Navigating identity and migration: a trans person’s perspective

2025 has been an interesting year for diversity and inclusion policies. There have been many shifts in policy changes as well as in expectations. At Adaptive, we remain committed to creating a workplace where everyone belongs, feels respected and supported and where decision-making structures reflect the full range of perspectives present not just in the company but also in our communities.

Our commitment to inclusion goes beyond words. Through our collaboration with MigraCode Barcelona, a nonprofit organization that provides coding education to migrants and refugees, colleagues in our Barcelona office have volunteered as instructors and mentors since 2019. We have also welcomed several MigraCode graduates into our Early Careers Program. By helping equip newcomers with in-demand technical skills and real-world experience, we aim to make the tech industry more accessible to people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

In London, we partner with upReach to support social mobility through professional mentoring and hands-on skills development for undergraduates, including talks and workshops such as the Tech500 Bootcamp. Across both partnerships, our goal is to expand access to opportunity and foster inclusion within and beyond Adaptive.

In addition, we offer free Spanish and Catalan language classes to help employees build confidence, integrate more easily, and fully participate in both workplace and community life, which is an especially meaningful step for those rebuilding their lives in a new country. Acquiring these language skills, also allows for better communication, decision-making and belonging across our multinational teams. 

Across all our offices, we’ve trained Mental Health First Aiders to ensure that support is available when people need it most. Equipping teams to support one another directly reinforces business continuity and reduces burnout-related turnover whilst ensuring that Adaptive is a safe place to work. 

Our goal is to help build a workplace where people not only feel safe and respected, but also empowered to grow, create an impact and be able to envision their future here. Whilst these steps bring us closer to that vision, we recognise that much more remains to be done.

Spotlight Story: Yoana Matas

We recently heard the story of Yoana Matas, which highlights trans identity and migration, as she, a transgender woman from Honduras, had to migrate from her country not just to survive, but to live authentically. Her journey, shared last year during her talk at our Adaptive office in Barcelona, highlights the complex intersection of gender identity and migration, a reality that many navigate under extreme challenges.

The harsh realities of transgender existence

Yoana’s story illuminates the brutal realities transgender people face in Honduras and across Central America, although this experience is not unique to just this part of the world. Systemic violence, social exclusion, and poverty drastically reduce life expectancy for transgender individuals around the world. Yet her story is also one of resilience and hope.

For many transgender individuals, migration is not a choice – it is a necessity for survival. Moving to a new country presents its own set of challenges, including navigating the local legal system, securing safe housing, and accessing quality healthcare. To top it up, transgender individuals face a range of complex and serious challenges, starting from widespread social and institutional exclusion and navigating violence and healthcare barriers, such as having access to gender affirming care, in their day-to-day lives.

Transgender migrants face extreme risks and severe mental health challenges caused by social rejection and lack of support. At Adaptive, we believe that empathy and understanding aren’t just ideals; they are essential tools for creating real change and protecting lives.

How We Can All Take Action

For this reason, we believe that we can make a tangible difference by taking simple actions such as: 

• Educating ourselves: Read personal narratives and attend workshops focused on specific issues relating to the LGBTQ+ community..
• Using respectful language: Using the correct pronouns and respecting individual identities.
• Advocating for inclusive policies: Supporting initiatives that promote equality in workplaces and communities.

While these actions can make a meaningful difference, Yoana’s story reminds us that the challenges faced by transgender migrants remain urgent and widespread, requiring continued awareness, advocacy, and systemic change.

Moving Forward

At Adaptive, we are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered. Learning from experiences like Yoana’s helps us deepen our empathy, strengthen our commitment to human rights, and build a community where no one feels alone.

Our inclusion commitments are essential for our own business resilience, competitiveness and talent attraction; and they underpin our ability to operate responsibly. In a rapidly evolving market, companies that foster safe, diverse, and supportive environments outperform those that don’t. Ensuring that colleagues from all backgrounds can contribute fully strengthens our resilience, innovation, and long-term business continuity whilst promoting Adaptive’s values. 

Speaker Bio

Yoana is a trans woman refugee from Honduras who has dedicated her life to advancing the rights and dignity of the LGTBIQ+ community. Growing up in her hometown, she founded the first LGTBIQ+ association in the area and has spent over two decades advocating for social change with an inclusive and progressive vision.

As a passionate human rights defender and activist, Yoana firmly believes that education is crucial for social transformation. Her extensive experience and studies in administration, refuge, and migration, and workplace diversity and inclusion drive her mission to integrate trans people into all sectors of society. Her message is clear: “We do not seek acceptance, but your respect.”