Investment Week’s Post

In the corporate world, we pride ourselves on being forward-thinking, on leading change, and driving innovation. Yet, when it comes to the inclusion of LGBTQ individuals, we often find ourselves lagging behind. It is time we bridge this gap, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because inclusivity drives creativity and success. June is round the corner. What are some of your agenda for the #pride Month #lgbtqia #inclusion #diversity 🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🏳️🌈

With the LGBTQ+ community making up approximately 8% of Australia's population, it doesn’t make sense that they represent only 1% of board seats in the ASX300. Watermark’s 2024 Board Diversity Index highlighted that publicly available reports show only 4 directors openly identifying as LGBTQ+ however research by the Australian Association of LGBTQ+ Board and Executive Inclusion (ALBEI) suggests there could be up to 20 LGBTQ+ directors in 2024. This is a small representation of the LGBTQ+ community within boardrooms. At Watermark we believe boardrooms and board members can have both diversity and meritocracy which encourages more business innovation, strengthens relationships with customers and broadens accountability. We search for talent outside the usual circles and this is core to our business success – we want to help make it yours too. To read more about diversity in ASX300 boards, please download the 2024 Board Diversity Index here - https://lnkd.in/gEAWAUUK #boarddiversity #diversity #asx #inclusion #gender #culture #skills #experience #tenure #age #independence #lgbtq #firstnations #disability #socioeconomicbackground   David Evans Jocelyn Santosa Jen D'Arcy-Smith Chris Grant Caroline McAuliffe Pip Westhoff Alex Brown Daniel Nicholls Claire Crawford Robert Atkinson

Working where I can be and share my whole self is non-negotiable.

Pride month is almost wrapped up, but the fight for equality continues... I remember my first Pride month at Tessera Therapeutics (two years ago). Our LGBT+ ERG, TesserOUT, sponsored an event that featured a panel of wonderful speakers from various intersectional identities. My biggest takeaway was that LGBT+ equality is ongoing, it doesn't end after June 30th when companies take down their Pride flags and rainbow logos. It can be easy for allies to think that Pride is all rainbows and butterflies- but it's much, much more than a celebration. It takes ongoing work, every day- challenging our biases (which we all have!), and dismantling systems of oppression that benefit cisgender, straight people. With that said, what's one thing you (or your organization) does to promote inclusion for your queer employees year-round? One of my favorite things about LinkedIn is the ability to share ideas and perspectives. I'd love to hear from you! #Hiring #EmployeeEngagement #DEI #WellBeing #HumanRights #TransRights #EquitablePractices #Representation #Inclusion #Diversity

As we continue to celebrate Pride Month, it’s an honour to be named by EG as a leading firm and “exemplar” of LGBTQ+ inclusivity for a second year in a row via their real estate survey. The EG survey seeks to understand the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community within the UK’s built environment sector. The results highlight best practices and recognise organisations working hard to create inclusive places to work. We’d like to thank our ME:Pride network and everyone who commended our LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts. The report also highlights the great strides being made, with 84% of respondents being out in the workplace and 90% believing they work at a firm that provides a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. When you get into the detailed responses, it’s clear that there is still more to be done, with experiences varied across the industry. One of our firm’s core values is: Be Yourself – and while there’s still work to be done towards full LGBTQ+ equality in our industry, we’re proud to be leading the way. More here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gQhhrQac 📷 Below is a glimpse of some of our ME:Pride + Steer Co committee #LGBTQPlus #EG #PrideMonth #DiversityEquityInclusion

As Pride Month comes to a close, I am filled with gratitude and reflection. Celebrating the vibrant history, resilience, and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community is not confined to June; it’s a year-round commitment. As someone who researches diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, I witness firsthand the transformative power of inclusion. Diversity is not just a metric to be measured but a profound source of creativity and innovation. Our workplaces thrive when everyone can bring their whole selves to the table. Let’s continue to champion policies that protect LGBTQ+ rights, foster inclusive environments, and amplify queer voices. Remember, true allyship means standing up, speaking out, and taking actionable steps every single day. Together, we can create spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Pride is more than a month; it’s a movement toward equality and justice. #Pride2024 #LGBTQ+ #DiversityandInclusion #EqualityForAll

#HappyPride2024 from all of us InterInvest LGBT+ equality and inclusion - the first LGBTQ+ network dedicated to the asset management and savings industry in the U.K. As we celebrate Pride 2024, we at InterInvest stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. This month is not just a time for celebration but also a call to action. While we honor the progress we’ve made, we must acknowledge the ongoing threats to the laws that protect us. Our existence and rights are not confined to the month of June; we exist 365 days a year. It is crucial that we remain vigilant and proactive in advocating for change. This means recognising and addressing the issues that affect marginalized individuals within our community, including ageism, racism, lesbophobia, transphobia, and more. We are stronger together. Let’s embrace our differences, celebrate individuality, and actively fight to preserve our rights globally. By championing change, we can create a more inclusive and equitable world for all. Together, we can make a difference. Find out more at www.interinvest.org #StrongerTogether #Pride2024 #LGBTQ+Advocacy #CelebrateIndividuality #FightForChange

OutSpoken Speakers will be launching our charter in March. Our focus is all about creating more visibility and voice for lgbtq+ women, those that are nb and female alies. One big area for us is addressing lgbtq+ panels being male dominated. This week I’ve challenged two panels without women on it. One that was focused on start up funding where women already receive less than 3% of vc funding. We are continuing to build our speaker lists, with amazing business leaders, activists and not for profit experts. This will include AI, finance and tech experts, where we see real inequity in voices. We will also start launching courses to build new voices for the future. And we will be working with some amazing male allies who totally back and support our focus. Lets not forget this year’s #iwd theme Come and join our social movement here https://lnkd.in/eTQBZMzC Outspoken women and those who are nb are good for business and society. #outspoken #genderequity #lgbtq #investinwomen

This is such an important topic, and very close to my heart. The LGBTQ+ community can often have quite different financial needs, and it's so important that planners and advisers understand and acknowledge this when supporting their clients. A really excellent article! #pride #lgbt #lgbtq #financialplanning #finance #CISI #queer

Breaking Barriers: The Rise of #LBTQ+ Women in the Boardroom As we celebrate Pride Month and the second anniversary of the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors, the Association partnered with Women Business Collaborative to highlight how LBTQ+ women’s representation in corporate America remains a critical frontier. Despite 7.4% of adult Americans identifying as LGBTQ+, only 0.8% of Fortune 500 and 1.2% of NASDAQ board seats are occupied by LGBTQ+ individuals. LBTQ+ women's presence is even lower. Inspirational figures like Beth Ford, Myrna Soto, and Heather Hiles highlight the value LBTQ+ women bring to boardrooms. It's time to bridge the gap through visibility, networking, and allyship. Read more about this critical issue for our community and our efforts to drive change in my latest article on WBC insights: LBTQ+ Women In The Boardroom: Breaking Barriers And Building Bridges. https://lnkd.in/erJtBSC6 #LGBTQ #PrideMonth #Diversity #Inclusion #CorporateGovernance #Boardroom #Leadership #Allyship #Equality Betsy Bernard, Chiqui Cartagena, Denice Torres, Imara Jones