As the furniture category lead on our Marketplace team, Sean Le Deit identifies opportunities and manages relationships with vendors who sell their products on the Houzz Shop. Outside of Houzz, Sean keeps himself busy studying music production and moonlighting as Deitlight, a House and Electronic music producer and DJ. As an openly gay professional, Sean shared his experience and explained what Pride means to him.

How did you get into a career in retail and ecommerce?
I fell into it by accident in a way. I started working in brick and mortar stores at a young age and it sort of stuck. First, I worked in the stock room, then I earned a position with corporate headquarters as an Inventory Analyst and from there I became a Buyer. At school, I studied to become an interior designer, but my career was progressing and I really enjoyed my work, so I decided to pursue that avenue. 

What brought you to Houzz?
I’ve been with Houzz for more than eight years now but when I was first recruited by a colleague from a previous company, I hadn’t yet heard about it. My experience is rooted in a more structured retail space, so considering a position with a startup was somewhat of a risk. After meeting with the team, I had a gut feeling and decided to take a leap of faith. I’m happy to say that I was proved right.

What do you do at Houzz?
I was part of the original team who launched the Houzz Shop. It was a huge feeling of accomplishment and has been a great source of pride to watch it grow to where it is today. 

Now, I manage the furniture category. My team is responsible for identifying, on-boarding and working with vendors in order to profitably market and sell their products on our marketplace. 

What do you enjoy most about your role? 
One of our core values is “We build the future.” It’s the number one reason that I liked Houzz when I first started and why I’m still here today. It gets me up in the morning. Contributing to a world class marketplace like Houzz is an opportunity that doesn’t come around often and I’m lucky to have been a part of this team from the beginning. 

Who inspires you professionally?  
I surround myself with people who inspire me, particularly my direct peers and leaders here at Houzz. The contributions they make, their savvy approach to business and their grit, make them my role models. I really look up to them for the respectful way that they do everything.

How do you use Houzz at home?
I have used Houzz for every room in my home, from the kitchen to the bedrooms to the bathrooms to the backyard and pool. I search for inspiration, research information on the styles I like, and of course, shop! It is truly another example of a house that Houzz built. 

What’s the last thing you bought on Houzz? 
A teak outdoor bar cart to give me more working space around my outdoor pizza oven.   

What’s a fun fact about yourself?
I started my own company designing, manufacturing and selling dog and cat accessories online all over the world. We were the “go to” European distributor for several pet lines and had two store-fronts before I sold the company. 

What has been your professional experience as an openly gay professional?
I came out before I joined the working world. I was 18 years old, so it’s been almost my entire adult life. The sensibility of those around me in my professional environment has changed over the years. Other companies were progressive, but I’ve never felt more comfortable about it than I have at Houzz. I’ve always felt like part of the family here, in a very real way. When you’re here, you’re part of the family, no matter what. 

Do you have any advice for other LGBTQ+s in business?
Don’t waste time, live your authentic self. Life is better once you do. 

What does Pride mean to you?  
Pride means being comfortable with who you are and knowing that you’re no different from anyone else. LGBTQ is not a label. 

How do you recommend that people show support? 
It’s not about acceptance, it’s a reality. I recommend that people support their LGBTQ brothers and sisters by letting them know that you feel the same way about them as any other friend or family member. That authenticity matters and it’s the most impactful thing you can do.

If you’re interested in joining our team, we’re hiring! Check out available opportunities at houzz.com/jobs.