“I try to make a difference by behaving no differently”
Andreas Bosnjak & Frankie Schmid

“I try to make a difference by behaving no differently”

In honor of Pride Month, Frankie Schmid , our Head of Global New Installation / Modernization, sat down with Andreas Bosnjak , Head of Global Talent & Development, in our Ebikon offices, to discuss the topic of LGBTQIA+ inclusion and share his personal journey.


Frankie found out by chance that his son is gay. A number of years ago, shortly after a trip abroad with his son Tim, Frankie opened Facebook and was surprised to see his son tagged in a photo in which another man referred to Tim as his boyfriend.  

Tim hadn’t planned to come out to his father that way, and Frankie would have preferred his son to have told him directly. But, after the initial surprise, Frankie immediately wanted to congratulate his son. He picked up the phone – and there began an open, honest, and accepting dialogue that evolved over time, and continues to this day.  

It took time for the father-son duo to reach a certain level of openness and comfort: “It was at least a year before we felt comfortable enough to talk openly,” explains Frankie. “But now, when I see him, I ask how his love life is. It’s exactly the same as with my daughter’s relationships – I want to meet their boyfriends.” 

“I try to make a difference by showing no difference. At the end of the day, these are your children, you just want them to be happy. That's the only thing that counts.”

An open-minded approach 

Reflecting on his childhood in Switzerland, Frankie remembers being instilled with a spirit of open-mindedness and respect. And today he counts himself lucky to be immersed in diverse environments and surrounded by different people with different opinions: “It helps me become better, see challenges and opportunities, and understand new perspectives."

Inclusion in the workplace

Frankie’s open attitude extends to the workplace, where he believes respect, psychological safety and security, and an ethos of equality are critical. “We need to create an environment in which anyone can come to us and share, without fear of being judged or treated negatively.”

Just like at home, in the office Frankie tries to make a difference by behaving no differently. “If a colleague shares something with me, I listen, respond, and then we work – and I remove obstacles or barriers wherever needed.”

Communication plays a major role, in Frankie’s opinion, as and when both parties are open to dialogue. He places importance on the terms we use, and when unsure, would encourage us to hold up our hands, say “I’m sorry, I don’t know the correct words to use here” and be open to being educated. “It’s also important that we avoid making jokes about sexual orientation that might make others uncomfortable.” Respect and human interaction are the order of the day.

Marking Pride Month

Pride Month is an annual opportunity to shine a spotlight on this topic. It’s a chance for us to promote inclusivity, celebrate our differences, and create an honest and open environment in which we encourage people to be their true selves – both at home and at work.

What does Pride Month mean to Frankie? “For me, Pride Month means showing who you are, what you are, what you like, and what you don't like with all your pride and without any fear.”

“It’s understandable that members of the LGBTQIA+ community might worry that others may treat them differently. If I’m honest, I was disappointed that my son hadn’t felt comfortable coming out to me directly. But looking at it from his point of view, he had to guess how I might react and whether I would treat him differently once I knew about his sexual orientation. It’s up to all of us to ensure that family, friends – and colleagues – know that this won’t happen.”

Today, Frankie’s son is proud of the steps his father is taking to promote an inclusive professional community – and supportive of Frankie sharing his story in a public professional forum. And Frankie plans to continue doing what he’s been doing all these years, making a difference by behaving no differently at all.


Explaining LGBTQIA+

Lesbian

Gay

Bisexual

Transgender

Queer

Intersex

Asexual

+ others

Martin (Tino) Wetzel

Collaboration beats Competition

6mo

Proud of you, Frankie!

Thank you Frankie Schmid for the chance to speak with you. You truly inspire all of us!

Mario J. Heggli

VP | Head Global BPO NI/MOD Fulfillment at Schindler Management Ltd.

6mo

Frankie Schmid, I am very lucky to work with and for such a great person as you. It is role models like you that make the difference. Keep it up! 👍

Ranjeet Sharma

President & CEO at 3A Composites India Pvt Ltd

6mo

Frankie: you’ve always been an inspiration and continue to be… 🙏🏻

Lars Brorson

Head of Investor Relations, Schindler Group

6mo

Do like Frankie - make a difference, by behaving no differently. Well done, inspiring story.

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