5 Business Thought Leaders Championing LGBTQ+ Rights
Earlier this year, Sam Altman announced that he had married his longtime partner, Oliver Mulherin.
It was an unusually candid moment for the CEO, who usually keeps public discussions of his personal life to a minimum.
But, with LGBTQ+ representation in the c-suite noticeably lacking, leaders who speak out can affect change in the workplace and the culture at large.
In 2023, only four Fortune 500 CEOs were openly LGBTQ+, and just 25 out of 5,670 board seats at Fortune 500 companies (0.4%) are occupied by openly LGBTQ+ people.
In this post, we look at how five leaders have shared their perspectives and their impact on the LGBTQ+ community.
Tim Cook, Apple CEO
Cook became CEO of Apple in 2011. He is also on the boards of directors of Nike, Inc. and the National Football Foundation.
Thought leadership approach: The first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Cook said in a 2014 essay for Bloomberg that he decided to share his experiences after reading letters from kids struggling with their sexual orientation. “If hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the tradeoff with my own privacy,” Cook wrote. Cook shared a link to his 2014 essay on his Twitter account. Since then, he has used social media to support LGBTQ+ causes, celebrate related milestones like Pride Month and express solidarity with the community during key moments.
Impact: Under Cook, Apple has implemented inclusive policies and practices for LGBTQ+ employees. The company has supported legislation and initiatives to promote equality and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, donated to LGBTQ+ organizations and supported community events and initiatives.
Dax Dasilva, CEO and founder, Lightspeed
The Canadian entrepreneur founded Lightspeed, a global e-commerce software company, in 2005. He is also the founder of two nonprofit organizations – the Montreal art gallery/arts hub Never Apart and the nonprofit environmental alliance Age of Union.
Thought leadership approach: Dasilva has served as an ambassador for Montreal Pride. His gallery Never Apart “celebrates both emerging and established artists, while educating on equality, the environment and conscious living” and “is geared towards igniting positive change and unity, highlighting art and diverse creativity.”
While his social media focus is on his professional and environmental endeavors, particularly his non-profit environmental organization Age of Union, he has shared insights on how being gay influenced his leadership style. In his book Age of Union: Igniting the Changemaker Dasilva includes reflections on how his early experiences as a gay man informed his vision for leadership and community engagement.
Impact: Like Cook, Dasilva’s visibility as an openly gay CEO has opened doors in the tech industry for other members of the LGBTQ+ community. He is an advocate for rights and equality and used his platform to support initiatives and organizations that promote diversity and inclusivity.
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Beth Ford, CEO, Land O’Lakes
In 2018 Ford was named CEO of Land O’Lakes, the American agricultural cooperative. She joined the company in 2011, following stints at Mobil Oil Company, ExxonMobil and Pepsi.
Thought leadership approach: Ford, the first openly gay female CEO of a Fortune 500 company, rarely discusses her sexuality directly. But interviews and stories about her achievements in the media have made her a visible advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and representation in business. “When trying to answer important questions — like, how do you feed a growing world population in a sustainable way? — I think all diverse voices are absolutely critical,” she told Time. “Leadership is a team sport. It’s about enabling and empowering the team to succeed.”
Impact: Under her leadership, Land O’Lakes implemented policies supportive of LGBTQ+ employees. Ford has also participated in events and discussions focused on advancing LGBTQ+ rights and visibility.
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Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI
Altman is a serial entrepreneur who became OpenAI CEO in 2019, four years after its launch. A Stanford dropout, he co-founded his first company at 19 and later became president of startup accelerator Y Combinator.
Thought leadership approach: Altman occasionally discusses LGBTQ+ rights and his experiences on social media and in the press. In a 2022 tweet, he expressed his mindset of not letting potential discrimination affect his career decisions. In a recent Advocate interview, Altman talked about his marriage and the responsibilities he faces “as a gay CEO” at the head of a cutting-edge tech company.
“I don’t really think about being a gay CEO,” Altman said. “What I know is that it took an enormous amount of work and sacrifice from a lot of people over a very long period of time to get where we are today. I can now just sort of focus on my work and I don’t have to think much about that question, and I think that’s a tremendous step forward to be in a more equal world.”
Impact: The CEO has used his platform and influence to advocate for policies that promote diversity and inclusion within tech companies and beyond. He has donated to organizations and initiatives that focus on LGBTQ+ rights, health, and community support. During his tenure at Y Combinator, Altman helped shape the startup ecosystem and through his leadership created opportunities for LGBTQ entrepreneurs. Additionally, GLAAD has honoured him for his contributions to LGBTQ+ inclusion in tech.
The CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman has married his partner Oliver Mulherin 🌈
The couple held an intimate seaside ceremony in a tropical location earlier in the week, Altman later confirmed the event to NBC after photos of the wedding began circulating around social media pic.twitter.com/jNymNzwP0p— GAY TIMES (@gaytimes) January 15, 2024
Angelica Ross, CEO, TransTech Social Enterprises
An American actress, businesswoman, and transgender rights advocate, Ross is also a self-taught computer programmer. She founded the nonprofit TransTech Social Enterprises to help employ transgender people in the tech industry. She is best known for her work on the TV series American Horror Story. In 2022 she made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago.
Thought leadership approach: In early 2024 Ross began a podcast, NOW – No Opportunity Wasted with Angelica Ross. On it, the CEO/activist covers topics such as Black cowboy culture, self-care, celebrity and race. On her Instagram account Ross often discusses race, politics and LGBTQ+ rights. On Twitter/X she shares content on those topics and showcases other people’s work in trans and other rights.
Impact: With TransTech Social Enterprises as well as the TransTech Summit, Ross has put the spotlight on transgender people in tech. As a prominent proponent of diversity issues in tech, Ross was a featured speaker at the White House 2015 LGBTQ Tech and Innovation Summit, the host of a 2020 Presidential Candidate Forum on LGBTQ Issues and a featured speaker at the 2019 National Trans Visibility March in Washington, D.C.
Cash Labs, founded by queer co-founders @davidcash888 & @TylerRibchester, is celebrating our top 20 #LGBTQ+ innovators this #PrideMonth. Today, we spotlight @angelicaross, an actress, advocate, and entrepreneur known for her roles in “@PoseOnFX” and “@AHSFX.” pic.twitter.com/sTVEsNZqX8
— Cash Labs (@cashlabshq) June 12, 2024
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