Welcome Talent: Connecting LGBTQ+ Professionals With Inclusive Companies Where They Can Be Their Authentic Selves

The latest Welcome Talent event, organized by myGwork – the business community for LGBTQ+ professionals – and IE University’s LGBTQ+ student group, IE Out And Allies, highlighted the growing need to create inclusive workplaces where professionals can be their authentic selves.

The hybrid event, which coincided with National Coming Out Day on October 11, not only connected LGBTQ+ professionals with inclusive employers, but also highlighted the challenges and discrimination that LGBTQ+ professionals still face in the world of work today.

In fact, according to a recent study carried out by Spain’s mptica, almost half of young LGBTQ + Generation Z return to the closet in their first job. Despite 50% of young LGBTQ+ people in Spain being out of the closet in their private lives, 28% still feel they have to hide their authentic selves at work.

In the opening address, IE’s President Santiago Íñiguez, and myGwork’s Director of Development Michelle Raymond, highlighted the many struggles that LGBTQ+ people face being their authentic selves at work and the growing need for better inclusion policies to create more welcoming environments, particularly to attract and retain today’s younger generations.

“If companies want to successfully attract Gen Z, who account for a fifth of the population according to Ipsos, companies need to create professional spaces where they can be their authentic selves at work,” shared Raymond. “However, today’s young professionals have aspirations that do not match conventional company aims and values. This scenario represents a great challenge for companies struggling to implement talent attraction and engagement practices inclusive of LGBTQ+ community, but also an opportunity for those companies that value and maintain good diversity and inclusion practices. Young professionals aspire to work in organizations where they can bring their whole selves to work, and that includes feeling safe to express their gender identity, gender expression, and who they love."

Vicenç Álvaro, ManpowerGroup's Marketing Director for Southern Europe, also highlighted the benefits of creating inclusive and safe workspaces for LGBTQ+ professionals: “Our international research based on data from 14 countries, confirms that in diverse companies 8 out of 10 professionals are more productive. Yet, only 58% of LGBTQ+ professionals feel that they can openly share their sexual orientation at work. Additionally, our study found that a third of professionals will choose whether or not to join a company based on their diversity and inclusion policies.”

The event, featuring two panels, also explored the impact of LGBTQ+-phobia both at work and home. The Eddy Foundation’s Director of the Psychological Services, Maaian Lichtenstajn, highlighted how companies can better support LGBTQ+ professionals at work. “Economic independence is crucial for the freedom of young people who have suffered from serious LGBTQ+-phobia within their immediate family and social circle of friends,” explained Lichtenstajn. “They now need diverse and inclusive spaces in the labor market, if they are to have a successful start in their professional lives.”

Togzhan, an IE student and co-president of her LGBTQ+ student club, agreed: “Just as it was important for many IE students to know about the university’s inclusion policies and values, and the very existence of IE Out And Allies, it is also a priority for us in our professional careers to find companies that do not look the other way, and are actually really open creating safe spaces where we can be whoever we want to be.”

In the second panel, hosted by Spanish journalist Adrian Bono, representatives from companies such as Manpower, Pearson, and Page Group shared their best practice diversity and inclusion policies that are successfully attracting and retaining young talent.

This year’s international event was also supported by countries such as Norway and Malta, which are leading in LGBTQ+ rights. Norwegian Ambassador Nils Haugstveit and Maltese Ambassador Daniel Azzopardi handed out 'Inclusive Employer' certificates to Aqualia, Clifford Chance, Colt, Manpower, MSD, Page Group, Organon, PPD, TomTom, Kennedys, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sanofi and Santander UK for going above and beyond to create inclusive work environments, with myGwork's Spain and Latin America's Director Miguel Garzón.

The UK Chamber of Commerce, AmCham Spain (US Chamber of Commerce in Spain), Hispanic-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce and REDI (Business Network for Diversity and Inclusion), as well as business professionals from leading global companies across all industry sectors, as well as students and graduates, attended this year's successful event.