PG Perspectives

Meet our D&I Network Members

Maria Getto, Senior Proposal Manager, Client Solutions

Today, you are a Senior Proposal Manager in our Client Solutions team based in Denver. How would you describe your role and your time at Partners Group so far?

I manage the US Proposal Team, which works closely with fundraising professionals and client relationship managers to coordinate and compose responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) and other written marketing materials. A key aspect of the role is to ensure that the firm and its products are professionally and accurately described, and that proposals clearly demonstrate the firm's ability to meet clients’ specific requirements. From recruiting and training new proposal specialists to content creation and strategic initiatives, my goal is to maintain a team of highly skilled, critical-thinking, Partners Group experts who collaborate with our marketing professionals to achieve our fundraising goals.

You are a member of Partners Group's Pride Network. What motivated you to get involved in the Network?

As an identifying member of the LGBTQ+ community, it is always important for me to work in an environment where I feel safe being out and open about my life. Partners Group has always treated me with dignity and respect, and I have been rewarded for my contributions to the firm. With the creation of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the subsequent Employee Networks, I was excited to be a part of the firm's D&I journey. Also, as a team leader, it is important for me to demonstrate to my team that I want to learn about and celebrate the differences in Partners Group employees and foster new talent by utilizing what makes each person unique and valuable.

Being part of the Pride Network gives me the opportunity to feel seen and heard by my peers, but also to push boundaries, find new ways to normalize diversity, and to gain new perspectives. I believe that a diverse workforce is a successful one, and I want to be a part of that cultivation.

 

"Being part of the Pride Network gives me the opportunity to feel seen and heard by my peers, but also to push boundaries."

What does Pride month mean to you, and why is it important for businesses to celebrate it?

Pride month is a time to recognize all the hardship and difficulty that the LGBTQ+ community has faced to make the progress we see today. It's also a time for members of the LGBTQ+ community to educate themselves on their predecessors and take note of the strength and camaraderie it takes to make big changes in the world. It's an opportunity for the community and allies to get together and share this education and knowledge, to ask questions, to dress up and be seen and heard, and to celebrate.

When I see a business take time out to support a minority community, it means something to me as an employee and a consumer – I see a business looking into the future and wanting to be a part of my experience, which in turn makes me more likely to support that entity as well. Businesses are also important in increasing visibility for underrepresented communities because they have more resources and often a larger platform from which to speak.

What does inclusion mean to you?

I think 'inclusion' is often misunderstood as simply the tolerance or allowance of minority groups, opinions, and needs. The real work of inclusion is not only the recognition of these people or groups, but also the understanding that diversity is critical to a successful existence, and that requires giving extra attention and support to the disenfranchised.

Inclusion means learning about what created differences in the first place, the implications of those differences in a group setting, and then using that knowledge to make changes and improvements. Inclusion celebrates individuality and gives everyone a voice.

Diversity & Inclusion is a focus topic for Partners Group. How important is it for our clients and prospects?

The world is constantly changing, and with it ideas about diversity and individualism. For many clients, they know and understand this direction and want to see that Partners Group is on the same page. Our clients are entrusting us with capital and, by extension, the lives of many people, so it matters how we treat minorities and how we work toward greater diversity in our offices and our portfolio companies. As we have seen in past years with ESG as a major topic, I believe D&I is next on the list. Partners Group needs to be ready to answer questions and explore ideas about D&I with clients and prospects.