We are PROUD: Authenticity in the Workplace

This was originally published on The Huffington Post and can be read here.

 Like the rest of the world, I was horrified and saddened by the shootings that took place earlier this week in Orlando. It is impossible to make sense of a tragedy like this.

In the face of such extreme adversity, it was important for our Accenture family to stand united in our commitment to LGBT workplace equality. Families accept, celebrate, and care for one another. It was in this spirit that Accenture moved forward with our plans to host a global webcast, Pride Across Borders, in partnership with our clients at The Procter & Gamble Company, to celebrate this month of Pride. There can be no better response, at a tragic time like this, than to remain joyously proud and all the more resolute in pursuit of true equality.

 I was honored to speak during the webcast and share Accenture’s unwavering belief that our diversity makes us smarter and more innovative. And while constantly improving our policies and programs is essential, what matters most is how we connect with each other as human beings so everyone feels free to bring their authentic selves to work each day. Our people can be their best, knowing the full power of Accenture supports and embraces them.

 During my webcast remarks, I shared an email I received from one of our analysts, Ryan Shanabarger, who was just starting his career at Accenture. While volunteering at a recruiting event, Ryan had reached out with some questions about Accenture’s diversity hiring efforts. I was delighted our culture made him feel comfortable reaching out to me, but what really made an impact was how he ended his email. He said, “I have had great experiences with Accenture so far, and our LGBT initiatives were one of the main reasons I joined the company.”

 Emails like Ryan’s are what make me excited to do my job every single day. And, there are hundreds of stories just like his – proving our diversity efforts don’t just make our company better but also allow us to touch and improve people’s lives.

 As it turned out, Ryan was watching the webcast, heard me talk about his email, and tweeted this response:

 Ryan and I started chatting, and we thought it would be a great time to co-author this blog as a way to share what an inclusive work environment really looks like from an employee's perspective.

 Here are Ryan’s thoughts …

 As Ellyn said, the past few days have been a trying time for us all: a time for mourning, a time for anger, a time for pain. Yet, it is also a time for PRIDE. As a gay man, I am proud of our community's capacity for love, and I am proud of our community's history of overcoming immense challenges. If this weekend has taught us anything, it is that there are still challenges ahead; challenges that we must face together, in solidarity and love.

 That feeling of community was exemplified by the Pride Across Borders webcast. Watching it reminded me of why I chose to work for Accenture in the first place. As I was finishing up the CICS master’s program at Ball State University, I researched and explored many companies, but Accenture stood out.

 While most, if not all, of the companies I was considering were “adequate” in regard to LGBT equality, Accenture was exemplary. The Human Rights Campaign had just awarded Accenture a perfect score on their Corporate Equality Index for the 9th consecutive year. The company website had page after page of information about the Accenture LGBT community, including policy information, employee testimonials, and more. A YouTube search yielded videos of C-suite Accenture executives talking about their passion for diversity and LGBT inclusion. Even one of my interviewers, an LGBT Ally, raved about her own experiences with the LGBT resource groups Accenture supports around the globe. It was obvious that if I joined Accenture, I would be supported not just as an employee but as a gay man.

 Having now been with the company for nearly a year, I can say with certainty I made the right choice. From my first meeting with my office’s LGBT employee resource group at a putt-putting extravaganza to the outpouring of compassion and donations from colleagues around the world following this week’s massacre in Orlando, Accenture has proven time and again to be a place of support, love, and celebration. And that matters. It matters because what makes us each unique is valued. It matters because you cannot do your best work if you don’t feel comfortable being your best self. It matters because it’s the right thing to do.

 Companies now face a two-part challenge as they seek to transform both their policies and culture. Policy reform must come first, as a company’s culture has no chance of changing if its policies don’t support it. We must be aware of how our policies have a real effect on the day-to-day lives of employees. Words are important. Dress codes should empower employees to present themselves at their best, whatever their gender expression. Discrimination and bathroom policies should provide a backdrop of compassion and safety. Benefits and healthcare policies should give employees and their families the security they need to thrive. These changes are not things to discuss and consider. They are fundamental necessities that must be implemented immediately.

 It is important to note this movement cannot just be top-down but must work from the bottom-up as well. Another great thing about my Accenture family is that the people I have met are engaged and ready to work toward a better future for the company. In my own small way, I have been working as the Gender Authenticity Advocate for Northern California. I’m part of a team of amazing people from around the world who have been working hard, and successfully, to advance some of the changes mentioned above. Companies must encourage and reward these types of initiatives. Give your people time to organize and work together, provide support for events and activities and, most importantly, listen – and act – when they raise concerns.  

 Even before this week, we knew we had a long way to go and much work to do, but now the urgency and vital importance of these efforts cannot be ignored. I know how fortunate I am to be at Accenture, working with the best people and knowing my company has my back. In this month of Pride, let’s celebrate. In this month of mourning, let’s get to work.

 It’s Ellyn again …

 Thank you, Ryan, for your incredibly powerful and insightful words. I’m proud we are colleagues and that Accenture is a place that celebrates and embraces authenticity.

 Much of what Ryan describes at Accenture is because our LGBT employees are empowered to raise their hands. Our ability to move the dial is a direct result of our LGBT and Ally employees sharing ideas about how our company can do more to support all of our people.  And, our leadership listening to and acting on those ideas at speed.

 We know our work does not stop within the walls of Accenture.  Given our size, scale and voice, we have the opportunity and the obligation to help lead change around the world.  To extend our reach, earlier this year we announced our partnership with 11 other companies as founding members of the Human Rights Campaign’s global coalition to accelerate LGBT workplace equality across the globe.  

 It’s been a privilege for me to add my voice to Ryan’s. Let’s heed his call to action: “In this month of Pride, let’s celebrate. In this month of mourning, let’s get to work.”

 You can find both of us on Twitter:

@EllynJShook1

@theRFWS