Leading with PRIDE: We meet the business school students making education more inclusive for all

• Name: Julia Linthicum
• Business School: INSEAD
• Programme: MBA (Class of 2023)

Can you share your overall experience as an LGBTQ+ student in business school?

Overall, I had a great experience in business school. I was able to be my authentic self, which is something that hasn’t always been the case. As a result, I was able to grow as an individual and developed a lot of meaningful friendships.

Were there any specific resources, groups, or support systems available for LGBTQIA+ students at your school? How did they help you?

The main support system/student group at INSEAD is called OUTSEAD, which is the queer and ally student club. OUTSEAD is student led, so it was a great way to meet other queer students and allies. We even had some zoom meetings before the start of school, which helped alleviate a lot of my worries about being out in business school.

Throughout the year, we had social events and dinners and I always found it freeing to be part of a group that was incredibly supportive and understood what it was like to be queer.

Can you describe any challenges you faced as an LGBTQIA+ student during your time in business school?

The biggest challenge I faced was having to continuously educate my classmates about my identity.

I’m asexual, which is an identity most people aren’t familiar with. Over the course of the year, I found myself routinely having to explain what asexuality is and what it means. Occasionally, this would lead to some uncomfortable  personal questions. While I am happy to bring visibility to the ace community, it did get tiring having to always educate others.  

Has your experience as an LGBTQIA+ individual influenced your career choices and path after to/from business school?

No. I’m fortunate that I’m passionate about a career that is typically queer friendly: marketing & advertising. I’ve continuously had bosses or coworkers who were openly queer at work. It’s made for a very inclusive and welcoming environment and I’ve never felt the need to intentionally hide who I am.  

What challenges have you faced in the business world related to your LGBTQIA+ identity, and how have you overcome them?

I have not faced any significant challenges in the business world because of my identity.

Do you feel that businesses are becoming more inclusive and supportive of LGBTQIA+ employees? Why or why not?

Overall, I feel like businesses are becoming more inclusive and supportive of LGBTQIA+ employees. However, I believe that businesses are more supportive about the first few identities in this community.

While the first few identities are often more visible and better understood, all queer employees, no matter their identity, deserve to be included and supported by their employer. I would also argue that individuals whose identities are less known or acknowledged are often the ones who need the most inclusion or support.

What advice would you give to current LGBTQIA+ business students about navigating business school and preparing for their careers?

When preparing for your career, talk to queer alums who are working in your preferred industry or company. Every industry and company is different in terms of work life and how they treat employees. Connecting with other queer individuals can be extremely helpful in learning what to expect and what resources are available  to employees.

How can business schools improve their support and inclusion of LGBTQIA+  students?

Business schools can improve their support and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ students by acknowledging us more openly. It’s great that many schools have queer clubs or celebrate Pride. However, in my experience, DE&I discussions at business schools have mostly centered around traditional gender or race related topics. While these are extremely important discussions to be having, they are not the only ones that are needed.

“All queer employees, no matter their identity, deserve to be included and supported by their employer.”

As future business leaders, it’s important that we can openly talk about queer identities, people, and their experiences. If administrators and faculty create the space to have these discussions, it will allow more students to be their authentic self and to share their experiences.

In return, all individuals can be better informed on a multitude of DE&I topics and can therefore create a more inclusive work culture for all people and identities.

What can companies do to better support LGBTQIA+ employees and create  an inclusive workplace culture?

Companies can, and should, support their LGBTQIA+ employees all year around. It’s great to be acknowledged during pride, but it’s important for employees to feel supported no matter the time of year.

I think the best way companies can do this is by listening to queer employees, addressing their feedback, and making sure that the corporate actions year-round match what is said and pledged during Pride month.

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