Tell us about yourself and your pronouns.
My name is Daniel Galvez, and my pronouns are he/him. I was born in Peru and came to Canada at the age of 15 with my mom and grandma. I came out when I was 17, and the first person I came out to was my grandma. It was a scary moment of my life because queerness is not celebrated in Peru and my grandmother is extremely religious. However, upon talking to her and telling her I was gay, she did nothing but embrace me with so much love and acceptance. Although it was a very lovely moment and one I do not take for granted, I know that my coming out experience is rare within the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
As for some of my hobbies, I enjoy reading (YA, fiction, thrillers), hiking, working out and playing video games.
What does a typical day at Interac look like for you?
As a Fraud Operations Team Lead, I am responsible for the coaching and development of a team of Fraud Analysts whose main task is to review suspicious Interac e-Transfer transactions. I monitor the team’s performance and provide feedback to help them achieve their KPI’s. I am also in charge of strategically deploying fraud analyst resources across a 24/7, 365-day schedule to ensure effective delivery of fraud detection and provide ongoing assistance to the management team with any projects they might be working on.
What is your favourite part of the job?
Hands down the people I work with. Fraud Operations is a very tight knit group, and we all consider each other friends, aside from being coworkers. The fact that everyone on the team started as a Part-Time Fraud Analyst and was promoted from within demonstrates that our leaders recognize and understand what the analysts accomplish on a day-to-day basis. This creates a unique relationship between everyone on the team.
You have worked at Interac for over 9 years; can you share more about your journey here so far?
I have been at Interac for a little over 9 years now. My journey here started as a Part-time Fraud Analyst while completing my undergraduate degree in Human Resources at York University. As soon as I graduated, I was offered the opportunity to become a full-time Fraud Analyst. Despite this role not being in my field of studies, I gladly took the opportunity because I loved the culture and people at Interac. A few years later, I was promoted to Senior Fraud Analyst and earlier this year I was promoted to Team Lead.
What does Pride Month mean to you?
The meaning of Pride Month changes for me year after year. This year, Pride Month to me is an opportunity to educate people on the injustices happening outside of Canada to members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. In the United States, anti-drag laws are being passed that affect the livelihood and safety of drag performers and directly affect the trans community. Drag performers and trans people in the States are being harassed more than ever partly due to these laws. We take what we have in Canada for granted, and this month we can show our support as Canadians to members of our community outside of Canada and demonstrate our solidarity and loudly stand against homophobia and bigotry. The changes in American legislation really do show that we cannot be complacent, and we must always make sure to be loud and proud and remember that Pride started as a protest.
What advice would you give to a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community looking to start a career in FinTech?
My advice would be to look for a company that has a good diversity and inclusion program and one that reflects their own personal morals and values. You want to be able to feel comfortable and be your authentic self at work so that you can do your best without having to constantly worry about being perceived as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and any repercussions that may come from that.
Interac is committed to supporting small businesses across Canada. Are there any 2SLGBTQ+ businesses you would like to highlight and share?
Yes! Level Studio is a queer owned business that specializes in unique, functional, residential interior design projects. They provide creative, authentic, practical design, and use collaborative approaches to create spaces that enhance the quality of their client’s lifestyle. Co-Founder’s Luca Campacci and Vinh Le are partners in their careers and in life. They met at a bowling alley years ago working as bartenders with ambitious aspirations and shared the same design values, work ethic and a dream to start a design firm. Their businesses mission is to create unique, functional interiors.
Allyship is more important than ever right now. Do you have any resources/ words of advice you want to share with people who are looking to be better allies?
Respect queer spaces. Straight, cisgendered allies are more than welcome in queer spaces; however, respecting these spaces is crucial. Gay bars, beaches, coffee shops, etc., create a protective atmosphere for those who face discrimination in straight spaces. Members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community are able to be and express themselves in their truest form without the fear of being ridiculed or harassed. With queer spaces being as limited as they are, bringing a party of only straight, cisgendered people to one of our spaces for a night out can alter the atmosphere that these places create for members of our community. If you enter a queer space, remember who that space is dedicated for and act accordingly.
What makes Interac a unique place to work?
The culture. You really feel like the company cares about each and every employee. I have never felt like I don’t belong here and I feel as though I can bring my authentic self to work every single day. It is what has kept me here for the past 9 years and what continues to drive me to excel and proudly represent Interac. An organization that understands the importance of diversity and inclusion has always been extremely important to me.
