QS Scholarship Winner Brings LGBT Mentoring to the Workplace

In this year’s Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign, 85% of the 851 surveyed employers indicated that they have an LGBT resource group or diversity council that includes LGBT employees. For QS Leadership Scholarship winner, Katherine, participating in the LGBT network at her former employer and creating a company mentoring program were ways for her to contribute and connect to the LGBT community. Despite the inroads society has made towards accepting the LGBT community, Katherine feels that mentoring programs are needed to ensure LGBT employees feel comfortable at work. Katherine is currently getting her MBA at Columbia Business School with the eventual goal of becoming a chief human resources officer at a blue chip company.

Contributing to the LGBT community at her university

Katherine became aware of the issue of LGBT discrimination at an early age. She spent her formative years living in a number of countries known for their conservative views in this regard. It was in these countries that Katherine observed, “the unthinkable difficulties, discrimination and violence one can face by being a member of the LGBT community.”

The memories of discrimination she observed during her adolescence made her realize, “the vital importance of creating strong LGBT support systems.” Katherine has been able to live openly as a bisexual woman in London, where she has helped build LGBT support systems at both the university and corporate level.

Before she got her start in the business world, Katherine attended university in London, where she was heavily involved in her school’s LGBT society. As part of her involvement in this LGBT society, Katherine organized fundraisers for London charities, such as Stonewall Housing, an organization which provides LGBT youth with places to live. Katherine also coordinated volunteer efforts for nonprofits including Galop, a charity which provides advice and support to LGBT victims of violence and abuse.

Connecting with an LGBT network in the workplace

After graduating from university, Katherine took a job at a global professional services firm where she worked in human capital consulting and human resources. Being open about her sexuality at work came about organically as Katherine formed friendships with her colleagues. “I have never felt it necessary to hold back this part of myself but also never felt the need to announce it formally at any stage,” she reasons.

After some time at the firm, Katherine decided to join her company’s LGBT network in order to meet people beyond her own team and contribute to the LGBT community. She was subsequently elected social secretary of the LGBT network and organized events ranging from singles’ nights to the company’s participation in London’s Pride parade (Pride in London).

While Katherine found experiences with both her university’s LGBT society and company’s LGBT network to be rewarding, she realized she wanted to connect with her community in a more direct way. That’s why Katherine started an LGBT mentoring program for incoming graduates starting out at her company. The program partners recent graduates with older, more established employees who identify as LGBT and provide support and advice on navigating the workplace as an LGBT person. Katherine became a mentor herself and met regularly with three graduates three times a month for informal chats as well as making herself available to any questions they wished to ask.

The mentoring program has been a success, as well as one of Katherine’s proudest achievements. “I was both shocked and thrilled by the number of graduates who wanted to take part, and involvement has only continued to grow in the last year.”

Increasing acceptance of the LGBT community and pro-LGBT legislative measures may make it seem like there isn’t a need for LGBT mentoring. Yet, a 2014 Wall Street Journal article cites data from the Human Rights Campaign which found that only 7% of LGBT employees aged 18 to 24 had come out at work, compared to 32% of those aged between 35 and 44. Katherine feels that personal connections and the influence of visibility can help increase the number of people who feel comfortable in being out at work. “While I am lucky to have never struggled with being out at work, I think it is the responsibility of those of us who have been so fortunate to ensure everyone has the space to feel as comfortable and confident, and I think mentoring networks can cultivate that.” Katherine plans to continue establishing and supporting other LGBT mentoring programs while pursuing her MBA and in her post-MBA career.

Why did Katherine choose to get her MBA at Columbia Business School?

Since Katherine’s role at the professional services firm had a specialized focus, she decided to get her MBA in order to, “experience a more broad-based business curriculum,” that will help fill in the gaps of her humanities-focused undergraduate background before she advances in her career. Katherine’s ultimate career goal is to become the chief human resources officer at a blue chip organization where she intends to be an ‘out’ leader and promote the importance of diversity and inclusion in its many forms. However, her immediate plan is to return to consulting after earning the degree.

Columbia Business School’s accelerated program, which begins in January and allows students to take summer classes in lieu of an internship, is what led Katherine to the school. Since Katherine plans to work in the same industry, she feels there’s no need for her to do an internship and the program suited her needs perfectly.

Apart from Columbia’s required first-semester curriculum, Katherine plans to take a broad range of classes in order to graduate, “with knowledge of many different facets of the business world”. Her favorite class thus far has been an immersion class taught by a former global CEO of Deloitte and entitled, ‘The Management Consulting Industry’.

Katherine’s advice on writing a winning MBA essay

Katherine has two pieces of advice for prospective MBAs looking for scholarships. First, apply for a variety of scholarships, “even ones you think you have little to no chance of winning.” When it comes to the content of the essay itself, Katherine advises that scholarship applicants should answer the questions, “in a creative, authentic, and thoughtful way.”