"There's a big difference between having a seat at the table — and being truly welcomed to speak once you're there."
— Keely Respass
That difference between being present in the room and being able to fully contribute once you're there, came through again and again in my conversations with Keely Respass, Wilson Mazimba, and Karl Fokum, leaders of our Employee Resource Group, BE@GoTo (Black Employees at GoTo).
Their stories are distinct, but the leadership throughline is the same: resilience, authenticity, and a consistent habit of making space for others. And if you're reading this thinking, "How does this relate to me?" Well, the takeaways apply to anyone who wants to do great work without leaving parts of themselves at the door.
Meet our featured leaders
Keely Respass has been with GoTo for more than 12 years, transforming through a number of different roles. Currently, she's a Partner Renewals Representative, BE@GoTo leader, and GoTo Gives Committee Member, and brings that same energy outside of work too: Rotary Club president, advocate for children in foster care, and a proud Seattle Seahawks fan. Keely leads through service—making things happen with quiet consistency and bringing others along with her.
Wilson Mazimba grew up across continents — Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Belgium — before moving to the U.S. at 12. Now a Senior Product Manager for GoTo's Care Support Platform, he's based in New Orleans, though he'll be the first to tell you his whereabouts are never guaranteed. A die-hard Arsenal FC supporter, gaming enthusiast, and avid outdoors lover, Wilson brings a steady, people-first approach: thoughtful, curious, and committed to building products and teams where others can thrive.
Karl Fokum grew up in Cameroon and moved to Canada at 18. He joined GoTo's Montreal office as a Software Developer, before becoming an Engineering Team Lead, and now manages the Software Development Engineering team. Karl's career reflects what's possible with consistent effort and strong support — and his leadership is a commitment to making sure others have access to the same. Off the clock, he's just as energetic: gaming, DJing, and dancing the night away.
Karl Fokum
Authenticity fuels great work
When people don't have to second-guess how they'll be received, they stop managing impressions and start doing their best work. Showing up in stronger collaboration, clearer communication, and teams that move faster with more trust.
For Karl, Keely, and Wilson, authenticity means holding yourself to consistent behaviors: recognizing effort in the moment, communicating with transparency, and leading in a way that makes it normal to ask for help or rest when you need to.
What this means for you: Authenticity shouldn't be something you trade for success; it should be the baseline that helps you do your best work. That shows up in small, consistent choices: giving credit in the moment, inviting quieter voices in, and making space for candor when work (or life) is heavy.
Resilience, in the real moments
Resilience is something you build — not a trait you either have or don't. Wilson shared a story about his father choosing education over tradition and taking risks to build a different future. When things get hard, he remembers "you come from someone who didn't quit, and you keep moving."
Keely meets hard days with a quick check-in and a perspective shift. Prayer helps; so does "the magic of a walk"—a 15-minute reset that changes the day's direction.
Karl's resilience comes from purpose and people. He's grounded in his role as a provider for his family, but he also draws energy from his teams. When he joins a meeting and hears someone else showing conviction—"we can do this"—it reminds him to show up too.
What this means for you: If you're in a season that feels heavy, you're not behind. Build your reset. Find your people. Ask for what you need. Progress is rarely a straight line.
Keely Respass
Leadership that multiplies
When I asked what they're proud of, their answers spanned both personal growth and the impact they've had on others.
Like being recognized for consistent, steady performance — the kind of work you do because it matters, not for the applause. Or pride in persistence: staying with a tough, multi-year product challenge long enough to improve it, doing the diligence to build the case, and ultimately landing a better solution. There was also pride in advocacy—coaching a teammate through key growth areas and championing the recognition that matched the work, so that person could step into the next level and keep thriving.
Woven into those moments was another quiet truth: none of this happens alone. Each of them pointed back to people who gave honest feedback, created opportunity, and modeled what people-first leadership can look like — and each of them is paying that forward in their own way.
Wilson Mazimba
The ripple effect of belonging
Every company has talented people. What sets teams apart is whether people feel connected — to the work, to each other, and to a shared standard of respect. That's what BE@GoTo helps strengthen.
For Wilson, that means visibility — making sure people know where to find support and conversation, and that there's space to show up as themselves. Keely thinks about reach: the way this work connects professional growth to real-world impact, extending beyond any one team or function. When the work gets heavy, Karl comes back to Keely and Wilson — his "beacons of light." Sometimes it's one conversation that helps you reframe.
The strongest workplaces don't ask people to navigate alone — they build cultures where identity is an asset, support is easy to find, and everyone has room to lead. Keely, Wilson, and Karl are part of that — showing up, contributing, and making GoTo better for everyone in it. So are the GoGetters alongside them, and the ones who haven't joined yet. That's how you build something that makes people want to stay, grow, and bring others along.
Curious about life at GoTo? See it for yourself!
About BE@GoTo: BE@GoTo is an Employee Resource Group (ERG) for black employees and friends with a mission of celebrating the intersecting identities, and bringing to life the vision of inclusive excellence, both at work and in our communities.