Wunderman Thompson ’ s Ezinne Okoro discusses how LGBTQIA + leaders inspire progress to break down corporate barriers and increase representation

Although an estimated 5.1 % of women and 3.9 % of men in the US identify as LGBTQIA +, their representation in corporate America is shown to be much lower , according to a study from McKinsey .

In fact , LGBTQIA + women make up 2.3 % of entry-level employees , which slowly drops as we look further up the career ladder , with only 1.6 % of managers identifying as LGBTQIA +. The study continues to state that corporate companies with fewer diverse employees are more likely to make LGBTQIA + individuals feel more isolated , and thus , less likely to progress in the company .

In contrast , having a diverse representation of employees has been shown to encourage others exploring their sexual orientation and gender identity to achieve their goals , while also boosting their self-esteem and inspiring others to be authentic and proud of their identity .

Additionally , LGBTQIA + leaders bring diverse perspectives to the table . Their life experiences and unique insights contribute to more comprehensive decisionmaking , which has been proven to benefit organisations and society as a whole .

With Ezinne Okoro , Global Chief Inclusion , Equity and Diversity Officer at Wunderman Thompson , we explore the importance of promoting LGBTQIA + in a corporate setting , as well as how to increase representation .

Fostering inclusive workspaces at Wunderman Thompson Advertising agency Wunderman Thompson believes that it is business ’ s responsibility to champion inclusive and diverse representation of all kinds , with particular importance on advocating the rights and equality of the LGBTQIA + community . “ It takes a lot of courage to walk in your truth and convince others that you shouldn ’ t be discriminated against because of who you love and how you identify ,” Okoro says .

“ Yet despite strides being made , the number of people in the LGBTQIA + community openly discussing their sexual orientation is still marginal . It ’ s challenging to be the first , the only , and even the face of something that many still deem as ‘ different ’ or ‘ unnatural ’, so representation matters .

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