Being Out, Beyond Borders – the LGBT Business Agenda

Among the meetings of heads of state, NGOs, musicians and business leaders at the World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, Switzerland, this week, a quiet revolution took place. For the first time in history, the LGBT agenda is on the official program. A panel discussed the personnel challenges of businesses confronted by discriminatory norms and laws against the LGBT community in emerging economies.

There is no doubt in my mind that 2015 was a momentous year for LGBT rights, with a ground-breaking vote in Ireland, a US supreme court ruling and City-level legislation in the US. And the high profile story surrounding Caitlyn Jenner raised awareness of transgender issues, sparking debate about these issues in all the mainstream media. Now many are asking what has changed in order that the WEF is debating LGBT themes.

I believe it reflects the way in which business and the world at large is changing. More organisations are recognising that diversity makes companies smarter and more effective as businesses. Take one example of this; in the US, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) regularly examines how the corporate world is performing on the LGBT agenda, measuring the world’s largest companies on levels of equality in the workplace, assessing major businesses’ LGBT-inclusive policies, benefits and practices.

In 2002, only 13 businesses scored 100 percent; today that number is 407. That’s 407 businesses representing virtually every industry and investment throughout the world. In addition, the number of rated businesses with specific protection for transgender employees shot up, from five percent to 87 percent. Transgender medical coverage is now a common benefit, with 40 percent of Fortune 500 businesses now offering this.

These changes in workplace equality are underpinned by new technology advancements, creating support groups to continue the drive for change which we still need to see in many parts of the world. For people in these communities, using technology to overcome physical boundaries and reach LGBT communities across the globe is critical. Technology can help people find support networks, seek new information and build a coalition of supporters. I see a growth in the use of the latest digital tools used to connect the LGBT community, gathering support and spreading the idea that inequality in all forms is completely unacceptable.

Technology in the workplace is also helping support the LGBT community. At Accenture, the safety of our people comes first. Recognizing that individual countries may have unique laws and cultures affecting the LGBT community, we work to ensure that our global policies and practices have their intended effect in all the geographies where we operate, creating an inclusive workplace for LGBT employees. This is underpinned by a GlobalWatch and Travel Alerts program to help all employees travel safely.

In the context of our LGBT program, at Accenture we give our people the latest safety information on the regions to which they have opportunity to travel and options for changing their destination.

Regardless of what the political, social or cultural situation is in a particular country, business must be committed to a culture of inclusion and acceptance in the workplace. This creates the environment where people can feel comfortable to be themselves and, as a result, be productive. I will be joining CNN’s Richard Quest, Shamina Singh of MasterCard and HRC’s Ty Cobb for a live broadcast on Friday, January 22 at 5PM CET, with viewers expected to share thoughts on Twitter using #LGBTBroadcast.

Our panel will be discussing the importance of being out, beyond borders. We need to stretch as organisations, as countries, as individuals. We have to put ourselves personally “out there”. Stretching the boundaries matters, and it does not have to be huge. Starting small is fine, form your own LGBT group, organize an activity during Pride, or participate through social media. It all add s up - to the point where world leaders and top CEOs are prepared to listen and understand the thorny issue of discrimination and laws against the LGBT community.

Last year I was joined by Beth A. Brooke-Marciniak, Global Vice Chair, Public Policy at E&Y and Antonio Simoes, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bank, for a panel discussion about LGBT issues. This year I am pleased to see both Beth and Antonio on the official WEF program, alongside Lloyds of London CEO Inga Beale, who was highest ranked LGBT executive in the Financial Times Top 100 Leading LGBT executives list. We have come a long way. But there is still more to do.