Originally published at accenture.com. Accenture ranked No. 2 on The Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list in 2021.
Pride means more—more love, acceptance, opportunity and innovation—regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, race, age, faith and background.
We don’t just celebrate living authentically and visibly during Pride month. We strive to champion all people and stand together to create a true culture of equality and belonging—every day.
“Inclusion and diversity is critical for what we do and for who we want to be as a company,” says Accenture CEO Julie Sweet. “As a proud LGBTI ally, I’ve long been inspired by our people as they support each other across communities. We stand together in our commitment to equality for all in Pride season and every season.”
Visible leaders inspire others
In her journey to becoming a more visible leader, Christie Smith, Senior Managing Director in Accenture Strategy & Consulting and Global Lead of Talent & Organization/Human Potential, named in Fast Company’s Queer 50 list of innovators in business and tech, shares a few simple actions that can be big steps toward change:
- Share your story with all its history, high points and low moments.
- Be curious and ask questions to truly get to know your teams, which will make them feel seen and understood.
- Demonstrate relentless support by consistently sharing with colleagues that you have their back and genuinely advocating for them.
“Being openly LGBTQ has allowed me to flourish in my family, for my kids and in my career. I’m the best version of me as an ‘out’ community member,” says Christie.
Culture of equality makes a difference
Through his story of self-acceptance, Saptarshi Mallik, Test Engineering Senior Analyst, shares how respect and professionalism in the workplace gave him the courage to face the world.
Joining Accenture in 2014 and then getting the opportunity to travel to and work in Dublin for a year was a life-changing experience for Saptarshi. For the first time in his life, he realized the value of an equal workplace. He finally felt free to be himself, and to grow and flourish.
Saptarshi has advice for those who are still finding their way:
- Accept yourself for who you are and then come out to the ones who matter to you most.
- Never give up on your education, as it will help you stand up for yourself and build a great life.
“Knowing that equality is a top priority for Accenture made me feel unafraid to come out,” says Saptarshi.
Use your voice and rise above
Rudy Cupido, Project Manager, is passionate about using his voice for good and to help people feel included. He believes in creating awareness, standing up for others and educating people about the reality of harmful prejudices.
“My journey toward becoming a self-assured gay man hasn’t been easy. But I was determined to challenge myself every step of the way,” says Rudy. “In 2011, I was a finalist in the Mr. Gay, South Africa contest. I wanted to take a stand and motivate others to do the same. This encouraged my friend’s brother to come out without fear. I try to do the same with the Pride talks we’ve initiated at Accenture in South Africa. We conduct interactive sessions aimed at educating our people on Pride.”
Let your true colors shine
It took 30 challenging years for Application Development Team Lead Alex Murgaboopathy to feel free to come out. He credits Accenture’s inclusive culture for allowing him to feel safe and accepted at work.
Today, Alex takes pride in his identity and shares his advice for others who want to experience the same freedom:
- Be authentic and unapologetic. In our bid to impress others and be accepted in today’s world, many of us are not being our true selves. Show your true colors and inspire others.
- Drive awareness. Be open and honest with yourself and others, and they’ll feel comfortable to show their true, authentic selves.
- Take pride in who you are. Be yourself. Lead an authentic life. Find peace with who you truly are.
“If you love someone, invest time in trying to understand their world. Only then will our children no longer fear the opinions of family or society while coming out,” Alex says.
Pride is about being open and committed to supporting each other, as well as being willing to learn and grow. It’s not about “you” and “me,” but about “we”—and WE are the culture of Accenture.
Join the conversation on social media with #PrideAtAccenture.
Join us, and bring your authentic self to work. Every day.
