Paige M.

Senior Program Manager, Employer Brand

Toast has a wide network of Toast Communities and Clubs that celebrate the uniqueness we all bring to the table and foster a sense of belonging across the company. As we grow globally, it’s been exciting to see how these groups continue to evolve.

Mi Gente, our Toast Community for Hispanic/ Latinx Toasters, launched their first international chapter in Ireland this year. We caught up with two of the founding members to learn more about this exciting experience.

Why was it important to you to start Mi Gente Ireland?

Paula M. R., Senior Software Engineer: I moved from Brazil to Ireland to join Toast, and while this is a fantastic opportunity and I'm very happy in Ireland, being so far from home can be challenging at times. From cultural differences, language barrier, and even immigration processes, it's very easy to feel alone, so having a supportive community to back you up, that goes through the same struggles and that you can count on is very important.

Eduarda S., Senior Software Engineer: The Irish office has a growing community of international people, each one with different backgrounds and culture. Many of them moved to Ireland to work at Toast, and it’s a whole new life starting here. Having a Mi Gente Chapter will not only provide a safe space and support network for Toasters, but it will also bring us together to celebrate our communities, culture, values, and heritage.

What has been your favorite experience since joining Mi Gente?

Paula: Connecting with other Latinos/as! It's very fun to learn about all of our different traditions, customs, foods, and exchange experiences. My favorite thing is finding out our similarities that we might not be aware of, such as doce de leite (or dulce de leche for our Hispanic friends), a common treat across many countries of Latin America, to our Carnival celebrations.

Eduarda: Getting to know the team in the US better has been a great experience, even though we are far apart geographically and have different time zones. I feel I know a lot more about Toast since joining Mi Gente! We also started to have social gatherings in Ireland, and every time I meet someone new.

How does Mi Gente make Toast a more inclusive place for all?

Eduarda: It’s a safe space for all to meet people with similar cultural heritages and who might be facing similar challenges living abroad. I think this is really important, as we know how hard it can be to meet people who understand those challenges. 

Paula: Mi Gente is a very supportive community where we can find people from similar backgrounds and that have faced similar challenges, so it's easy to feel at home (even though we are very far from it!). It also promotes a way for us to share with fellow Toasters our countries' cultures and customs.

What would you tell someone who is considering joining Mi Gente in Ireland?

Eduarda: Don’t think twice! We are here to support you and also have some fun.

Paula: Do it! Everyone is very nice and supportive. You'll meet a lot of people from different countries and have a great time finding out all the things we have in common and all the things you do differently– even if you spend some time discussing which dulce de leche is better, and never agree!