Pride Beyond June: Building Authentic Businesses that Thrive

As a LGBTQ+ owned business, I feel the spotlight and the joy of Pride during the month of June. There is a bit of joy (and sometimes a bit of cynicism) in seeing all of the rainbow logos pop up across social media. I love the conversations about Pride month and why it’s still vitally important even 55 years after the Stonewall riots. Growing up in the 80s and 90s meant that I didn’t see a lot of rainbows. Representation didn’t exist, and acceptance felt like a dream.?

And in the midst of all of that, I wonder about what it means for me to be a queer-owned agency. First of all, I’ve been so open about the fact that growing up, I didn’t see anyone that looked like me on television. I didn’t hear stories about women falling in love with women when I was in grade school. And I’ll be honest, it took me a few years (okay, maybe more than a FEW years) into my adulthood to feel bold enough in my own skin to truly live as open and out loud as I do today.?

And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t believe in Pride as just a rainbow, I think of Pride as a set of actions, as a testament to authenticity, as a piece of my identity, just like the fact that I love baseball and am awesome at energizing a room with a keynote.?

I got one of my favorite questions at a recent speaking engagement. A teenager approached me and asked me what the secret was to being confident. This teenager looked at me and wondered, “How can I find my voice like you? How can I radiate confidence like you do?”?

The answer to that question is the same whether you’re new to finding your voice in creating content for your brand, or as a future-adult wondering how to have a confident voice in a world that seems to thrive on ignoring teenagers.?

BE YOURSELF.?

And isn’t that the whole point of learning your identity? Of taking the time to put words to your own internal values and living them? When you take the time to reflect and actually find your identity, your values, and your truths, then you can live with incredible boldness. You can speak with confidence that you are who you say you are.?

So, what does all this have to do with business?

My agency specializes in Social Media. We’re an award-winning agency because we know our systems and we know each other, allowing us to truly thrive in a quickly changing landscape. Let’s be honest: a year ago, I would never have guessed that my agency would look like it does today! I’ve hired a new marketing director, ranked in the top 10 at Nike’s 2024 Diverse Business Academy cohort, and landed clients that make me proud in every way. I’ve also wondered if it was worth keeping the agency doors open, had more than one crisis of faith in the face of AI in our industry. It’s all part of living out loud, and learning from those dark AND bright moments to continue to grow, to continue to put my voice out into the world, and to marvel at how we are all supporting each other.

Pride isn’t about this badge of honor, or about fitting in (or standing out!). It’s about being true to who you are at the core of yourself, and then bringing your full self wherever you go. So many CEOs, entrepreneurs, and aspiring leaders show up every day with an edited version of themselves. Somewhere along the way, someone told you that your voice was too loud, or that REAL business owners didn’t look a certain way.?

And I’m here to tell you that isn’t going to fly in this day and age.?

Authenticity & Certifications

In today’s growing business world, the CEOs are showing up with authenticity we haven’t seen before. They are being honest with their employees and their clients. And in turn, that builds trust and loyalty that many thought were gone in the digital age. Those millennials might be the end of fabric softeners, sure, but they are also incredibly loyal to the brands that they perceive as being authentic, true, and trustworthy.?

It’s why my agency has pursued certification as a Woman-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, and Minority-Owned business. Putting our values on the front page, so to speak, allows everyone who interacts with Holloway Media Services to know what we stand for. To know what we value and how we spend our time and efforts to involve ourselves in different organizations. To support each other and grow! Having that NGLCC logo in our email signature makes sure to signal to everyone that we love supporting other LGBTQ+ businesses, both in our area and nationally. Making sure that we participate with WBENC businesses is a piece of how we believe that women support other women. Not just showing up at NMSDC events, but vocally supporting our fellow minority-owned businesses is part of how we show up for equality in our business.?

And you know what? That allows our teammates to show up fully as themselves, too. We live and practice being our full selves at each meeting, showing up for each other as people AND as colleagues. HMS believes in growing our business together, and helping each other in the lows and highs. It might be my name on the business, but when I live in the spirit of Pride, it’s our authenticity together that allows this agency the ability to be as powerful as it is.?

Beyond June

This is why authenticity is not just for Pride Month. It’s essential to recognize that inclusivity must be a year-round effort. Effort that genuinely reflects the rich diversity of our human experience. Pride is not a trend or a fleeting fad, and the importance of diversity should not be confined to the month of June. Celebrating diversity and embracing inclusivity should be an integral part of our everyday lives, influencing our actions, decisions, and interactions in our personal lives and in our businesses. It’s about creating an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued at all times. I truly look forward to seeing your authentic voice reflected in your social media, not just during Pride Month but every day, as we work together to build a more inclusive and accepting world. Let’s ensure that our commitment to authenticity and inclusivity is consistent, unwavering, and evident in all that we do.

Heather Holloway

Founder, CEO

P.S. - I'm always here to talk if you've been looking at how Inclusivity can boost your business. Book a time with me here, or email me at [email protected] and we'll jam on ways to celebrate each other while we grow our businesses!

Heather is the founder of Holloway Media Services, a full-service social media marketing agency and host of Social Media Success for Professionals, a social media podcast teaching business owners how to use social media to profit.

She loves spreading joy and having fun!

Fun fact: Heather was a contestant on Ellen's Game of Games and worked as a costumed character for Hersheypark. She’s an in-demand speaker, joy bringer, and all-around good person to have in the room.