Here, we spotlight Aniyah Reading, a dynamic member of the GoTo team who plays a pivotal role in sales enablement. Aniyah shares her journey within the company, how she became involved in the Pride group, and what this community means to her. Her story is a testament to balance, inclusivity, and finding a supportive network at work.
Tell me about yourself and your background.
I grew up in Philadelphia, but completed most of my undergrad education in Jacksonville, Florida. I initially wanted to be a middle and high school English teacher since I loved teaching. However, after working as a Professional and Organizational Development Specialist at a local credit union, I realized I preferred working with adult learners because of the experiences and knowledge they proactively bring to their learning and development journeys.
After discovering this adult learning space, I received my master's in management and leadership. After several years as a practitioner, I wanted to explore the research behind human behavior in the workplace. So now, I am officially at the end of my PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
That's amazing! Did you utilize any of the tuition benefits we offer at GoTo to help?
Yes, and I think it's great that I've always had the opportunity to align what I study and research with what I do in my day-to-day work.
Do you have any advice for people pursuing studies and working full-time?
It would be nice to focus on either a full-time job or full-time studies because it does take a toll on your personal life and health. However, having a solid support network at work and at home has been tremendously helpful. When you don't have support at work, it makes it challenging to find that balance, so I want to shout out to my manager, Angel Wade, for the support.
What is your role at GoTo?
I'm on the Sales Enablement team. I focus on system enablement, working on projects and programs related to our sales tech stack. Most of my time goes to designing, developing, delivering, and evaluating learner-centric systems enablement programs emphasizing behavior changes, technical competence, and learner self-sufficiency.
So, you're on the sales enablement team, pursuing your PhD and leading our Pride ERG. Those are quite a few things to juggle. What drove you to be so involved?
I've always believed in the importance of representation and creating spaces where everyone feels seen and heard. When I first joined GoTo, I sought ways to connect with others who shared similar values. I joined the Pride group, and it immediately felt like home. It was a space where I could express myself freely and contribute to creating that environment for others.
When you see things occurring around you, for better or worse, I think even the smallest actions can help make something better.
Can you give some examples of those actions?
The monthly activity I oversee is our movie watch. Every month, we choose a movie centered around a character, plot, or experience that would resonate with the Pride ERG audiences.
We get together, discuss the films, share experiences, and enjoy the time connecting. For me, being a member of the Pride ERG is about supporting and celebrating each other's unique identities. For many, groups such as the Pride ERG are a source of strength and inspiration—a place to find allies, friends, and a platform to advocate for inclusivity across the organization. I’ve also found that the more you step into unfamiliar spaces, the more you realize that there are more things you have in common with people than you don't.
Lastly, what advice would you give yourself at the beginning of her career?
Drink more water. But seriously, as someone who likes to do things for others, it's much easier to help others after you've taken care of yourself. Ensuring you’re taken care of helps you perform at your best academically, professionally, and recreationally.
We're grateful to have Aniyah on our team and look forward to her continued impact in her professional role, her PhD, and within the Pride group.