Representation matters. Today’s businesses should reflect who we are and what we share. The first Fortune LGBTQ+ Leaders list highlights how far we’ve come and how much work remains.
For the first time in history, Luck Ranking the world’s top CEOs, Chairmen and Co-Founders by revenue also coincidentally LGBTQ+ All of the companies that made the list this year reported revenue of at least $100 million—underscoring this. female The official ranking of LGBTQ+ business leaders.
Click here to explore the full list.
When it comes to business, diversity pays off. One notable company is Paramount Global, Boasts Not One But Two Public CEOs. Chris McCarthy, Co-CEO of Paramount Global and Chairman/CEO of MTV Entertainment Studios, and George Cheeks, Co-CEO of Paramount Global and Chairman/CEO of CBS Entertainment, together took Paramount (along with co-CEO Brian Robbins) to new heights at No. 142 on the list. Fortune 500 list. “When I was growing up, there were no openly LGBTQ+ people in my life or surroundings. TV was the only way to escape, see myself, and start dreaming of a different world,” said co-CEO Chris McCarthy. Luck.
During our extensive research, we found many positives—compared to the top Fortune 500 companies and Fortune 500 Europe list, the Fortune LGBTQ+ Leaders list is more diverse, with 20% being women (compared to 6% on our list Global 500) and better-than-expected racial diversity.
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One pioneer in Asia is EY Japan CEO Moriaki Kida, who spent 11 years hiding his true identity until becoming a partner at EY. Today, he is a proud advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Japan, especially around same-sex marriage, a hotly debated issue in the country. “Japan’s lack of recognition of same-sex marriage makes it harder for LGBT+ talent and executives to stay or move here. I am committed to helping Japan remain competitive and attractive to business,” Kida said.
Despite the current climate of hostility toward the transgender community, we are also thrilled to celebrate two openly transgender leaders who made it onto our inaugural list. We hope that as this important list grows in the years to come, more leaders will feel inspired to be themselves in office.
We spoke to several CEOs who, despite coming out, were reluctant to tie their personal lives to their business for fear of repercussions back home. Let’s not forget, as Human Rights Watch carefully monitors every year, that those living in many fast-growing economies in Africa or powerhouses like Russia and China not only risk career suicide by coming out publicly, but also risk their lives.
Today we celebrate leaders who have bravely paved the way for the next generation. A common thread that unites many of them is their story of courage. Coming out is one of life’s greatest challenges, and they have used this experience to become stronger leaders.
A clear example of this is Dame Julia Hoggett, the first openly gay chief executive of the London Stock Exchange and cover star of the European edition of Luck magazine, who said:
“If you have the privilege of being a senior leader, you have to use that privilege to speak up for those who are less capable, or feel less capable.”
Read more:
Fortune’s LGBTQ+ Leaders
Top 10 notable events in the coming years
How Paramount Global’s Two Openly Gay CEOs Are Pioneering and Helping the Next Generation
Ken Ohashi: From Bankruptcy to Billion Dollar Boom at Brooks Brothers
Trans+ employees aren’t the only ones who bear the brunt of bigotry—it hurts employers, too
