INvolve has revealed the high-flying professionals from over 20 countries that have made it on the latest OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Model lists.
The three lists, compiled by the global network championing diversity and inclusion in business, illustrate the positive impact that many business professionals are having in actioning meaningful change for LGBT+ issues. “I’m thrilled to be celebrating another amazing group of LGBT+ and Ally Role Models from across the globe who are championing inclusion and inspiring the next generation of talent,” stated Suki Sandhu OBE, Founder & CEO of INvolve. “LGBT+ discrimination is still prevalent across the world and Role Models are essential to change perceptions and show everyone that you can be successful in business, while also being your authentic self at work.”
The OUTstanding lists not only celebrate LGBT+ leaders in business, but also help to change perceptions and support more LGBT+ individuals to rise to the top of their organisations. “These lists demonstrate that you can be successful and out at work; but most importantly also inspire the next generation of LGBT+ leaders to reach these senior positions,” added Sandhu.
TOP 10 LGBT+ EXECUTIVES
Beth Ford, President and CEO of Land O’Lakes tops 2020’s global OUTstanding Executives Role Model List, with Moriaki Kida, Regional Chief Operating Officer at EY Japan taking the second spot. Angela Darlington, UK Life CEO of Aviva Plc is third in the list; followed by Allyn L Shaw, President & CTO at Recycle Track Systems (fourth); Erik Day, Senior Vice President, Small Business at Dell Technologies (fifth); Robyn Grew, COO and General Counsel of Man Group (sixth); Javier Constante, President, Latin America at Dow (seventh); Suzanne Timmons, Director, Corporate Engineering at Google (eighth); David Hynam, CEO of Bupa Global & UK (ninth); and Rick Suarez, Country President, Spain at AstraZeneca (10).
Commenting on securing a place as one of the top 10 OUTstanding Executives Role Models, Aviva’s Angela Darlington, stated: “It’s a tremendous honour to have been included on the OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Model List in each of its eight years. The positivity I have received at being an out gay woman CEO has been fantastic. And over the last decade the increasing energy, belief and enthusiasm I’ve seen across our LGBT+ community in business has been incredible. But there are still real challenges for our community and in these difficult times the role model list is an important showcase of the extraordinary LGBT+ talent succeeding in businesses globally.”
OUTSTANDING 100 LGBT+ EXECUTIVES
Other top executives featured in the 100 LGBT+ Executives list include Michael Schachtner, Managing Director & Partner of Boston Consulting Group (17); Vivienne Ming, Co-Founder and CEO of Socos Labs (22); Gurchaten Sandhu, UN-GLOBE President of International Labour Organization (23); Mx Pips Bunce, Director and Head of Investment Banking Technology Strategic Programs at Credit Suisse (27); Jim Ford, Partner at Allen & Overy (29); Amanda McKay, Quality & Assurance Director at Balfour Beatty (36); Amin Kassam, Head of Legal, Asia-Pacific at Bloomberg (38); Narind Singh, Partner of Clifford Chance (33); Lanaya Irvin, CEO at Coqual (44); Maggie Lower, CMO of Cision (43)l and Alim Dhanji Senior Vice-President, Talent and Head of HR for Global Brands at Adidas (51).
“I’m delighted to be included in the top 100 LGBT+ Executives list this year, as an out Trans Woman. It’s good to be recognised, but particularly as I work in a sector that has so few senior LGBT+ role models,” commented Balfour Beatty’s Amanda McKay. Construction and Engineering have not always been the most attractive and diverse sectors for out LGBT+ people, but much work has been done to make the sector more diverse and inclusive in recent years”, she pointed out. “I’m proud to have been part of that transformation. Supporting the ED&I programme in Balfour Beatty and as an exec member of Building Equality has helped to drive positive change in my sector.”
GLOBAL ROLE MODELS EMPOWERING OTHERS
Abel Clark, CEO of Cision, also commended its Chief Marketing Officer, Maggie Lower for being named on the “OUTstanding 100 LGBT+ Executives List” for the third consecutive year. As a long-time advocate and influencer for LGBT+ rights, Lower is a well-known fixture on the speaking circuit, promoting LGBT+-friendly policies, women in leadership and recruitment of workers of different sexual identities, races, ethnicities and belief systems.
“Our diversity and inclusion enables us to enjoy a better working environment, strengthen communities and build a stronger business,” stated Clark. “Maggie is someone who leads by example to drive acceptance and positive change. We are delighted that Maggie has been recognised as a global role model again this year and are proud of, and inspired by, the work she and other LGBT+ advocates do to empower others every day.”
OUTSTANDING LGBT+ FUTURE LEADERS
Leigh F Capule, Migrations Manager at HSBC, scooped the top position in the OUTstanding 100 LGBT+ Future Leaders List. This list highlights those tipped for future leadership success.
“Being selected as the winner of 2020’s OUTstanding Future Leaders List is a validation that my identity as a Transgender Woman is being recognised, valued and celebrated,” commented Capule. “LGBT+ representation in leadership roles is critical for any organisation that endeavours to achieve inclusion. Recognition acknowledges our existence, but having a seat at the centre table is proof that the leaders of the organisation are embracing the culture of equality amongst its people.”
Also featured in 2020’s Future Leaders List are Méfiré Diallo, Team Leader at American Express (second); Bobbi Pickard, Senior Project Manager at bp (fourth); Jeiz Robles, HR Services Deliver Partner Executive at IBM (16); and Josi Reinhardt, Customer Services Representative at Aviva (89).
American’s Express’ Méfiré Diallo made the choice to “be out” at American Express especially “because I am occupying a leadership role”. “I hope that by being out I can inspire people to bring their full selves to work but also show that it is possible to grow within a corporate company regardless of their sexual orientation, race or gender identity,” said Diallo.
To be named on the OUTstanding list “is a fantastic achievement for myself but also for Black Queer individuals who might see that opportunities to succeed are absolutely for them too”, added Diallo. “I embrace this recognition with highest gratitude; and hope it contributes to changing the narratives linking Blackness and Queerness to something positive is what we need in the current racial and social justice environment.”
SUPPORTING LGBT+ COMMUNITIES
For Bobbi Pickard, Senior Project Manager at bp, the situation for trans people in society and business is worsening, in addition to the effects of Covid-19. “We need enlightened allies to actively support trans people and businesses to implement the inclusion policies that have been talked about for so long,” noted Pickard. “The Covid reset gives the opportunity to build back with empathy at the core of our organisations benefiting both our employees and businesses; we should not waste it. It’s such an honour to be in this list again. It highlights the innovative work of bp, Trans in the City and INvolve setting the inclusion bar ever higher.”
Josi Reinhardt, Customer Services Representative at Aviva is also “very grateful” to be on the OUTstanding Future Leaders’ List. “It gives me an amazing opportunity to share my story and to amplify voices of our community that are often not heard, especially trans and nonbinary people,” shared Reinhardt. In fact, Reinhardt wants to be a “mentor to younger members of the LGBT+ community that I needed when I was their age. I want to use what makes me different to make a difference”.
OUTSTANDING ALLIES
The LGBT+ champions featured in the OUTstanding Ally Executives lists consistently leverage their influence, shape policies and commit to tangible action to ensure that their organisations are a place where everyone can succeed. Greg Case, CEO of professional services firm Aon, has been named the leading Advocate for LGBT+ professionals in the latest list.
Other key allies include Microsoft’s Head of Federal Operations Daniel Klein; Manchester United Group’s Managing Director Richard Arnold; Accenture North America’s CEO Jimmy Etheredge; BNP Paribas’ Director and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Laurent Bonnafé; Bloomerg’s Chairman Peter T Grauer; Emerald Life’s CEO Heidi McCormack, Philip Morris International’s Senior Vice President, People & Culture Charles Bendotti; Bank of Ireland’s Executive Director Sarah Breeden; TSB Bank’s Chief Marketing Officer Peter Markey; EY Japan’s Executive Partners Nancy Ngou; Societe Generale Group’s CEO Frédéric Oudéa and Sainsbury’s CFO Kevin O’Byrne.
“It’s an honour to be featured in the INvolve 2020 OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Model List. At Sainsbury’s, we want to be the most trusted and inclusive retailer, creating an environment where every individual feels comfortable and can progress their career,” concluded Kevin O’Byrne, Board Sponsor for LGBT+ and Chief Financial Officer at Sainsbury’s. “Our teams have created very active networks like Proud@Sainsbury’s, with the aim to make Sainsbury’s a great place to work for our LGBT+ colleagues. The team leading the Proud@Sainsbury’s network do a tremendous job. In my role, as CFO and Board Sponsor, I am dedicated to ensuring that our colleagues feel supported and feel like they can embrace their differences when they come to work.”
For more information on this year’s OUTStanding LGBT+ Role Models, see the full lists here. You can check out the previous year’s OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Models here.
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