Wear it Purple Day: Q&A with Josiah

Wear It Purple Day is an annual awareness day, founded in Australia and held on the last Friday of August. It's a day dedicated to showing support for and celebrating LGBTQIA+ youth. The day's mission is to empower young people to be proud of their identity and to help create a world where everyone is respected and accepted.

At Zip, we are committed to fostering a safe, fair and inclusive workplace, free from bias and discrimination. One of our core Values is ‘Stronger Together’ which is about building a workplace where every Zipster feels they belong and can unlock their potential.

In this blog, we hear from Compliance Associate I Josiah Westbrook.

Tell us who you are, how long you’ve been a Zipster and what you do day-to-day in your role?

Hi, I’m Josiah. I’ve been a Zipster for almost four years, and I’m part of Zip’s External Dispute Resolution team for the ANZ region.

Day-to-day, I champion Zip’s complaint management culture, navigate complex situations, and help deliver customer-first outcomes. No two days are ever the same, and I love the balance between problem-solving and people-focus in my role.

What does Wear it Purple Day mean to you and why do you feel it's an important day to acknowledge?

Wear It Purple Day is a moment of visibility and solidarity. It’s about showing young people who identify as LGBTQIA+ that they are not alone, that they belong, and that they have a future where they can thrive.

Growing up, I didn’t always see that kind of visibility. Days like today remind me how powerful it is when workplaces and communities create space for others to be celebrated and accepted.

As a Zipster, how are you empowered to bring your true, authentic self to work?

As a Zipster, I’ve been encouraged to show up without needing to edit or hide parts of who I am. That looks like small things (being open about my weekend plans, sharing my perspective in team discussions) and bigger things (knowing that my identity and lived experiences are accepted and respected here).

I’m unapologetically myself at Zip. That kind of trust makes it easier for me to focus on the work itself and bring my best energy to it.

What one thing that people outside of the organisation may not know about Zip makes you proud to work here?

Many people perceive Zip as a fintech brand, but may not realise how human our culture is. We genuinely value empathy, authenticity, and doing right by people – whether that’s our customers, merchants, or other Zipsters.

That’s what makes me proud to work here, and proud to be part of the ANZ Legal, Risk and Compliance team.

What's one key message you'd love your Zip colleagues to take away from Wear It Purple Day to build greater respect and understanding for our LGBTQIA+ community?

Don’t underestimate the impact of showing up. Kind words or creating space for someone else’s story can make a big difference. Building respect and understanding is less about big gestures and more about everyday actions.