Davos 2016 Issue Briefing: How Can Companies Overcome LGBT Diversity Barriers in Emerging Markets?

TL;DR

Companies can overcome LGBT diversity barriers in emerging markets by setting an inclusive tone at the top, making senior LGBT role models visible, and adapting global policies to each country’s culture. Beth Brookmartin, who came out in 2011, argues that companies can control the workplace even when local laws and cultures differ. Read on for practical approaches involving local forums, allies, and corporate influence.

Transcript

the annual meeting 2016 I'm delighted to say that this is a hugely important issue that we're covering for our first briefing here in the media center of the uh of the Congress Center in Davos clusters of course it's the issue of LGBT rights and how to more importantly overcome barriers to enabling and allowing LGBT talent to flourish we begin to f... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌍 The presence of out and visible leaders in the corporate world is a competitive advantage for companies, as it shows the value of diversity and inclusion.
• 💦 Workplace discrimination against LGBT employees is still prevalent, even in developed countries. More work needs to be done to create inclusive environments.
• ✊ Companies have the power to influence governments by leveraging their economic impact and highlighting the importance of diversity in driving business success.
• 🚨 The focus on promoting LGBT inclusion should extend beyond major markets and also address employment discrimination in emerging markets.
• 🥺 Inclusive workplaces lead to higher employee engagement and retention, benefiting both individuals and companies.
• 🌐 Creating communities of influence and using collective voices can drive change and promote inclusivity on a global scale.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can companies overcome LGBT diversity barriers in emerging markets?

Companies should establish visible support from senior leadership and then adapt their approach to each country’s culture and dynamics. They can create safer workplaces by holding local forums with employees, clients, customers, and local leaders to encourage open dialogue.

Q: Why are visible senior LGBT executives important in the workplace?

Visible senior LGBT executives demonstrate that people can succeed while being open about who they are. Beth Brookmartin says their visibility gives the issue an authentic voice and shows employees that differences can be valued rather than excluded.

Q: What did Beth Brookmartin learn after coming out in 2011?

Brookmartin realized that she had not been fully authentic when she treated her private life as nobody else’s business. After coming out, she felt she became a better executive, leader, and person.

Q: What role does senior leadership play in LGBT inclusion?

Brookmartin says inclusion starts at the top and identifies EY chairman and CEO Mark Weinberger’s support as critical to the company’s global strategy. Senior backing establishes that diverse opinions and experiences matter across the organization.

Q: How should multinational companies adapt LGBT policies to different countries?

They should calibrate global policies to the culture and dynamics of each country. EY’s approach includes entering markets with companies such as MasterCard and organizing discussions with local leaders, employees, clients, and customers.

Q: How can companies create safer spaces for LGBT employees?

Companies can control conditions within their own workplaces even when national laws and cultures present challenges. Open roundtable discussions can show that dialogue is safe and help employees and allies understand their roles.

Q: What business benefits does workplace diversity provide?

The briefing links diversity to attracting and supporting talent, improving creativity and innovation, and reaching clients that a single point of view might overlook. The existing insights also identify stronger employee engagement and retention as benefits of inclusive workplaces.

Q: How do allies contribute to LGBT workplace inclusion?

Allies need dialogue to understand what their role is in supporting LGBT colleagues. Brookmartin notes that allies can be as invisible as LGBT people, so making support visible helps create a more inclusive environment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Beth Brookmartin and Shamim Singh discuss the challenges and importance of being out in the corporate world.

• They highlight the need for senior role models to be visible and out, to show that success is possible regardless of sexual orientation.

• The speakers emphasize the importance of creating safe and inclusive workplace environments, and the role of multinational companies in driving change.