The number of visible, openly LGBTQ+ senior leaders across the private sector and government is at an all-time high. However, this cohort tends to not represent the full diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, especially with respect to racial, ethnic, gender diversity, and ability, among other characteristics. Barriers to career advancement – and even employment itself – are compounded for those LGBTQ+ people that also embody other marginalized identities. The daily unconscious bias, legacy and systemic systems of racism, and other forms of discrimination come to bear on the daily working lives of LGBTQ+ people across identities. A Black, Transgender woman navigating her workplace cannot take a breather from racism to cope with anti-transgender bias or gender inequality: at any given moment she is faced with all at once, in addition to her job or attempts to get a job. Meaningful change and programming to advance the next cohort of LGBTQ+ leaders must be intersectional to be effective.
In 2021, Out & Equal launched the Diverse Leaders Fellowship (DLF) to support underrepresented LGBTQ+ leaders. Part of a broader strategy to enhance opportunities and build cultures of inclusion, the fellowship is intended to increase the pipeline of out early- and mid-career underrepresented LGBTQ+ talent in Fortune 500 companies.
2022 Diverse Leaders Fellowship
The 2022 DLF cohort will convene for learning and networking opportunities in Las Vegas from October 17th through 20th. In closed group sessions on October 17th, fellows will explore professional development topics such as leading with authenticity, executive presence, personal branding, and more. Fellows will also participate in the Workplace Summit conference from the 18th through the 20th.
We invite high-potential LGBTQ+ leaders who identify as transgender and/ or nonbinary, women, people of color, and/or people with disabilities, to apply to participate in the second cohort of the fellowship. Applicants must identify as an LGBTQ+ member of one or more of these underrepresented groups. They should also be in the early-to-mid career stage, with no more than 15 years of work experience.
Applications are open to employees of Out & Equal committed partner organizations that are at the Bronze partnership level or above. Out & Equal is able to offer this program in 2022 with no registration cost for Fellows. Fellows will be responsible for securing their own airfare and accommodations during the event.
Applications for this year’s Fellowship were due on Friday, July 29.