Get to know a few of our amazing employees who share their thoughts
Leilani always liked tinkering with and fixing things. From old car engines to synthesizers and keyboards, she has a knack for figuring out how things work—deconstructing them and putting them back together better than they were before. Her endless curiosity, unabashed enthusiasm and a deft touch with complex systems and machines led her to into maintenance, a critical role in any industry especially convenience.
“Anything in a 7-Eleven store that can break—from fuel pumps to Slurpee machines and everything in between—I’m responsible for making sure it gets fixed. It’s a very diverse job and no two days are ever the same. No matter how challenging or daunting the issue, I can usually figure it out. I’m a professional problem solver, which is probably why our store operators get excited when they see me coming. I love being a positive force for the company and changing perceptions about women using tools.”
“My older sister is a professional comedian and is constantly inspiring me—she always tells me, ‘you do you and everything else will take care of itself.’ I’m also a big lover of electronic music and have come to really admire composer and musician Wendy Carlos. She was the first transgender person to win a Grammy award and helped develop the Moog synthesizer, bringing that unique sound to popular music. I’m inspired whenever I see women being impactful, not just being beautiful.”
“To me, it’s part of the essential fabric engrained in American history. There is so much LGBTQ history that is intertwined with our society. So many people from this community have made, and continue to make, major contributions across fields—which is something I didn’t realize as a younger person. It’s important to recognize this so more people start to understand just how important this community is to everyone’s lives, while also letting kids who are struggling with their identities know that there’s a place for them and we’re going to celebrate them no matter what. Because if you can be your full self, I believe you can do anything. And I’m proof of that.”
Remy has been with 7-Eleven for more than 10 years, working across multiple departments including Finance and HR. Originally from Vietnam, his family emigrated to the U.S. nearly 30 years ago—building new lives from the ground up. Remy has been actively involved in LGBTQ+ support groups and charitable causes, finding ways to make a positive impact at every turn. And he’s not one to be challenged in a Halloween costume contest—at least not successfully.
“Pride means validation for being who you are regardless of gender or colors. It’s important to recognize and celebrate our community to remind ourselves of who we are and how far we’ve come. In some ways, I think it’s unfortunate that after all these years we still need to remind society that we’re all humans and basically want the same things as people. It’s about humanity and having equal rights across the board.”
From a professionial point of view, I adore Anderson Cooper. He is always true to himself, works hard and is an amazing anchor and reporter. On the personal side, the actor and comedian Leslie Jordan is also a huge inspiration. He just didn’t seem to care what others thought about him and was so funny and courageous. Both are examples of people being exactly who they are: strong, confident and accepting. And that’s what I try to do in my own life.”
“As someone who just wants to be me and not label myself, I love Halloween. You can be anything you want. I’ve won 1st prize in our Halloween contest for nine years running now. Everyone comes to work on Halloween wondering, ‘what will Remy do this year?’ which I absolutely love.”
Michelle has been with 7-Eleven for 11 years and currently oversees more than 2,260 stores across 18 states. As an executive sponsor for the company’s 7-Pride associate business resource group (ABRG), Michelle is passionate about allyship and regularly leads Pride celebrations with her team.
“Because if not me, then who will? So many people need an ally.” What does allyship mean to you?
“To me, an ally is an individual who provides support for a group or groups even though they are not a member of that group. I believe the term is much more of a verb than a noun. To be ally means doing more than just verbally speaking or showing support – although that is certainly important and necessary.”
I think it’s important to listen to others and ask questions so can educate yourself about different people and their pespective. Speak up whenever you see or hear something that you feel is not right or damaging to someone else. And don’t wait to be invited to be an ally—we can all be more proactive in demonstrating allyship for those who might need support.
“True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are.”
- Brené Brown (social scientist)
