How Baisha Bernstein Discovered Community within Sodexo's EBRG PANG

One of the best parts about being in Sodexo’s Pan-Asian Network Group (PANG) for Baisha is the opportunity to embrace her Filipino culture within the company.

As Director of Communications for the Chevron NORAM Central Team, Baisha Bernstein has leveraged her skills and Sodexo’s resources to advance in her career and establish a strong presence within the company. She integrates her Filipino heritage into her professional life, fostering a rich cultural environment at work. 

Baisha started at Sodexo 7 years ago as a Marketing Manager for USAA, supporting corporate services. Her responsibilities included developing and creating marketing materials as well as managing on-site events and marketing initiatives. Unfortunately, after three years in this role, Baisha was laid off due to the pandemic.

“When everyone lost their jobs because of the pandemic, our hiring managers helped to make sure my team stayed somewhere within the Sodexo family. It was great to see that our managers were so invested in their people,” Baisha says.

With the help of her managers, Baisha secured her current position as the Senior Director of Communications supporting a large oil and gas client within the Energy and Resources segment. Baisha’s main responsibilities include supporting internal and external communications for the Senior Leadership Team and the client, managing crisis communication, coordinating critical meetings and Townhalls, and managing and developing communication channels throughout the portfolio.

During her tenure at Sodexo, Baisha not only experienced professional growth in her chosen career path but also discovered a sense of passion, a supportive community, and fulfillment through participation in Sodexo’s Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG), Pan-Asian Network Group (PANG).

Baisha joined PANG three years ago and has served as the EBRGs Communications Chair for two years. Through her active involvement, Baisha has not only helped promote diversity and inclusion within the company but has also shared her cultural heritage.

“I am half Filipino and am very proud of my Asian American background,” Baisha proudly shares. “My mother and grandmother immigrated as political refugees when the situation in the Philippines was not safe.”

Baisha’s remarkable family journey embodies strength and resilience, qualities that continue to inspire her today and instill in her a sense of fortitude. She consistently seeks opportunities to honor and showcase her culture in her daily life.

One way she keeps her Filipino culture present in everyday life is by passing on traditions and educating her two sons of their Filipino roots. This includes taking them to Filipino restaurants, cooking family recipes, and teaching them the Tagalog language. By passing down these traditions, Baisha strives for her children to embrace their culture as deeply as she does, emphasizing that it should be celebrated in all aspects of life. 

Having a space in the workplace to celebrate diversity with others has been a great resource for Baisha. By participating with PANG and assuming a national leadership role, Baisha has not only experienced professional growth but she also has the chance to showcase her cultural heritage within the organization. The opportunity to celebrate diversity through Sodexo’s EBRG is one of the aspects of the company that she finds most admirable.

“There is so much more diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workspace, and I am so happy that Sodexo celebrates it in so many ways,” Baisha shares. “It makes me feel comfortable to embrace that side of myself and I love that Sodexo encourages its employees to celebrate our cultures instead of hiding them.” 

Now, let’s hear about the importance of PANG and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month from Baisha in her own words:

What does Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month mean to you?

I think it means celebrating a blend of our cultures, embracing it, remembering it, not forgetting it or hiding it. I love that we can take this month to celebrate our background and experiences whether we are of Asian American descent, are married to one, or know one; just understanding that aspect of the person's life that makes them who they are, who we have come to love and who we work with. That is the part that is the most impactful; shining a light on how important our cultures can be to us. 

Why is being a part of our EBRG PANG important to you?

I love that PANG gives me a space to feel comfortable and embrace my culture. I love that I am a part of a group that stands for educating our managers to be more inclusive and to understand different types of cultures. PANG does a great job at embracing our differences and sharing materials for others to learn, such as educating on observing Pan-Asian holidays, what the religions look like, and how this impacts the workplace.

PANG is a great organization to join because whether you identify as Pan Asian or not, joining an EBRG is something that improves you both professionally and personally. It educates you, whether this is your culture or the culture of someone you love or work with; it gives you insights that you wouldn’t normally get. 

What leadership techniques have you learned from your culture?

Growing up in a half-Filipino household, I was always different from my cousins and grandparents who immigrated from the Philippines. I had some struggles with this growing up because I was the different one in my house; being different became my normal. This caused me to be more empathetic and understanding towards people who are different.

From this experience, I now look back and understand it is okay to be different. I think it is important to take an empathetic leadership approach because you never know what someone is struggling with or what their background is. It is always best to take a step back and try to understand the person you are working with. 

What is PANG doing to celebrate AAPI in May?

PANG is hosting 3 virtual events throughout May for employees to join. The first event is a webinar discussing Mindfulness. The second event is a webinar talking about building inclusion in today’s environment. The final event is a trivia event on Asian culture, where participants can win exciting prizes. 

Baisha’s journey with Sodexo’s EBRG PANG highlights the importance of community, cultural celebration, and professional growth within the workplace.