In honor of Asian American & Pacific Islander Month, we spoke to Early Talent Employer Branding Specialist Nicole Liston to learn more about the work she does, her Filipino Heritage, and what she loves to do outside of WBD.

1. What do you do at WBD?

I’m the Brand Specialist for WBD’s Early Talent Team. My role is all about finding every brand opportunity to attract early talent (students and former WBD interns) to come work with us – whether it’s equipping our team with brand kits so they can engage with journalism students, marketing upcoming events to attract future tech trailblazers, or creating content to keep our former interns engaged with all things WBD related. What’s really rewarding about my role is working on a team that truly makes an impact by giving opportunities to students from all walks of life. And I’m glad that I can be part of it all!

2. Tell us one of your favorite projects you’ve worked on at WBD.

I really enjoy collaborating with our early talent recruiters, especially when it comes to reimagining events. Two events I’ve partnered with the team on are TechPrep and the Virtual Internship Exploration Week (VIEW). TechPrep is our new quarterly virtual series that gives our audience first-hand knowledge about WBD’s Global Tech and Games organizations. Our recruiters, former interns and more share invaluable insight on how to best prepare yourself for entering the competitive and ever-evolving technology and games industries. VIEW is a series of virtual sessions featuring leaders, creators and recruiters designed to help students to learn about the ins and outs of various teams at WBD and give a glimpse into life as an employee here. (Psst…a little tip for anyone looking to intern with us in the future: Be on the lookout for our next TechPrep in July and VIEW this fall to get the inside scoop on our tech and corporate intern programs!)

3. What feeds your soul outside of work?

My homegirl community! I co-founded, and now lead, a group called Your Other Homegirls. It’s a space for women of color (Black, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous women) to showcase their passions and to connect with other WOC from around the world. The community is made up of entrepreneurs, creatives, community organizers, and more. I host monthly Homegirl Hour Instagram Lives, online workshops, and in-person meet ups. I’m so thankful for all the women who have collaborated with us and shared their stories to uplift and inspire. Follow Your Other Homegirls on Instagram to see what’s next for us!

4. Do you have any special traditions that celebrate your heritage?

It has been a journey for me defining what it means to be Filipino-American (Fil-Am). Growing up in the U.S, I felt like I was never Filipino enough because I wasn’t born and raised in the Philippines nor do I speak Tagalog fluently, but I also didn’t feel American enough (even though I was born and raised here) because I didn’t look like an American. It took me learning about my Filipino roots outside of Filipino Teleseryes (Filipino television soap operas) and Filipino-American history outside of U.S. history textbooks to appreciate and be proud to be Fil-Am. For example, I was so amazed when I learned that Filipinos like labor organizer and civil rights activist Larry Itliong fought alongside Cesar Chavez in the farmworkers movement! Like – my people did that. So to celebrate my heritage, I make sure to educate myself on Filipino history, support my kababayan (fellow Filipinos) by shopping at Filipino-owned businesses, and learn how to make Filipino food with my mom and dad.

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Month to all! Go celebrate by supporting your local AAPI-owned businesses, watch films featuring AAPI stories, and read books by AAPI writers.