The Economist Events organisation has hosted a uniquely powerful, highly successful LGBT business development event across the world on three continents.
One of the world's most respected global brands - The Economist - has hosted an agenda-setting leadership forum on the imperative to better connect businesses with LGBT communities across the world.
Entitled Pride and Prejudice, this unique event brought together a broad range of voices from business and LGBT communities across the world.
Starting in Hong Kong, the event involved timezone handovers throughout the day with London picking up the baton followed by New York.
The power of 'acceptonomics'
In a day that spanned the planet, it is actually rather difficult to single out only a few highlights.
For me, I was first tuned in as I awoke in London - watching the online, live video-stream of the event, hearing from participants on stage in Hong Kong discussing a range of topics, including ways that the New Zealand military has worked hard to better engage with their LGBT service personnel. It was a conversation I had not anticipated but one I found very inspiring - as a testament to how far the world has moved in just a few decades on LGBT issues.
Given that I personally attended the event in London - along with my Out Now colleague Susann Jerry (in London) plus Michael Wilke, who represented Out Now in New York - I will focus here on some of the lasting impressions that really stood out for me on the day at that London event.
There were a broad range of presenters from many fields involved all through the day at each of the three events.
To learn more for yourself and watch content from the many presenters - you can check out various social media links via the hashtag #EconPride and you can also find and view program content at the Pride and Prejudice dedicated site.
London calling
Participants in London viewed many high quality presenters from the worlds of business and LGBT communities.
It is always a joy to see people of such calibre in advancing LGBT equality as Claudia Brind-Woody of IBM - who was joined onstage for a compelling tech-focused morning session with leaders from Facebook and Tesco Bank.
A key highlight for me was an inspiring presentation given by Denis Duverne, Deputy chief executive officer and newly appointed Chairman of AXA (an Out Now client), a leadership brand that is advancing LGBT diversity strongly - and successfully.
Denis explained the importance of measuring the LGBT Business Case that underpins LGBT diversity as well as talking about the next important metrics challenge for business - better understanding key issues being faced at work by LGBT Allies.
Later in the day presenters included Fred P. Hochberg, Chairman and president, Export-Import Bank of the United States and Inga Beale, Chief executive officer, Lloyd’s.
Another formidable highlight happened in the afternoon in London - and the morning in New York - when we heard from Jim Yong Kim, President, World Bank Group on a live video link.
Seeing his video input into the New York event and screened live to us in London really brought home that LGBT inclusion is truly a global issue of the highest importance.
Among many other interesting highlights were discussions from people and companies including: Hogan Lovells International, IBM, Lufthansa, Deloitte and Avanade.
Still more memorable content came from the likes of Ruth Baldacchino, Co-secretary general ILGA (The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association); Bisi Alimi, On-air social and political commentator; and Omar Sharif Jr., Human and LGBT rights activist/actor who so eloquently explained about the home country he has had to flee: "I came out in Egypt and was immediately subjected to death threats. I wish I could go back tomorrow - I'd love to go back, to help Egypt prosper."
The afternoon in London closed very strongly with more thought-provoking content added by people including Beth A. Brooke-Marciniak, Global vice chair, public policy, EY; Lord Browne of Madingley, Executive chairman L1 energy; Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief executive officer, WPP - and many others.
Watch highlights from the events at the following links, including: Hong Kong, London and New York.
An undeniable trend: #EconPride
A compelling aspect of participating in Pride and Prejudice happened while I was live-tweeting during the event.
I discovered that Twitter was automatically suggesting the #EconPride hashtag after I had typed just "#E" - which reflected the very high interest levels in this event as it took place throughout the day.
You can read more on this event from Out Now's live-tweeting during the day - and from many others - via the #EconPride hashtag on social media.
One final word has to be made to the professionalism and commitment to this event by the organisers, Economist Events.
The many months of hard work involved in creating Pride and Prejudice was clearly on display for all to see at these events. This team is very seriously committed to LGBT equality and inclusion - and that showed. Great job.
Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now has been named one of the world's top 10 diversity consultants by the Global Diversity List, supported by The Economist. Out Now Global is a member of the LGBT Thought Leadership Panel for Economist Events.
You can view a short video on Out Now and the LGBT Business Case, shown to delegates at the Pride and Prejudice events: here.
© 2016 Out Now. All rights reserved. Out Now® is a registered trademark of Out Now, a company registered in the Netherlands. "Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words, marks and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Netherlands.
Out Now's CEO Ian Johnson reports.
One of the world's most respected global brands - The Economist - has hosted an agenda-setting leadership forum on the imperative to better connect businesses with LGBT communities across the world.
Entitled Pride and Prejudice, this unique event brought together a broad range of voices from business and LGBT communities across the world.
Starting in Hong Kong, the event involved timezone handovers throughout the day with London picking up the baton followed by New York.
The power of 'acceptonomics'
In a day that spanned the planet, it is actually rather difficult to single out only a few highlights.
For me, I was first tuned in as I awoke in London - watching the online, live video-stream of the event, hearing from participants on stage in Hong Kong discussing a range of topics, including ways that the New Zealand military has worked hard to better engage with their LGBT service personnel. It was a conversation I had not anticipated but one I found very inspiring - as a testament to how far the world has moved in just a few decades on LGBT issues.
| DENIS DUVERNE, Chairman, AXA (centre) with Zanny Minton Beddoes Editor-in-chief, The Economist and Adam Warby, Chief executive officer, Avanade. |
There were a broad range of presenters from many fields involved all through the day at each of the three events.
To learn more for yourself and watch content from the many presenters - you can check out various social media links via the hashtag #EconPride and you can also find and view program content at the Pride and Prejudice dedicated site.
London calling
Participants in London viewed many high quality presenters from the worlds of business and LGBT communities.
It is always a joy to see people of such calibre in advancing LGBT equality as Claudia Brind-Woody of IBM - who was joined onstage for a compelling tech-focused morning session with leaders from Facebook and Tesco Bank.
A key highlight for me was an inspiring presentation given by Denis Duverne, Deputy chief executive officer and newly appointed Chairman of AXA (an Out Now client), a leadership brand that is advancing LGBT diversity strongly - and successfully.
Denis explained the importance of measuring the LGBT Business Case that underpins LGBT diversity as well as talking about the next important metrics challenge for business - better understanding key issues being faced at work by LGBT Allies.
Later in the day presenters included Fred P. Hochberg, Chairman and president, Export-Import Bank of the United States and Inga Beale, Chief executive officer, Lloyd’s.
| JIM YONG KIM President, World Bank Group |
Seeing his video input into the New York event and screened live to us in London really brought home that LGBT inclusion is truly a global issue of the highest importance.
Among many other interesting highlights were discussions from people and companies including: Hogan Lovells International, IBM, Lufthansa, Deloitte and Avanade.
Still more memorable content came from the likes of Ruth Baldacchino, Co-secretary general ILGA (The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association); Bisi Alimi, On-air social and political commentator; and Omar Sharif Jr., Human and LGBT rights activist/actor who so eloquently explained about the home country he has had to flee: "I came out in Egypt and was immediately subjected to death threats. I wish I could go back tomorrow - I'd love to go back, to help Egypt prosper."
The afternoon in London closed very strongly with more thought-provoking content added by people including Beth A. Brooke-Marciniak, Global vice chair, public policy, EY; Lord Browne of Madingley, Executive chairman L1 energy; Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief executive officer, WPP - and many others.
| MARIJN PIJNENBERG Business Development Executive, IBM |
A compelling aspect of participating in Pride and Prejudice happened while I was live-tweeting during the event.
I discovered that Twitter was automatically suggesting the #EconPride hashtag after I had typed just "#E" - which reflected the very high interest levels in this event as it took place throughout the day.
You can read more on this event from Out Now's live-tweeting during the day - and from many others - via the #EconPride hashtag on social media.
One final word has to be made to the professionalism and commitment to this event by the organisers, Economist Events.
The many months of hard work involved in creating Pride and Prejudice was clearly on display for all to see at these events. This team is very seriously committed to LGBT equality and inclusion - and that showed. Great job.
Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now has been named one of the world's top 10 diversity consultants by the Global Diversity List, supported by The Economist. Out Now Global is a member of the LGBT Thought Leadership Panel for Economist Events.
You can view a short video on Out Now and the LGBT Business Case, shown to delegates at the Pride and Prejudice events: here.
© 2016 Out Now. All rights reserved. Out Now® is a registered trademark of Out Now, a company registered in the Netherlands. "Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words, marks and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Netherlands.
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