TERRA FIRMA: Transition Consulting That’s Grounded In Authenticity

By Amelia Rose

Kiersten Mohr used to be part of the majority in her former corporate position before her gender transition. In a space so male-dominated and seemingly conservative, she worried her transition wouldn’t be accepted by all of her coworkers. After speaking with her partner about her fears, they decided to pursue a ‘parachute transition’. In the transgender community, a ‘parachute transition’ is a process where the individual dumps their current circumstances, abandoning their career or schooling, and pursues the transition without telling anyone from their past.

However, Kiersten realized that the people she worked with everyday,  who she previously only thought of as coworkers, had actually grown to become friends. She enjoyed their company and wanted to share her true self with them. Choosing to tell them was not an easy decision, and didn’t come without fear and anxiety as she gathered an auditorium full of 100+ people to make her announcement to everyone at once. She had expected backlash and rejection, but instead was met with a standing ovation. The people she had come to consider friends accepted her true self.

Pride Progress flag designed by Daniel Quasar in 2018 to represent transgender people in the LGBTQ+ community

Although the response was overwhelmingly positive, no transition comes without some apprehension from those who are less accepting. Kiersten experienced this from peers and clients alike. However, Kiersten learned to grow into her own skin and learn more about the community. Despite Kiersten's relative ease in her own workplace,  she realized how much easier it could have been if more workplaces had a greater awareness about the issues facing the transgender community. 

That is why Kiersten decided to help others accept themselves through the creation of Terra Firma Transition Consulting. Terra Firma offers many services, the bulk of which are seminars for large companies, about how to be more inclusive and assist transgender employees. Kiersten realized that her experience and story could be shared with corporate leaders to teach them how to be more accepting and make things much easier for others wanting to pursue a gender transition.

 Terra Firma also offers transitioning employees the opportunity to connect with Kiersten directly first, rather than their employer. Kiersten then reaches out and anonymously inquires about the business' transgender acceptance so that the employee can gauge whether or not it's a safe space.

Kiersten Mohr, Founder of Terra Firma Transition Consulting

Kiersten’s work is important for many reasons. For many centuries, those who are different have been pushed aside and told they are less— told to fit in and relinquish their true selves. As our world starts to open up, those who have been forced to hide are now able to show themselves and be proud of who they are. But, there are new hurdles and learning curves that we all must face. With a society that is changing so rapidly, there is always fear involved, both for those creating change and those who are watching it all happen. At Terra Firma Transformations, Kiersten works to make that change a little less scary.

Read all about Terra Firma Transition Consulting here.