2025 Outie Award Finalists

Celebrating 25 years of impact, Deutsche Bank’s dbPride has grown from a grassroots initiative in Frankfurt into a global force for LGBTQ+ inclusion across more than 30 countries. From advancing gender-neutral parental leave, partner benefits, and gender affirmation healthcare, to normalizing pronouns in systems worldwide, dbPride has made equity part of the bank’s DNA. With chapters from New York to Mumbai to Sydney, and new growth in regions like Cary, North Carolina, dbPride creates safe spaces where employees feel empowered to be visible, often for the first time. Its presence is felt on the world stage; leading Pride celebrations in Berlin, London, and New York, ringing the bell for equality at global stock exchanges, and partnering with organizations like GLSEN and Pride Circle to support LGBTQ+ youth and transgender empowerment. With executive leaders modeling allyship and recognition on workplace equality indexes across continents, dbPride’s legacy shines as a model of how an ERG can transform culture, policy, and community both inside and far beyond the workplace.  

Launched in 2018, Pride@Kantar has grown from a grassroots effort into a globally recognized ERG that integrates LGBTQIA+ inclusion into Kantar’s culture and strategy. With programming spanning more than 50 offices worldwide, it drives visibility through year-round engagement on key awareness dates, safe space sessions, and large-scale activations like Kantar’s first-ever Global Virtual Pride Parade. The ERG co-leads thought leadership initiatives, including the annual Kantar-DIVA Report, which amplifies the voices of LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people across multiple countries, shaping both internal education and client-facing insights. It champions allyship through campaigns such as “Be Counted,” encouraging demographic visibility, and distributes thousands of pronoun pins and Pride materials to foster everyday inclusion. With executive sponsorship, cross-ERG collaboration, and partnerships with organizations like Rainbow Railroad and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Pride@Kantar unites employees across geographies while advancing equity, intersectionality, and belonging cementing Kantar’s reputation as a forward-thinking, inclusive company.  

Rebuilt after a major corporate spin-off in 2023, Labcorp’s PRIDE ERG has transformed from a fractured network into a globally coordinated engine of inclusion and advocacy. With six global co-leads spanning four countries, chapters expanding from 13 to 22, and membership growing from 500 to over 1,300, PRIDE ensures LGBTQIA+ employees have a visible, affirming community worldwide. The ERG spearheaded the creation of a Gender Identity & Expression Inclusion Policy, secured gender-neutral spaces in the UK, and championed healthcare equity for LGBTQIA+ employees in India and Canada. Culturally, PRIDE has brought visibility to every site with global flag-raising ceremonies, storytelling campaigns like Rainbow Labs, and flagship events such as Trans Day of Visibility with Alok Vaid-Menon. Intersectionality is woven throughout its work, from cross-ERG collaborations on mental health and allyship to global panels like The Power of Inclusion, which drew 800 employees. Beyond the workplace, PRIDE advances impact through community partnerships and fundraising for LGBTQIA+ youth and trans-led organizations. By combining structural policy change with visible cultural leadership, PRIDE has redefined what belonging looks like at Labcorp and in the science and healthcare industry.

Meghan Congrove, Raw Materials Coordinator, has driven transformative LGBTQ+ inclusion at The Chemours Company, particularly at the Washington Works site where she works in rural West Virginia, demonstrating that progress can take root outside major urban centers. As co-lead of the PRIDE Employee Resource Group and leader of the Washington Works chapter, Meghan established an annual educational Pride display that engages hundreds of employees, sparks dialogue, and fosters belonging, inspiring similar educational opportunities and initiatives at other The Chemours Company locations. 

Meghan’s advocacy extends beyond The Chemours Company into the broader community. She serves on the boards of Parkersburg Pride and the Wood County Women’s Rights Alliance and volunteers with the local Humane Society, creating inclusive events, strengthening partnerships, and reinforcing The Chemours Company’s reputation as a visible ally. Internally, she has advocated for equitable treatment of PRIDE newsletters and is especially adept at raising awareness and gaining understanding of subtle barriers facing LGBTQ+ employees, directly contributing to The Chemours Company’s rise in the HRC Corporate Equality Index to from 60 in 2023-2024 to 85 in 2025. 

Meghan exemplifies inclusive and intersectional leadership by amplifying marginalized voices, fostering cross-ERG collaboration, and ensuring programming reflects the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. Her courage, resilience, and strategic vision have educated colleagues, and strengthened ERG engagement, creating measurable, lasting impact. By bridging rural realities and corporate vision, Meghan inspires authentic inclusion across The Chemours Company and the broader West Virginia community, proving that meaningful change can begin anywhere. 

Becca Maxwell-Warrior, Global Editing Supervisor, has profoundly advanced LGBTQIA+ inclusion at Labcorp by turning policy and culture into tangible, lived experiences. They co-created and delivered “Understanding LGBTQIA+ Identities and Support in the Workplace” training for UK managers, later adapted/delivered globally, bridging knowledge gaps on gender identity, pronoun usage, and systemic barriers. Recognizing the emotional toll of forced outings and legal uncertainty, Becca also trained over 80 Mental Health First Aiders across five sites to provide trauma-informed support, ensuring employees had access to both safety and advocacy during crises.  

Becca’s leadership is deeply intersectional, fostering collaboration across ERGs, such as ASCEND, EnABLE, PULSE, and HUMANOS. Initiatives like the Global PRIDE ERG Book Club and the Power of Inclusion panel highlighted overlapping identities and elevated marginalized voices, while advocacy following the UK Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling led to gender-inclusive restroom signage and a biweekly forum between Employee Relations and LGBTQIA+ employees. These efforts transformed reactive gaps into systemic, sustainable inclusion, embedding accountability across the organization and setting a precedent for equity and dignity.  

Beyond Labcorp, Becca serves as Global Steering Team member of the Proud Science Alliance and EDI specialist for the West Yorkshire Branch of The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), leading workshops that equip HR professionals with tools to dismantle bias and structural inequities. Their advocacy combines strategic action, intersectional vision, and courageous persistence, ensuring LGBTQIA+ employees are seen, supported, and empowered. Becca’s work demonstrates that true inclusion requires relentless leadership, systemic change, and a commitment to making workplaces and the broader community authentically safe and equitable.  

Jon Tilli, Director in Deutsche Bank’s Investment Bank, has redefined what LGBTQ+ advocacy can look like within global finance.  As Global Chair of dbPride, he has worked with partners across the bank to create a strategy that integrates inclusion into culture and client engagement alike. 

Through his leadership, dbPride has grown into a truly global community spanning 14 chapters across 10 countries – connected through mentorship, regional summits, and innovative programming that inspires visibility, allyship, and action. 

Jon’s influence extends well beyond internal culture. He has built partnerships with LGBTQ+ equality organizations worldwide. From landmark events to collaborations with organizations advancing education and human rights, his initiatives have raised significant funds and awareness for inclusive causes. 

Courageous authenticity defines Jon’s leadership. By sharing his personal journey with openness and resilience, he has fostered belonging across teams and regions.  His work demonstrates how authenticity and strategy can combine to create meaningful impact – showing that inclusion, when done with intention, strengthens culture, drives innovation and connects business to purpose. 

Janna McNeil, Senior Director of Sales Operations at Labcorp, embodies the essence of an ally changemaker through her steadfast commitment to advancing LGBTQIA+ inclusion and belonging. As Global Co-Lead of the Women’s Empowerment Network and Executive Sponsor of the Massachusetts PRIDE Chapter, she dedicates her time and leadership to ensure allyship is actionable and never performative.Janna has driven meaningful change by spearheading the creation of a local PRIDE chapter, coordinating the display of Pride flags across sites worldwide, and fostering collaboration across ERGs. After an event on trans and nonbinary inclusion, she helped launch a support group for parents of LGBTQIA+ children, drawing from her own experience as the parent of a trans daughter and a lesbian daughter. She then went on to organize a Family Pride Panel that deepened dialogue and resources for families across the business. Known for her kindness, compassion, and people-first mindset, Janna creates space for marginalized voices, amplifies cross-ERG collaboration, and uses her privilege to open doors for others. Through her advocacy and leadership, she has made Labcorp a more visible, supportive, and inclusive place for LGBTQIA+ employees and their families.  

Denis Tuzinovic has distinguished himself as a courageous, consistent, and humble leader whose allyship has transformed Patagonia’s culture of inclusion. As co-founder of the company’s LGBTQ+ employee group, Denis has been instrumental in advancing equity, from ensuring Pride flags fly at every North American store to co-authoring Patagonia’s first LGBTQ+ Benefits Guide. His leadership is rooted in listening and accountability, creating space for LGBTQ+ voices while driving meaningful action himself. 

Denis spearheaded the creation of the Retail Pride Partnership Guide, connecting Patagonia stores with local LGBTQ+ organizations, and played a pivotal role in the company’s first public Pride Statement in 2021, establishing a new standard of visibility and accountability. He has also fostered dialogue on gender diversity through initiatives like the internal debut of the They/Them film, and continues to push for systemic change that supports LGBTQ+ employees and families alike. 

Guided by his lived experience as a Bosnian refugee, Denis leads with an intersectional lens that uplifts marginalized voices within and beyond Patagonia. His work bridges community advocacy with corporate accountability, leaving a legacy of radical care and enduring impact. 

Agnieszka Zaklada, HR Head at AXA XL Poland, exemplifies allyship through her transformative leadership in advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion and belonging. She championed the AXA We Care program, introducing pioneering policies such as the Co-Parent Leave Policy providing all parents, including same-sex couples, an additional eight weeks of paid parental leave and a Caregiver Policy granting paid leave to employees supporting partners or family members. 

Beyond policy, she has driven cultural change by launching trainings on transgender and non-binary identities, engaging Pride Chapter BRG leaders in decision-making, and fostering open dialogue across the organization. Her intersectional approach extends to broader inclusion initiatives, from neurodiversity to parenting support, and she encourages visibility through events like the WroPride Equality March. 

Thanks to her leadership, AXA XL Poland has become a recognized example of workplace inclusion, setting a powerful standard for equity and allyship.