Our Story

In 2019, when Brooke was working in the hotel industry, she volunteered for a short-term role where she would be spending every other week on the road. Upon entering the building, she saw Shelby standing at the front desk with a warm smile, welcoming Brooke to her new assignment as an HR Director at the property 300 miles from home.

In a short time, Brooke learned that Shelby wanted to go by the name of Austin, but he was afraid to fully become himself at work. He was already getting gender affirming medical care to transition from female to male. Saying goodbye to Shelby, the name that he had always gone by in both his personal and professional life, wasn’t easy for him and it wasn’t easy for his coworkers either. Brooke saw the need to get everyone on the same page and began the work that would ultimately become her passion.

Brooke coached both Austin and the Leadership Team through Austin’s gender transition, creating a workplace where they all felt seen and valued. With Brooke’s non-judgmental demeanor, the Leadership Team had the space to ask questions and receive education and training on understanding the transgender experience in the workplace.

The result changed the entire culture of the property. Austin began to feel seen by his leaders and his coworkers, enjoying coming to work again. The Leadership Team was confident in their ability to interact with him appropriately, when previously they were concerned about saying or doing the wrong thing.

The experience completely changed Austin’s life, and it changed Brooke’s too. She had never been so proud of what she had accomplished in her HR career. Out of this deep desire to make a difference in the world, Brooke started TI Executives (Transgender Inclusive Executives).