Eleven Reasons to Join myGwork
myGwork is the global networking hub and job board For LGBTQ+ professionals, graduates, allies, and organisations to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond.
It was created by twin brothers Adrien and Pierre Gaubert as a Limited Company registered in the United Kingdom with offices in Spain.
Gay Times describes myGwork as ‘reinventing the way LGBTQ professionals search, find and secure jobs in inclusive organisations. You now have the choice to work for organisations that want to create a diverse workplace and for respect your sexual orientation, your skin colour, your belief etc.’ (1)
In this opinion piece, Stonewall Lesbian Role Model of the Year and Founder of Pride in Education and Educate OUT racism, Laila El-Metoui shares why she believes everyone should join myGwork.
As a member herself, she has found them greatly supportive and highlights the benefits of becoming a member as an individual or an organisation.
1. Free individual membership
Joining myGwork as an individual couldn’t be easier: their platform conveniently syncs with Linkedin, so your resume is automatically transferred and your profile instantly created and added to the 400,000 individuals who make up our network, interacting with one another.
2. A place to be your authentic self
When interviewed by the Guardian, the Gaubert brothers stated that ‘LGBTQ + acceptance should start work. Workers shouldn’t feel they need to hide their sexuality at work – employees and companies alike benefit from a more open and inclusive workforce’ (2)
Research clearly shows that employees who can bring their authentic selves to work are happier, more productive and successful. For organisations, the benefits have also been clearly demonstrated through higher retention rate and larger profit margins. myGwork supports organisations to develop an inclusive culture to enable everyone to bring their authentic selves.
3. Mentorship
Mentoring can be a powerful tool for your professional and personal development, with benefits for both mentees and mentors. Mentors can provide you with huge leaps forward in your career. They can give you a keener eye for strategy and direction, help mentees be more self-confident, speak up, and be heard. Individual members at myGwork have instant access to thousands of LGBTQ+ mentors and allies to support them in their chosen industry
4. Support for people relocating
individual members also have access to country ambassadors , a free service to support people newly relocated to a country and support them with personal and professional integration.
5. Free weekly networking and training events
The events page on myGwork can be accessed by every member of the public and you don’t need to be a member to access the fantastic range of free training and events daily. Their platform also allows people and organisations to upload their own events.
6. Weekly up-to-date news and information
Whether you sign up for the weekly newsletter or check out the news section, there’s loads of up-date information and news to keep you abreast of the latest development and celebration relating to the LGBTQ+ professional community and beyond.
7. Great resource for job seekers
If you are looking for your next job or just want to know which employers are inclusive, myGwork is the place to look. With hundreds of new jobs every week, it is a fantastic platform to secure your next career move and development.
8. Workpride
In June 2020, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic cancelling Pride parades across the globe, myGwork announced its first global conference, #WorkPride, a 5 day conference which launched in the place of the cancelled events and attracted over 18,000 delegates throughout the week.
The conference brought together and celebrated LGBTQ+ people, during what was and still is a difficult time for many people. Pierre Gaubert said "The ongoing pandemic has serious implications for the mental health of LGBTQ+ people. With most pride events being postponed or cancelled around the world we want to make sure the LGBTQ+ business community is visible and celebrated. This is a great opportunity for organisations committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion and their employees to come together to continue the conversation about what true equality in the workplace looks like – even from home.”
I am super excited to hear that #WorkPride is back in 2021 again, with what promises to emulate last year’s success and offer support and training on themes such as inclusiveness, ERGS, skills development, business and well-being. All of the events are completely free and recorded, which is good as I can catch up if I cannot attend. Attending the live events though provides a unique opportunity to network and meet outstanding professionals and community organisations.
9. OUTstanding partnership work
With more than 300 corporate members, myGwork’s organisational members benefits include being able to develop and enhance relationships with customers and networks, giving your business 'the edge' against your competitors, making it easier to recruit super diverse talent and raising your company image. Joining the global professional network will open up doors you did not even know existed!
10. Organisational membership
myGwork is the number one resource for global LGBTQ+ outreach. Their annual membership option is offered on a sliding scale to support every organisation to be more LGBTQ+ inclusive and includes support with employee engagement and talent attraction , branding and events promotion, access to training and best practice and so much more. With the opportunity to be included in their press releases/ social media updates, organisations will generate more positive publicity and brand awareness for their business.
As an individual member myself, I am benefiting greatly from the fantastic range of activities offered at no cost by this fantastic organisation. I am genuinely grateful to the Gaubert brothers for creating a space that is empowering and impactful. The company was founded when Adrien and Pierre's mother, Françoise, was worried about the prejudice they could face in their professional life for being gay. They built myGwork to address the issue of discrimination towards LGBTQ= people in the workplace and ensure every professional has equal chances to succeed.
11. DIVA Award Sponsorship
myGwork is a proud sponsor of the DIVA Awards, the leading annual awards for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women. Every year, they support the Young Entrepreneur award, recognising the talents and successes of young LBT+ women and the work they are doing. Working closely with DIVA to share and celebrate these voices, myGwork is committeed to giving a platform to people to recognise the work they carry out.
myGwork is an Award Winning Company. Its founders won the Attitude Award Young LGBT+ Entrepreneur of the Year and the organisation was listed in the Top 5 startup with Pride by Geek Times.
myGwork Connect, network, thrive.
