Hearst Charlotte - DE&I Committee’s Post

Why do we do it? Sometimes Marketing campaigns and events may sound superficial... wrapping a rainbow bus won't change the reality of thousands of people suffering homophobic attacks or being discriminated against at work, but when I receive feedback like Ana's about the Ride with Pride bus and, suddenly, everything makes sense... “Thanks to the CDC NSW staff for creating the Pride Bus. I proudly rode on it on Saturday with my partner. I was thinking about how many times I and many of my friends had been verbally abused when riding on public buses throughout our lives. And the ‘Ride with Pride’ bus gave us a lot of comfort and confidence in riding public transport in the future.” Marketing is not only about selling products or experiences. Marketing should be about creating memories, and positive feelings, like belonging and being safe (after feeling vulnerable). And as we receive these touching testimonials, we feel our work makes sense, especially for the LGBTQ+ community, who were punished by Australian law until 1984 for being themselves. (In other places in South America, like my home country, until 1998 it was penalised by law). And this is why a rainbow bus makes sense... and this is why we do it :)

Consumers may notice a rise in LGBTQ+ themed packaging designs in June – coinciding with #PrideMonth, which commemorates the Stonewall riots for gay liberation in 1969. Some consider gestures like these a sign of support and a benchmark for increasing acceptance; others condemn it as companies exploiting a social movement for their own profit. Is there any way packaging can be used as a force for good? Emma Liggins weighs up the options. To get access to exclusive premium content, become a Packaging Europe member: https://lnkd.in/em_Jz4_Q Follow our hashtag to stay up to date with the latest packaging news: hashtag #PackagingEurope

"They Chose Us, Not Just for What We Do, But for Who We Are." In a marketplace where every brand claims uniqueness, what really makes a difference? It’s not just about what 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 we offer; it’s about the 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 we bring to the table. At Up & Over Advisors, we’ve seen firsthand how embracing our true selves—not just as a business but as proud members of the LGBTQ community—has not only set us apart but also deepened our client relationships. Recently, one of our clients expressed his excitement about supporting an LGBTQ-owned business for the first time. This wasn't just a transaction; it was a connection that mattered deeply to both of us. Authenticity means showing up as ourselves, not just as service providers. It involves sharing our real stories, including our triumphs and setbacks, and being honest about what we can deliver. This approach draws clients who align not just with what we do, but 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚. They stay for the long haul because the connection is personal—they trust in our brand as they trust in a friend. Here's the takeaway: When people choose to work with you because of who you are, the loyalty is deep and enduring. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲; 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽. ✨ And in today's competitive market, that's a powerful differentiator. Let's dare to be ourselves. It’s not only liberating—it’s magnetically attractive to the right people. #wegotthis💪 ---- Hi! 👋 I'm Hannah - Founder and CEO of Up & Over Advisors- a fractional revenue and buy-side M&A sourcing service. If this was helpful or insightful, ♻️ repost it to your network and follow me for all things B2B sales and leadership. Giddy up! 🤠 ---- #AuthenticityInBusiness #Leadership #BuildingTrust #B2B #LGBTQBusiness

This lovely article series by Remarkably celebrates Black History Month in the US and LGBTQIA+ History Month in the UK. I am fortunate to work with a team that views #inclusivity and #intersectionality as fundamental components of brand building, strategy, and learning and development, not just buzzwords!

Title: Target's Decision to Remove LGBTQ Merchandise Sparks Controversy 🎯 Recently, Target made the decision to remove certain LGBTQ-themed items from select stores in the southern U.S. during Pride Month, citing potential backlash and protests as the primary concern. This choice reflects the challenging balance corporations must strike between inclusivity and navigating region-specific controversies. As a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community, known for their inclusive policies, Target's move has resulted in mixed reactions. While these items will remain available online and in other stores, the decision to pull them from some physical locations has led to criticism from advocacy groups and customers. 🌈 The Pride collection includes a range of products like T-shirts, tote bags, and accessories, celebrating diversity and inclusion. The controversy underscores larger debates about the role businesses should play in social issues. Here's what's on my mind: ❓ How do companies balance local sensitivities with a commitment to inclusivity? ❓ Can businesses afford to remain neutral in an era where social responsibility is increasingly expected by consumers? ❓ What impact does this have on the perception of a brand that prides itself on supportive policies? I’d love to hear your thoughts on how businesses can navigate such complexities while maintaining their core values. Share your perspectives below! #BusinessEthics #Inclusivity #CorporateResponsibility #PrideMonth #DiversityAndInclusion

I must admit, social media for me has been overwhelming. We are now judged based on our consistency and quality post we do. If you want to be recognised! Anyway, so I had a delayed response in realizing that this month it was celebrating LGBTQ+ month! LGBTQ+ and the automotive trade? Most of my working life I always thought this trade is for only men and only men like it. Growing up women just did admin jobs!... Forgive me, but you can only think what you see, if you know what I mean!🤷♀️ In the last decade my mindset shifted about the automotive trade all to do with personal relationships and culture. I started to empower women and then came into my awareness LGBTQ+. The thing is, everyone is welcome in the automotive trade and everywhere. The trade is crying out for people to take interest in the automotive, to consider it as a career. Does it matter who it is?, Where they are from?, What their gender is? People will say "No, it doesn't matter" I still think the messaging is not clear, the perception of the automotive trade needs to change, it's a collective effort. Are you in the LGBTQ+ community? Have you tried or even considered the trade? Let me know what your experiences are if you are from LGBTQ+ community - I am happy to support to raise more awareness to inviting this community into the automotive trade How can I help ? #LGBTHistoryMonth #LoveIsLove #Pride #EqualityForAll #LGBTQHistory #automotorvationalexpert #automotive #diveristy #inclusion #automotivetrade #motortrade #equalitymatters

How to run an AUTHENTIC Pride Campaign 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ First, you need to bin the idea that your Pride Campaign is about making you money. 🗑️ It's not... 💅 Pride Campaigns should be about: 📣 amplifying voices 💃 celebrating industry change ✊ demonstrating your allyship and commitment to human rights And should not be focused on: ❌ number of traffic ❌ attracting customers ❌ increasing revenue Now, before you lose your head, I know customers and sales are the lifeblood of a business. To dismiss them willy-nilly sounds ridiculous. I propose a shift in perspective slightly. Your campaign's primary aim should not be about you and your business, but a full, honest commitment to the people you are lending yourself to. Pride campaigns are BRAND campaigns, not standard marketing campaigns. They are about creating long-lasting relationships with your Queer & Trans audience. It is not about convincing LGBTQ+ people to buy your product or service; that should only be a nice consequence of your authentic efforts to do good for LGBTQ+ people. The core goal should be to show Queer & Trans people that your business is a safe space for them to both buy into and buy from. Increased traffic, customers, and sales are a byproduct of that. That said, I appreciate we all must start somewhere, and at times, even with the best intentions at heart, you just can’t seem to see the wood for the trees. So I have put together a blueprint on how to pull together your first Pride Campaign that is non-rainbow-washing and makes your “inclusive company” actually inclusive. I will be posting this "blueprint" across a series of posts during the month of June as my contribution to Pride Month. So make sure to click the little 🔔 icon on my profile to keep up to date. Next year, there will hopefully be a few more authentic pride campaigns and a little less rainbow-washing. Rainbow-washing gives me the biggest of icks 🤢 what's the worst case of rainbow-washing you have experienced? #PrideMonth #Branding #BrandBuilding

What topics would you like us to discuss in 2024 and which speakers should we invite for our newwebinar series on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)? While I could think of a few topics I'd like to discuss, and speakers I would like to invite for our upcoming webinar series in 2024, I'd really like to hear from you all. Who inspires you when it comes to DEI? What topics are top of mind in relation to DEI in your organisation right now? What areas of DEI would you like to know more about? 2023 really brought some great conversations on important topics with amazing thought leaders from UK, Sweden, Denmark, Poland and the Netherlands. We covered: #1 Inclusive leadership with Aaron Kroon and Vivian Acquah CDE® #2 Lessons learned from the field with Susanna Romantsova #3 Importance of considering Intersectionality with Toby Mildon #4 Non-binary and transgender inclusion with Emil Novák-Tót #5 DEI strategy in action with Karolina Clarke and Kaveri Sinhji #6 Inclusive culture for Ethnically marginalised groups with Mamtha Pullat and John Abarshi #7 The power of conscious language and behaviour with Dr. Poornima Luthra (She/ Her) #8 How to get C-level buy-in for DEI with Chandre Torpet #9 wht you should know about the EU CSRD (Danish) with Rya Terney I learned so much this year, and it's important for us to continue to bring knowledge about DEI topics to our community. Please name/tag your inspiration and let me know what topics we should cover in the coming year! P.s. all webinars are available on demand here: https://lnkd.in/dpfihkis #intersectionality #inclusion #nonbinary #transgender #CSRD #diversity #equity #belonging #DEI #strategy #webinar

Summer's in full swing, but are you planning ahead for fall? Check out these industry events that might be helpful to attend to learn, share, and network, including: The Glamping Show Overland Expo Adventure Travel World Summit Outdoor Economy Conference Outdoor Media Summit Outdoor Retailer LGBTQ Outdoor Summit The Running Event What did we miss? Where are you planning to go? 👇 #entrepreneurship #outdoorentrepreneurs #conferences #smallbusiness #foundertips

Entrepreneur Roundtable Join us for an inspiring evening at our LGBTQ+ Entrepreneur Roundtable, where innovation meets inclusivity. This event is designed to foster networking, collaboration, and growth among LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and allies in a vibrant and supportive environment. Event Highlights: Roundtable Discussion: Engage in an open roundtable discussion with LGBTQ+ business owners and allies. This is an opportunity to share personal experiences, discuss the challenges currently facing your business, and explore solutions in a collaborative setting. It's a chance to learn from the collective wisdom of the community and discuss ways to overcome common obstacles in entrepreneurship. Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow business owners and thought leaders who are shaping the future of entrepreneurship. Bring your business cards and be ready to make meaningful connections! This roundtable is more than just an event; it’s a catalyst for empowering the LGBTQ+ entrepreneurial community. It’s an opportunity to share experiences, gain insights, and collaborate on new ideas in a setting that celebrates and promotes diversity. Register at www.3rba.com today!