I first met Autumn three months into my role as Chief HR Officer at MEC, a specialty outdoor retailer in Canada. Fresh from orientation, I eagerly penned my observations and posted them on the company intranet, Mondo. Feeling quite proud, I awaited feedback—and Autumn delivered. Her wit and humor had me laughing out loud, even as I realized she was critiquing me. Then I had to look up five words—yes, five—despite my so-called English Lit credentials. To top it off, every point she made was spot on.

Impressed by her intelligence, humor, and eloquence, I soon hired her onto the HR team, where she rewrote our company policies through the lens of a mountain goat. Yes, a mountain goat. It was the only time I’ve seen company policies go viral.

To this day, Autumn remains a collaborator and cherished friend—someone I’d happily grow old with on a porch, listening to her thoughts on any topic (and I mean any). On Episode 2 of our podcast, she shares her perspective as a writer and transwoman on how language, if misused, risks making “inclusion” yet another empty buzzword. Her insights are nothing short of riveting.