Finding fulfillment in work and family

Salim Syed, VP of data engineering, knows that leading means more than just driving results and problem solving. For him, vulnerability is just as important. That’s why he decided to share his journey via an internal blog—how he balances leadership, life and his son’s diagnosis with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The response from fellow associates was better than he could have imagined.

“People shared their own stories with me, and it helped me realize I’m not alone in this,” Salim said. “The culture at Capital One gave me the safe space to be vulnerable, and the biggest joy is when you realize your story has helped someone else.”

Resources that support families

Salim joined Capital One in 2018, shortly after receiving his son Zidane’s diagnosis. He quickly became familiar with Capital One’s wide-ranging health benefits and found he could get Zidane the care he needs.

“It can be very expensive and hard to get the appointments you need,” Salim explained. “Capital One’s benefits made it easier to get the therapy my son needed, and that was huge.”

At work, Salim found a supportive community both on his immediate team and throughout the company. He’s a member of both CapAbilities, Capital One’s Business Resource Group (BRG) for those with disabilities and caretakers, and &family, our BRG for working parents and caregivers.

CapAbilities routinely provides webinars on a variety of topics to support their members. Salim attended one of these talks—a presentation by a law firm that explained different options to ensure Zidane is cared for in the future.

“One of the biggest anxieties is planning for when you’re not there,” Salim shared. “I was able to follow up with that law firm and plan for my son’s future. It really gave me peace of mind.”

Finding joy in both work and life

As the parent of a neurodiverse child, it can be hard to navigate personal and professional needs. Capital One has supported Salim with flexibility and a hybrid schedule, which allows him to change his calendar and prepare for the unexpected.

Aside from Capital One’s benefits, Salim credits &family with providing a social support network for working parents. He enjoys meeting with other parents and sharing their challenges and successes at casual coffee chats.

“Parenting is very hard. Some days you feel you’re not doing as much for your child as you could. Hearing from other parents lets you know that you’re not alone,” Salim said.

This community support gave Salim the courage to share his own story. It’s become a passion for him—to spread awareness about the different challenges and joys of raising a neurodiverse child, and the lessons Zidane has taught him. 

“Raising Zidane has given me a voice and taught me to enjoy the process and successes along the way, both in work and in life.”