans Power the Un-carrier

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As the country honors its servicemen and women this month, T-Mobile renews its lead sponsorship of a nonprofit helping veterans and their families meet the challenges of life after the military. We bring you a special story of how three employees found themselves demonstrating what Military Appreciation Month in action truly means.

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“I’m often asked how we got connected with <a href="https://warriorsandquietwaters.org/">Warriors & Quiet Waters</a>,” says Paula Timmons, a T-Mobile director of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C., with a smile. “I guess that would start with me. In the back of my head, I kept thinking of my friend Laura and her husband Drew. Laura and I have been close friends for almost 20 years and over that time, watching her with Drew, I knew I wanted to be an ally for her — be a better friend for her.”

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Our story begins here, with this simple thought from an ally. This small but mighty space held for allyship led to a path that’s connected three people to a cause, as well as a commitment to each other, that they never could have expected.

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Paula says in her role she sees herself as an ambassador for T-Mobile, sharing its policies and values with policymakers on Capitol Hill. She says as the daughter of a Navy Captain and the sister of a brother who served in the military, she found herself focusing on Veterans Affairs and the work the company was doing to serve its veteran employees and community.

Paula says she was working on a project to find underserved rural markets in need of the benefits of fast and reliable connectivity, when she met officials from the state of Montana. She was invited to represent T-Mobile at an event with Montana Senator Steve Daines. While there, she struck up a conversation with a few men who said they were on the board of an organization called Warriors & Quiet Waters.

“I learned they were all veterans who suffered from some kind of PTSD,” says Paula. “One of them even brought a service dog to lunch that day.”

She says they described their mission at Warriors & Quiet Waters as helping post-9/11 combat veterans and their families thrive by building a support system and sense of community through outdoor excursions like fly fishing. Sensing that Paula was really interested in their work, she says they asked if she thought T-Mobile might be interested in learning more and sponsoring one of the biggest events they were planning that year, called the <a href="https://warriorsandquietwaters.org/events/warrior-taste-fest" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warrior Taste Fest</a>.

“I knew right away I wanted T-Mobile to be part of this event in our new Bozeman Montana market,” says Paula, “but I found myself constantly thinking about my friend Laura. Knowing she was an avid fly fisher and knowing what she had been going through with her husband Andrew, I just felt like I needed to make that connection.”

“In the words of Johnny Cash, we got married in a fever,” laughs Laura Linderman Barker, a senior director on the Government Affairs team at T-Mobile.

Laura says she met her husband Andrew when he was doing reserve duty in the Navy and working with the Department of Justice. They fell in love quickly — then married quickly — because he was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan. They got hitched in San Diego in 2008, and a day later he began his seventh deployment. It was always meant to be his last, but not for the reasons that came to be.

“Unfortunately, when he was there, Andrew was in close proximity to a blast and suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury,” says Laura. “TBIs are complicated. I had no idea what it meant to be a military wife. I was someone who always planned everything and felt in control, but then became someone who never felt so emotionally vulnerable. And I deeply missed my husband.”

Laura says she had no concept of what to expect of supporting a navy veteran reintegrating into civilian life but they just kept moving forward as life took over. They were busy working and raising their two daughters. While on the outside they may have looked like any other family, Laura says in no uncertain terms they were struggling with very complex issues at home and she felt overwhelmed.

When Paula first mentioned her chance encounter with the board members she met from Warrior & Quiet Waters, she says she saw it as a wonderful opportunity for T-Mobile. The company could sponsor the Warrior Taste Fest to continue its work of supporting veterans, and the part of Montana where the organization is located was a rural area in need of better connectivity.

“Our boss Tony Russo, VP of Government Affairs, saw an obvious alignment with the brand's values," says Paula, "but he too saw Laura struggling and once I pitched it to him, he said he would support the sponsorship — so Laura and I headed to Montana to represent T-Mobile.”

Laura says when they arrived and she shared her personal story with some of the staff at Warriors & Quiet Waters, someone referred to her as a caregiver and it was the first time she had ever even thought of herself that way. It’s no surprise that members of the organization saw Laura for exactly who she was, as Warriors & Quiet Waters was beginning to work on a caregiver focused fishing expedition program.

“I admit when I first heard of Warriors & Quiet Waters, I immediately thought I need to get my husband involved in this and it kind of went over my head that I should apply as well,” she says.

Paula told Emily Sather, Chief Development Officer at Warriors & Quiet Waters, about how impacted Laura was by the Warriors Taste Fest and Emily asked if Laura would be interested in applying to their new program. She immediately called Laura.

“I think Laura for the first time felt that she found a community that understood who she was and what she was going through — she was a caregiver”, says Paula. “And the opportunity to take advantage of this new-found community through fly fishing came at the perfect time with what Laura was going through. I saw her struggling and I needed to help her put one foot in front of the other.”

Once again, Laura says it was her ally Paula who pushed her to see that she, too was, deserving of care.

Connecting veterans (and their families) to careers. T-Mobile has partnered with <a href="https://www.hiringourheroes.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjwjtOTBhAvEiwASG4bCJcu2JUfxNReMCYUNU25ZqXk2_hJjQLBeV_--Toju8tVfbYtWGu6vBoCoRIQAvD_BwE">Hiring Our Heroes</a>, which finds meaningful employment opportunities for service members, veterans and spouses. It is also <a href="https://www.militaryfriendly.com/is-t-mobile-usa-inc-military-friendly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nationally recognized</a> as a military-friendly employer and has committed to hire 10,000 veterans and military spouses by 2023. Since its merger with Sprint in 2020, T-Mobile is more than halfway there.Fostering a culture of inclusion and professional growth. T-Mobile offers resources to help retain veteran and military spouse employees throughout their career. <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/returnship-helps-veterans-reenter-workforce">The Tech X Returnship program</a>, which connects people with a path back to the careers they love after a considerable break due to personal reasons, has accepted a number of veterans transitioning back into civilian life.

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“I had been going through a particularly rough period at home, and I just remember after that conversation with Paula, I submitted my application,” says Laura. “A total of six people are chosen for their caregiver fishing expeditions and I feel grateful I was chosen last year. My takeaway is that I’m of no value to my husband and family if I’m not taking care of myself. And this program reminds people to stop and energize and refuel because you’re going back to a situation that requires your energy and if you don’t ever recharge it can be a recipe for disaster. It reminded me to not just focus on what it is to have my most basic needs met, but to challenge me to pursue a life of purpose.”

“Laura is someone who always wants to do what’s right,” says Emily, “and it’s an honor to partner with someone who is not only service-oriented but also brings her own personal experience of being a military caregiver and the challenges and opportunities therein.”

Laura returned from that trip excited to do more for the organization, but says attending that first Warrior Taste Fest was monumental thanks to one chance encounter.

“That’s when we met Larry,” she explains.

“I am one month away from retiring after almost 30 years of service with the Washington Army National Guard, and even right now Warriors & Quiet Warriors is helping me with such a big transition,” says Larry Weidinger, a T-Mobile Operations Manager in Montana.

A chance sighting of pamphlets for the organization back in 2014 led Larry to ask some questions about what exactly they did on these outdoor expeditions that was so special. Fast forward more than eight years later, and Larry has become a staple figure with the non-profit. He says his volunteer work as a companion to help other soldiers struggling after service was something he believes is part of his purpose.

“It’s just something I knew I needed to do as much as I can for the rest of my life,” says Larry.

“Larry never wanted the spotlight to be on himself,” says Emily, “and even though he qualified, he always had a mindset of service.”

Larry’s qualifications are staggering when you ask him to list out his life of service. In the Army for almost three decades, he was deployed to the Middle East three times and to seven different countries, including Iraq. He only recently decided to retire from his role as a senior non-commissioned officer and command sergeant major in a military intelligence battalion.

“I never wanted to take another veteran’s spot who might need it more than myself,” he explains.

When he was invited to join a fishing experience as a recipient himself, he says it was hard for him to allow others to care for him, but also necessary.

“I realized after getting married and having a baby and moving out of my command sergeant major role, that I also have a purpose to take care of myself,” he says. “What this program has done to help me is really amazing.”

“Our CEO Brian Gilman often talks about why veteran reintegration is hard after getting out of the military,” says Emily. “We are not about just focusing on the challenges, but also the solution and how we can help veterans find peace, meaning and purpose, and to pursue that purpose with passion.”

Larry says he always wanted to find a way to coordinate T-Mobile support for the organization that had given him so much beyond the work he was doing to bring more coverage to their area, but he says he just didn’t know how. So, when he walked into a partner’s lunch at the first Warrior Taste Fest and met Laura and Paula for the first time, accompanied by so much T-Mobile magenta, he was floored.

“He kept asking us how we got T-Mobile in Montana to do all this,” says Paula. “It felt like this perfect storm because Larry had been building out the network in that area as a market engineer and was so passionate about Warriors & Quiet Waters. He had so much insight and we made a pact after that event that we were going to do all we could to make sure this wasn’t a one-time thing.”

T-Mobile is helping veterans get the care they deserve by partnering with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to enable real-time health care via video.In 2020 during National Veterans and Military Families Month, T-Mobile became the first major wireless provider to make the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/t-mobile-makes-988-emergency-lifeline-available-to-customers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">988 emergency lifeline </a>immediately available to its customers, which offers real-time mental health services.<a href="https://livemagenta.com/)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LiveMagenta</a> houses various telehealth options for T-Mobile employees focused on mental health such as virtual therapy and well-being apps.<a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flivemagenta.com%2Fl3%2FMindfulness-with-eM-Life&data=04%7C01%7CShawna.Ryan16%40T-Mobile.com%7Ca311ee43e17b470543ad08da0dc3cb8b%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637837431827235903%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=jV99GvBVkkBnXAzUXSg9xN6z%2Bdx3XJbpRViycgmdNrs%3D&reserved=0">eM Life Mindfulness</a> offers programs for military and veterans, and there are also immersive programs like <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvibe.emindful.com%2Fprograms%2FMMAP&data=04%7C01%7CShawna.Ryan16%40T-Mobile.com%7Ca311ee43e17b470543ad08da0dc3cb8b%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637837431827235903%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=aYTxkCQf4uhip%2B234n36USer18da4ehT8eIdI1UZ%2BUY%3D&reserved=0">Journey Forward: The M.M.A.P. For Success</a>, on-demand programs like <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvibe.emindful.com%2Fprograms%2Fnext-evolution-veterans-from-s&data=04%7C01%7CShawna.Ryan16%40T-Mobile.com%7Ca311ee43e17b470543ad08da0dc3cb8b%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637837431827235903%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=nEcGYyUFGn3GaEzTqznzvXLRZhwvPWfRrGT0GLEnI9o%3D&reserved=0">Next Evolution: Veterans - from Soldier to Civilian</a> and a variety of mindfulness communities such as <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvibe.emindful.com%2Fvibe-tribes%2F19&data=04%7C01%7CShawna.Ryan16%40T-Mobile.com%7Ca311ee43e17b470543ad08da0dc3cb8b%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637837431827235903%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=xxtADLDsmaxgTcAFqDYk5AqUx7NbqoC%2FszD%2B82HfXME%3D&reserved=0">Mindful Warriors</a>. LiveMagenta’s <a href="http://liveandworkwell.com/">Live and Work Well</a> site offers articles, videos, resources and topics for veterans. <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ft-mobile.percipio.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dveterans&data=04%7C01%7CShawna.Ryan16%40T-Mobile.com%7Ca311ee43e17b470543ad08da0dc3cb8b%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637837431827235903%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=YoX%2BbBJ9SwYwFhTkkNi2d9IsTEgpaIKfq6UeIBFyeC8%3D&reserved=0">Percipio Resources</a> are free and available to T-Mobile’s military employees including books, courses, videos and much more.

So, Laura decided to write a letter directly to Jon Freier, T-Mobile’s President of Consumer Group and the executive sponsor of the company’s Veterans and Allies Network employee resource group. She says she pulled all three of their personal stories together and explained what this organization is doing not just for her personally, but for so many others who have served, including Larry. She asked that he consider allowing T-Mobile to become a lead corporate sponsor for their next Warrior Taste Fest fundraiser.

“I’m so proud of the way T-Mobile supports our employee veterans and the veteran community at large,” she wrote. “Our work matters and aligns so beautifully with WQW’s mission.”

She sent the email on a Friday. By that following Monday she had a response.

“I ENTHUSIASTICALLY and FULLY support!” Jon Freier wrote. “Big thanks, Laura, for bringing this great organization to my attention.”

Laura says his commitment turned out to be more than just the funds.

“He blew us away by identifying countless resources throughout the company that we could work with to take our support of their event to the max,” explains Laura.

Members of Warriors & Quiet Waters say the attention that they were able to bring to their biggest event was invaluable, and the support they gave to ensure it was a success will never be forgotten. And thanks to these three T-Mobile employees advocating for the non-profit, Jon has once again approved the company’s lead corporate sponsorship for next Warrior Taste Fest in August 2022.

“It’s not just about helping veterans to survive,” ultimately, says Laura, “it’s how do we get them to thrive? And it’s in that thrive that you come to a self-actualization or a life of purpose. And I know this to be particularly important in the lives of a veteran family. For the veteran caregiver or the children, it’s important because so much effort often goes into helping the veteran succeed, and often times you forget to make sure you’re succeeding. And my participation in this program reminded me of the importance of thinking about challenging yourself to a greater life of purpose, because that’s when you see veterans and their families thriving, and that is the goal of Warriors & Quiet Waters.”

When you ask Larry to think about how this all came together the way it did, he will interrupt to remind you how it all started with an ally.

“I know that Paula was the catalyst for this by making the connection after her encounter with the board members from Warriors & Quiet Waters,” he says. “And through that I got to meet her and Laura, who has become a true friend. We know we can always call each other and be there for each other. And it’s because of this chance encounter of ours that T-Mobile has benefitted and so have those we serve at Warriors & Quiet Waters.”

T-Mobile renews its lead sponsorship of Warriors & Quiet Warriors after three employees demonstrate what Military Appreciation Month in action means.

An Ally. A Military Spouse. A Soldier. - T-Mobile Newsroom

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Meet just a few of the people behind T-Mobile’s massive ongoing pursuits to reduce its environmental footprint — and that of its customers, too — as the company marks Earth Day 2022 by celebrating recent accomplishments and further solidifies its partnership with The Nature Conservancy.

We all saw the headline earlier this year: T-Mobile now <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/re100-achievement">sources 100% of its electricity</a> from clean, renewable energy. But you may be wondering what that achievement means exactly, and just what kind of behind-the-scenes work goes into such an accomplishment. The truth is, multiple teams work cross-functionally year after year to bring about these kinds of ambitious sustainability goals.

“My role is to is to calculate T-Mobile’s enterprise-wide electricity consumption, which dictates how much renewable electricity we need to procure to be 100% renewable,” explains Conrad Farner, a technology sourcing manager with T-Mobile’s Procurement Organization that focuses on energy and sustainability projects.

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The story of T-Mobile’s sustainability success is a story of dedicated employees like Conrad. In 2019, T-Mobile was the first in the U.S. wireless industry to <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/press/t-mobile-green-america-scorecard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">set science-based targets</a> (SBTs) to significantly cut its carbon emissions by 2025 and help the company mitigate the risks of climate change. When the Un-carrier made headlines to earn that industry-first RE100 commitment earlier this year, it also achieved those carbon targets four years ahead of schedule.

“I’ve worked on numerous initiatives that helped drive us to this incredible milestone,” says Amy Bond, a fellow technology sourcing manager on the Procurement Team. “From ‘smart’ buildings to financial investments in wind and solar farm installations, it’s exciting to stay on the cutting edge of solutions that truly improve our environment.”

And, what’s truly exciting is that even with these huge accomplishments so far, there is still so much more impact we can have on the planet. To celebrate Earth Day, <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/blog/earth-day-2022">T-Mobile has announced</a> it will offset the carbon emissions of all wireless device use for our customers for one day. The company is also helping family and small landowners across the U.S. improve the health of their forests and fight climate change with The Nature Conservancy’s <a href="https://www.forestfoundation.org/what-we-do/increase-carbon-storage/family-forest-carbon-program/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Family Forest Carbon Program</a> . T-Mobile’s $300,000 contribution will support the expansion of the program to the Midwest and Pacific Northwest, aiding thousands of family landowners and helping improve the carbon storage potential of their land.

“This program is really innovative because it helps remove barriers smaller landowners face when it comes to accessing resources needed to invest back into their land, and that’s a win for them and the planet,” says Angela Null, an ESG strategy and sustainability manager on the Corporate Social Responsibility team. “I love that T-Mobile is partnering with others to have an even greater impact.”

We spoke to various T-Mobile employees focused on energy and sustainability projects to get a sense of how they work to reduce the company’s overall environmental footprint and greenhouse gas emissions all while aligning with the company’s larger strategic initiatives to mobilize business operations, employees, customers and even the broader community around making the world a greener, more sustainable place.

Whether it’s working to identify and evaluate energy efficiency upgrades across the company, investing in renewables like wind and solar installations, or working on personal sustainability projects, these employees have an undeniable passion for the planet all year round.

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T-Mobile matches its own annual electrical usage with renewable energy from a portfolio of sources including: virtual power purchase agreements, a green direct tariff, renewable retail agreements, and unbundled REC purchases. For more information visit t-mobile.com.​ Carbon offset ​calculated based on approximate daily electricity consumption for total prepaid and postpaid customer phones, tablets, laptops, wearables, portable hotspots, IoT devices, and IHBB gateways assuming year-end FY2021 subscriber figures, an eGRID 2020 U.S. average emission factor and AR5 GWP values.

Meet some of the people behind T-Mobile’s ongoing pursuits to reduce its carbon footprint, and that of its customers, too , as the company marks Earth Day.

Employee Spotlight: How These Magenta Rock Stars Go Green - T-Mobile Newsroom

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As the war in Ukraine continues, one of the most important things, say these T-Mobile team members who are from the region, is keeping an open line of communication with loved ones. Here are their stories of how they’re keeping connected during the conflict.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, stories outlining the ways in which connectivity can play in our world have punctuated the news with hope. And those with loved ones in Ukraine, Russia and nearby countries can’t possibly undercut the most traditional benefit of a connected world: the ability to talk with those you care about with less complexity, even in complex times.

“Every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to bed, I talk to all of them and make sure they're okay,” said Yevheniy “John” Yuzvyak, a senior technology procurement manager at T-Mobile, of his family and friends in Ukraine. “Though, they’re not always okay, right?”

Born just fourteen days after Ukraine declared independence in 1991, John immigrated to the U.S. with his mother and sister a decade later. Last week, inspired by concern for family, he took to LinkedIn to share a first-time personal plea with his network and offer a list of organizations to support.

“I was born in Ukraine, have family and friends in Ukraine, and feel hopeless and heartbroken for those who wait for daylight every morning because the sound of sirens and bombs keeps them up at night,” his <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/johnyuzvyak_istandwithukraine-auxauraugauiaugauzauqauwaugavtautavs-activity-6904190253784023040-sRK0?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web">post read</a>. Over the past few weeks, tracking and touching base overseas have offered comfort.

“We have some family and friends who have evacuated, and I’ve got some family and friends in Kyiv, Donetsk, the Luhansk area. We still have some family in Odesa, but the majority of my immediate family is in western Ukraine, around Lutsk and Lviv. In Mariupol and a few other regions, you can't get in touch anymore because of the heavy bombings to the southern part of Ukraine,” John said.

“Luckily, my family and friends who haven’t fled are still in the western part of Ukraine, so we’re still able to communicate with them daily through Skype or Viber, or by calling them directly. My grandma, she went yesterday and bought some food and water and some clothes for some of the soldiers, and I sent her money for that, and, you know, it just helps from a morale perspective, if nothing else.”

“I just can't imagine not being able to reach them and knowing all the things that are going on,” Vladimir “Vladi” Zhukovskiy, a manager of creative direction at the company’s T-Studios, agreed. Vladi and his loved ones immediately started a group chat to keep in touch — a reason he found <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/t-mobile-offers-support-to-those-impacted-by-events-in-ukraine">T-Mobile’s extended waiver</a> for international long-distance and international roaming charges for calls and SMS made between the U.S. and Ukraine and surrounding impacted regions helpful.

“I was born in the western city of Lviv, Ukraine, and my family moved to the United States in 1995 when I was about seven and a half,” he explained. “Ukraine is still home. My wife has relatives in the eastern part of Ukraine, where the majority of the fighting has been going on lately. I think the outpouring of support from friends and colleagues at T-Mobile has been such a tremendous help.”

Like John’s, Vladi’s family is working to support those around them, but both explained that simply passing along the outpouring of support they receive from stateside friends and colleagues has a powerful impact on those they love.

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John is quick to point out that the situation impacts many, and that casting a wider net when showing support for impacted friends is wise: “This is not a war between Ukrainian and Russian people. This is a war between an authoritarian Russian government and the Ukrainian people, so there are people suffering on both sides. My grandfather was from Russia, so we have family and friends there, and it has been really difficult to hear them call and say, ‘Hey, please don’t hate us.’ You know, of course, we don’t hate you.”

Because of the countries’ long history, John explained, “everybody who is both Ukrainian or Russian has family or friends in Ukraine and Russia. And beyond that, things like this conflict happen all over the world. It impacts me right now, but this isn’t the first time, right? A lot of different people, and employees at T-Mobile, deal with these things on a daily basis.”

For Lidia Wiens, a communications specialist in T-Mobile's internal communications department, that shared history is as personal as it gets. “My mother is Ukrainian, and my father is Russian and German," she said. "My family moved from Ukraine to Estonia because there were more opportunities. So, I was born in Estonia, and then we emigrated from Estonia when I was six.”

“I went through ESL in school as a Russian speaker, but we spoke Russian because it was the ‘more common’ language. While we went to a Russian church, my mother’s side of the family went to a Ukrainian church. When my mother speaks to her sister, they speak Ukrainian. For me, it just felt like we were part of a mishmash Slavic community, and I don’ t even think my American friends in school made a distinction.”

Using Facebook Messenger to connect with her Aunt Nelya, who’s been sheltering in Kyiv over the past few weeks, hasn’t always been easy. “It can be hard to read posts where people I know are literally asking ‘Does anyone know anyone in Poland? Because my cousin's family of four are trying to get placed.’ So, I have to limit my exposure somewhat.”

Still, Lidia’s found relief even in the simplest connectivity feature of the platform: “I’m glad that it’s easy to check in on her, but even when we’re not speaking, the green indicator that shows she’s online reassures me. It’s a huge comfort just to know she’s out there, and she’s okay.”

Nina Spasikova, a communications manager in technology who emigrated from Macedonia in 2013, knows both the tension and the relief of connection stretch across Europe. “My region has been rattled by wars,” she said. “When Yugoslavia fell apart, those wars lasted forever, and though people thought they wouldn’t see another conflict of that scale in this area, these are the wounds people carry.”

The lasting anxiety from that shared experience has prompted preparation conversations. Over the phone, Nina and her mother have discussed preparing a go-bag, and Nina’s reminded her to keep her gas tank full. At the same time, Nina has been using Facebook Messenger to connect with a close college friend sheltering in Kyiv.

“Before the invasion, when troops began massing on the border, I thought of her immediately and reached out,” Nina said. “I didn’t know what to say, so I kept it very simple: I’m thinking about you a lot, and I have no idea how to help but I just want you to know I’m here.”

Fresh from the pandemic’s lockdown phases, we know the impact checking in on others can have. But for many who might want to reach out, it’s hard to know what to say. “It’s tough when you’re going through something like this and someone asks you how you're doing,” John said. “I've learned to accept that as a caring question, but I've had other people, even in my family, respond with, ‘Well, why would you even ask that? You know I’m obviously not doing well, how could I be doing well?’”

“I think it comes down to the individual and what they need, which can be hard. When it’s someone you know well, I think there may be an understanding of what to say, but I always take a lighter, cautious approach initially, then see how the person I’m reaching out to responds and go from there.”

Listening Circles led by T-Mobile’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team have gained ground as a go-to resource for employees during challenging times. The company has offered an open call to establish Listening Circles about the conflict since the invasion.

Facilitating these conversations with a set of ground rules for intentional engagement is important, Holli Martinez, VP of DE&I, shared. “Impactful listening is about prioritizing the other person’s experience,” she explained. “That can be in a circle, or it can be one on one.”

Some of the basics — reminders to come from a place of curiosity, assume positive intent, share mutual respect, and to listen and let others tell their story without interrupting — may seem like a given. But certain nuances can make a big difference.

Be sincere and open. In situations like these, where sensitivities are high, it’s important to embrace the discomfort of not knowing. Admit your concern and give yourself room to make mistakes. That could be as simple as saying; ‘I’m nervous I won’t say this right,’ or ‘I’m worried I may offend you, please let me know if I do.’Be supportive and present. These will almost without fail be emotionally charged conversations, so it can help to remind your friend or family member that your conversation with them is a safe space. Start by acknowledging your support, give reassurance about your trustworthiness, and stay centered and in the moment throughout the conversation.Be empathetic, not just sympathetic. We tend to think of sympathy as sharing the feelings of another person, while empathy is understanding another’s feelings, though you may not necessarily share the same experience. Sympathy is often an instinct, while empathy is a choice to connect with a person and let them know they are not alone.That empathy is more powerful when you speak from your authentic experience. Once you’ve shown your support and listened fully, draw from your own experience to respond. And if you don’t feel you have a comparable experience, be honest. It can be helpful to say, “The closest thing I can draw from is this, but I know it’s not the same, and I just want you to know I support you," instead of forcing a comparison, which might feel minimizing.

“Everybody has a different way of processing things,” offered John, “and everybody has a different way that they accept help, or want help offered to them. But one of the best ways, you know, for me, has just been saying, ‘Hey, we support Ukraine.’”

Since the invasion of Ukraine, stories of staying connected with loved ones have offered hope. Here, T-Mobile employees impacted by the conflict share how they've kept in touch with family there during this crisis.

Employee Spotlight: Making Connections Count When They’re Needed Most - T-Mobile Newsroom

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Employee Spotlight: Making Connections Count When They’re Needed Most

A standout from T-Mobile’s Procurement & Supply team is helping drive the company’s hugely successful NextTech Diversity Program as it enters its second year with expanded training courses and larger class sizes. In recognition of Black History Month, here she tells us about what drives her and her hopes for the future of the program.

Joyce Christanio, senior program manager for supplier diversity at T-Mobile, often speaks of purpose. The work she is involved with has a meaningful purpose, and the responsibility that comes with it isn’t lost on her.

“Our procurement team under Chief Procurement Officer Mike Simpson and Vice President Stephanie Owen is determined to provide leadership when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion. Internally as well as with suppliers that conduct business with T-Mobile,” says Joyce. “We’re setting new standards for the wireless industry and beyond -- and changing the way companies recruit talent is a huge part of that.”

As someone who lost a brother to gun violence, Joyce is passionate about the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/celebrating-diversity/nexttech-program">NextTech Diversity Program</a> she manages within her larger role at the company.

“We must realize that supporting these types of programs can reduce crime,” she says.

T-Mobile launched the NextTech Diversity Program last year to provide career training and job placement for hundreds of diverse candidates, helping them take on meaningful employment within the telecommunications industry. The launch coincided with an announcement that T-Mobile shares the responsibility of closing the industry’s diversity gap.

The 5G revolution is expected to create or transform up to an astounding <a href="https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/PDF-146/Accenture-5G-WP-US.pdf">16 million</a> full-time, part-time and temporary jobs directly and indirectly between 2021 to 2025 in the United States. It is estimated that 20,000 field technicians and trained tower crew workers are needed to help build 5G for all wireless providers. But people of color comprise a <a href="https://www.zippia.com/network-engineer-jobs/demographics/">disproportionately small percentage</a> of all network technicians and field crews, and Christanio says the NextTech Diversity Program — which has two paths to employment with its Technician Program and Commercial Equipment Driver’s Program — creates an important bridge between an industry that needs new workers and a workforce that is underrepresented.

At the beginning of February, Christanio and other supporters of the program celebrated its first anniversary, boasting a 100 percent graduation and career placement rate of its original technicians class of 50 students.  For 2022, T-Mobile recently announced its commitment to doubling the 2022 NextTech Diversity’s Technician Program class as well as expanding its more recent Equipment Driver’s Program.

We spoke with Joyce from her home of Kansas City, Missouri where she was recently recognized by The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City for 32 years of service assisting minority, women and veteran owned businesses.

It’s clear speaking with you that you believe to the core in the benefits of this program. Can you share where that confidence in the work comes from?

I am so proud to be managing an exciting T-Mobile program aimed at supporting women and men of color within under-represented communities. I can personally identify and whole-heartedly embrace this program because, as a youth, I too lived in an under-represented community. Being privy to unfortunate situations occurring in inner-city communities, such as drug deals, neighbors with addictions, robberies and losing a brother to senseless gun violence, I understand the importance of lending a hand to others to improve their lifestyles. While everyone can’t afford a college education, this program provides individuals a hand to exceed a minimum wage salary resulting in sustainable careers.

The NextTech Diversity Program has two focus areas: telecom technicians and equipment drivers. Can you explain how you partner with local trade schools to make the program successful?

The NextTech Program was created in January 2021 to fund the training and job placement of women and men of color to become telecom technicians.  T-Mobile’s chief procurement officer, Mike Simpson, recognized the need to diversify the pipeline of candidates. We partnered with telecom trade school <a href="https://www.mylearningalliance.com/">Learning Alliance Corporation</a> (LAC), which oversaw the recruitment, training, certification and job placement of 50 LAC graduates to 32 different network-building companies last year. Later, in September, T-Mobile’s Vice President of network supply chain, Bob Vorlicek, recognized the need to also diversify the pool of commercial drivers. Therefore, with NextTech being the trademarked program name, we now have two focus areas: NextTech Technician Program run by LAC in Tampa, and NextTech Equipment Driver’s Program that we partnered with <a href="https://newreflectionskc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Reflections Technical Institute</a> to manage in Kansas City, Missouri. Both programs are aimed at funding the training and job placement of hundreds of women and men of color through 2025.

Throughout 2022, <a href="https://www.mylearningalliance.com/">The Learning Alliance</a> Corporation will continue that work for 100 new network technician candidates, while <a href="https://newreflectionskc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Reflections Technical Institute</a> will do the same for the 70 new network equipment driver candidates. How does it feel to see these increased number of spots opening up for candidates?

As T-Mobile aims to grow both programs, we are demonstrating our commitment to diversify talent pipelines and ensure continued sustainable positions in the communities that we serve. Additionally, technicians and drivers are the engine behind our 5G world. For us to use our handsets to talk, text, access and deposit funds into our bank accounts, take precious family photos and watch movies — to name a few things we rely on them for every day. It takes technicians to build out the 5G network and drivers to transport the network equipment to T-Mobile’s 5G cell sites. This is why T-Mobile is recommending every company that relies on use of a mobile device to stand with us in one united front to join this program and demonstrate their commitment to embracing diversity, equity and inclusion. Companies can learn more by logging onto <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nexttechdiversity.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7CShawna.Ryan16%40T-Mobile.com%7C88b67bface95453863d508d9e0e5f06d%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637788100448813268%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=on6diSDNK3fUMmt9mqcXqRD1ER2GlUjld25NeuXfdkw%3D&reserved=0">nexttechdiversity.com</a>.

Have you seen for yourself first-hand how this program can positively impact someone?

This program is special to me because it’s a way of giving back to a less fortunate group of individuals who may not have a career path or funding to pursue a career. I have witnessed graduates of the program crying as they thanked T-Mobile for funding their training. One graduate stated he didn’t know where he’d be in life if it weren’t for this program. This program directly helps inner-city youth with no direction in life, no sustainable job to make a decent living who, too often, land in jail. These programs produce jobs to hopefully prevent jail sentences. Additionally, we’re evaluating opportunities to include “returning citizens” – people released from incarceration - as part of these programs to encourage their full and successful reintegration into society. I’m thankful our T-Mobile executives put their trust in me to develop and lead such a rewarding program. I believe it enhances T-Mobile’s brand, and it enhances my life as well.

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A T-Mobile standout is managing the company’s hugely successful NextTech Diversity Program as it enters its second year with expanded classes.

Black History Month Employee Spotlight: Joyce Christanio Is Leading The Charge For Change With The NextTech Diversity Program - T-Mobile Newsroom

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A T-Mobile employee talks about how the company’s expanded TechX Returnship program helped him find full-time work and a new career focus after returning to civilian life.

“Returning to civilian life was a bit of a challenge since I joined the military at quite a young age. And, you know, working in the military was pretty much all I knew.”

Alex Asuncion dedicated his life to serving in the United States Air Force as a cyber system operator. When he decided he wanted to transfer to part-time status with the Air Force Reserves after more than five years in active duty, he hoped to do some soul searching.

Alex says he wanted to change his career focus from purely technical to something in business management. But mix in some time off to go back to school with a global pandemic, and he says the job market wasn’t exactly welcoming him with open arms. In fact, <a href="https://www.veterans.senate.gov/newsroom/news/sens-moran-tester-introduce-legislation-to-tackle-veteran-unemployment-during-covid-19-pandemic">the veteran unemployment rate</a> across the entire country saw a significant rise from 3.1 percent in 2019 to 11.7 percent in 2020.

“I graduated with my MBA in May 2020,” says Alex, “but with the ongoing COVID pandemic it was quite difficult to get a job, especially with my work experience being mostly in the technical realm.

That’s when Alex learned about the <a href="https://www.reachire.com/hiring-partners/partner-brand-t-mobile">T-Mobile TechX Returnship program</a>.

The program made some big changes to between its pilot that began in 2019 and its second cohort in 2020 to create more inclusivity for those finding it challenging to re-enter the workforce after a career break. Originally a program that served women through its partnership with <a href="https://www.reachire.com/">reacHIRE</a>, an organization that offers  a path into leadership roles for women in tech after time off to care for family or other personal reasons, T-Mobile extended the  six-month, full-time, paid return-to-work program from six to 26 participants in roles beyond just technology, and also began to accept applications from men, primarily to reach veterans in need.

“The positive results from the Returnship pilot and the profound impact it has had on our Returnship graduates led us to broadening the scope of the partnership across multiple technology organizations,” said T-Mobile’s Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer Brian King, who sponsors the program. “With this diverse applicant pool of 75 percent women in tech, 74 percent people of color and 4.5 percent veterans, we are now setting our sights on going even bigger in the future!”

The program’s next cohort will expand to 37 roles across technology, HR, consumer markets and finance that offer a chance to gain relevant work skills and experiences through challenging projects, assignments and training, all while building a professional network and providing ongoing coaching and mentorship to potentially lead to full-time or extended contracting roles at T-Mobile. Alex says after graduating from the program, he was able to find the right full-time role as a technical project manager with the company’s Technology Project Management Office group.

T-Mobile has shown its commitment to honoring those who have served by offering active military, veterans and their families <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans/military-discount-plans">it’s best discount on family plans</a>, but the company is also focused on its employees by committing to hire 10,000 military veterans and their spouses by 2023. Inclusive of veterans and veteran spouses the Un-carrier brought on board with the Sprint merger, the company has announced <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/militaryappreciationmonth2021">it’s over halfway</a> to meeting that goal.

And as the Returnship program is actively seeking applicants for its third and largest yet cohort starting January 2022, Alex spoke with us from his home in San Diego about his story, and explains why he thinks the program is an invaluable service to veterans like himself and for people who simply have <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/successful-returnship-program-returns-2022">taken a career break and need some support to break back in</a>.

This opportunity is a six-month, full-time, paid return-to-work program in Washington, Kansas, Virginia, New Jersey, Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania, California and Colorado. There’s a total 37 spots available for a mix of in-person, hybrid and fully remote roles. Recruiting will continue through December 9 for candidates with a variety of skill sets for the next cohort that starts in January 2022. At the end of the program, you may be eligible for full-time or extended contracting work at T-Mobile, but it is not guaranteed. Hear from non-veterans graduates who attended the program as well.

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