After Sending One Email Revealing She’s Trans, Jade Mali Expected Silence — What She Found in Her Inbox Days Later Changed Everything
For Jade Mali, pressing “send” on that email was one of the most terrifying moments of her life. The 28-year-old regional manager at a real-estate technology firm had already come out as a trans woman in her personal life two years earlier, but revealing that truth to her coworkers — the people she saw every weekday, the ones who only knew her from Zoom calls and quarterly reports — felt like stepping into the unknown.
In her own words, she simply wanted “clarity.” She wanted her identity at work to finally match the one she lived outside of it. “People in corporate America don’t know you so deeply,” she told People in an exclusive interview. “So it was important to me that there was a little bit more congruence between what I was saying I was — which is a trans woman — and how I was presenting in this space.”
Mali had already gone through years of self-discovery, therapy, and transition before she considered making the announcement at work. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, she recalls sensing from a young age that her true self was somewhere she couldn’t yet express. “There was always something inside me that didn’t align with how the world saw me,” she said. That internal disconnect led to years of anxiety and confusion — and eventually, a journey toward self-acceptance that she shared openly on social media with thousands of followers.
By 2023, she had come out to family and close friends. But professionally, she still lived in what she describes as “a dual existence.” On one hand, she was a high-performing manager in corporate America; on the other, she was a woman in transition who had not yet brought her full identity into that environment. “At a certain point, I just couldn’t do it anymore,” she said. “There’s a limit to how long you can live split like that.”
So she decided to send the email.
It wasn’t impulsive. Mali consulted her HR department, spoke to leadership, and prepared herself emotionally. She decided to send the message right before leaving for a family vacation, so she wouldn’t have to sit by her computer and overanalyze every incoming reply. “It was horrifying,” she admitted. “I was nervous, sick to my stomach. But I knew if I waited for the perfect moment, it would never come.”
The email itself was straightforward. She introduced herself by her new name, Jade, and explained her identity with honesty and grace. She didn’t ask for sympathy — only understanding. “I mostly just wanted to make sure that people had the clarity they needed,” she said.
Then she turned off her laptop and boarded her flight.
When she returned home days later, Jade logged back into her work account — and froze. Her inbox was flooded with responses. But instead of confusion or judgment, she found warmth, kindness, and affirmation. Dozens of colleagues had written back, many sharing personal stories, words of support, or simple lines like, “We’re proud of you.” One email said, “Thank you for being brave. You just made this company better.”
Jade said she sat at her kitchen table and cried. “It was beyond freeing,” she told People. “I realized how much of my fear was built on past experiences, on assumptions that people wouldn’t understand. And then they did.”
Even with that support, she admits the process wasn’t entirely easy. Transitioning in a corporate setting means navigating unfamiliar pronouns, new expectations, and the subtle self-awareness that comes with being the first or only openly trans person in a workspace. “It’s still not like I walk in every day feeling carefree,” she said. “I’m still anxious, I’m still guarded most days. But I’m constantly challenging myself to break through that.”
Her experience also revealed something powerful about visibility in professional spaces. Jade understood that being open about her identity could help others who feel unseen. “There’s still not enough representation of trans people at work,” she said. “And if my story helps even one person feel safer or more validated in their own journey, then it’s worth it.”
Outside of her corporate life, Jade has built a vibrant platform online. Her TikTok page, @becoming_jade, chronicles her transition journey with raw honesty and humor. She’s discussed everything from hormone replacement therapy to dating and confidence. Her content has reached hundreds of thousands of views — and what she values most is when other trans people tell her she made them feel “a little less alone.”
Still, she is careful not to present transition as a perfect arc of empowerment. “It’s not like I hit ‘send’ and suddenly all my insecurities vanished,” she said. “This is ongoing. Authenticity doesn’t erase fear — it just means you’re living with it in truth.”
Her story comes at a time when visibility for trans professionals remains limited in many workplaces. Despite progress in corporate inclusivity policies, trans employees often face subtle bias, microaggressions, or fear of career repercussions. For Jade, that reality made her email even more significant. She wanted to control her own narrative — to make sure that her coworkers heard it directly from her, in her words.
“I didn’t want rumors or speculation,” she said. “I wanted people to hear my story clearly, to know that I’m still me. The same person they’ve worked with for years — just finally honest about who I am.”
Since coming out, Jade says her work life has changed in ways both small and profound. “I feel so much continuity in my life now,” she reflected. “Knowing that who I show up as in a personal setting on a Saturday is also who I am in the office on Monday — it’s such a relief.”
Her leadership team has continued to support her, and her company even introduced internal discussions on gender inclusivity and workplace representation. “That’s the ripple effect,” she said. “When one person lives authentically, it gives permission for others to show up more fully too.”
But Jade’s story isn’t just about courage — it’s about humanity. It’s about the simple, universal desire to be seen and respected for who you are. “This wasn’t about making a statement,” she said. “It was about finally living my truth in every space I occupy.”
Her decision to send that email may have taken just seconds, but it represents years of emotional labor, reflection, and resilience. In many ways, the inbox full of kind messages became a symbol of progress — proof that compassion can exist even in places where fear once lived.
Looking back now, Jade smiles when she remembers her hesitation. “I was so scared of rejection,” she said. “But the reality was the complete opposite. The world didn’t collapse. It opened.”
Her story continues to inspire thousands online and offline — not just for the milestone itself, but for what it represents: the quiet power of truth. For every person hiding a part of themselves at work, Jade’s journey stands as a reminder that authenticity, while difficult, can lead to freedom.
“I don’t think being trans defines all of who I am,” she said softly. “But it’s a part of me that deserves to be respected, not hidden. I’m proud of that.”
