Douglas’ Post

Celebrating Pride Month with Commitment to Allyship. At VELUX we believe in fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can be their authentic selves. In celebration of Pride Month, we hosted a global event on June 17th titled "Learning how to be an inclusive colleague: LGBTQIA+ edition" where we discussed how to "break the cycle of silence" and promote open dialogue and understanding about the LGBTQIA+ community. The event, attended by about 140 colleagues from many different countries, featured an inspiring opening speech by our EVP for People & Organisation, Iben Schmidt Helbirk and speeches by DEI experts, Ashley Williams from Pearn Kandola LLP; and Louise Marie Genefke and Nikoline Nybo from Inclusify. Participants left with a deeper appreciation for diversity, stronger interpersonal connections, and practical strategies for being inclusive colleagues. Here are some of the takeaways from the event: Avoiding open dialogue about the LGBTQIA+ community perpetuates biases and limits understanding. Meaningful conversations are crucial in normalising diverse ways of living and being a family. Also, there are various roles you can take to be a good ally, including: ◾ Understanding the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals ◾ Challenging assumptions ◾ Practicing introspection ◾ Educating oneself and others ◾ Taking action against inappropriate behaviors We are committed to breaking the silence, educating ourselves, and supporting one another. Together, we can create a more inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive, develop, and perform at their best. Let's continue to champion allyship and celebrate diversity every day! #PrideMonth #Allyship #Inclusion #Diversity #BrighterFuture

While it's important to celebrate diversity months, it's also key to do it correctly. Performative activism can be easy to spot, especially when brands promote diversity initiatives for only a few select months out of the year. Celebrating and empowering diverse voices is an ongoing practice that extends beyond any official holidays or months of recognition. Instead of just saying you support DEI initiatives, point your audience to what you're doing to promote the cause, whether by diversifying your team, supporting local groups, or hosting important panel discussions and presentations. #thecontentqueens #socialmediamarketingagency #contentmarketingagency #socialmediaexpert #marketingsocial #socialmediacontent #digitalmarketingstrategy #socialmediastrategy #contentstrategy #creatingcontent #ccontentcreationtips #contentcreationstrategy #contentcreationagency #socialmediatoolkit #clientspotlight #dreamclient

How might we become more inclusive each and every day? In our fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the cycle of designated "days" and "months" meant to celebrate and recognize the diverse tapestry of humanity that makes our professional and personal lives so rich. While International Women's Day, Hire a Veteran Day, Black History Month, and many others serve a crucial role in highlighting important issues and groups, let's challenge ourselves to take this awareness and appreciation beyond the confines of these specific times. 💡 Why wait for a special day or month to recognize the value and contributions of those around us? Inclusivity isn't just for certain times of the year; it's a practice that should permeate every aspect of our lives, every day. With this in mind, I propose a simple yet impactful exercise we can all undertake: 🌈 Daily Inclusivity Exercise: Start Your Day with Awareness: Each morning, take a moment to reflect on the diversity of people in your life and workplace. Think about the varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. Act with Intention: Identify one action you can take that day to celebrate this diversity. It could be as simple as recognizing someone's effort in a meeting, learning about a culture different from your own, or ensuring your team's voices are heard and valued equally. Share and Inspire: At the end of the day, share your action and its impact with someone else, whether it's in a team meeting, on social media, or in a one-on-one conversation. Encourage others to undertake their own daily inclusivity practice. 🎉 The Ripple Effect: Imagine the powerful ripple effect we could create if everyone adopted this practice. By integrating inclusivity into our daily routines, we foster a culture of continuous recognition, appreciation, and celebration of the unique qualities that each person brings to the table. 📣 Call to Action: Let's move beyond the 'day' and 'month' to embrace inclusivity every day. I challenge you to join me in this exercise and share your experiences and insights. Together, we can build a more inclusive world, not just on special occasions, but every single day. #InclusivityEveryday #DiversityAndInclusion #CelebrateHumanity #EverydayInclusivity

🌈 Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈 As we celebrate Pride Month, it's essential to reflect on the significance of diversity and inclusivity in our workplaces. Pride Month isn't just about rainbow flags and parades; it's about recognizing and honoring the diverse experiences and identities that make our communities vibrant and our workplaces stronger. Organizations that embrace diversity and promote inclusivity within their company culture are not only fostering a more equitable environment but also reaping the benefits of a diverse workforce. Extensive research has shown that diverse teams are more innovative, make better decisions, and are better equipped to tackle complex challenges. I want to congratulate the companies that prioritize diversity and inclusivity, not just during Pride Month, but year-round. By creating spaces where individuals feel valued and respected regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, or background, these organizations are setting a powerful example for others to follow. Let's continue to champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it's also a smart business decision. Together, we can create environments where everyone can thrive and contribute their unique perspectives. Happy Pride Month to all! 🌟 #PrideMonth #DiversityandInclusion #InclusiveWorkplaces

🏳️🌈 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 🏳️🌈 As we wrap up on Pride Month, I've taken some time to reflect on what inclusivity means. Celebrating with rainbow flags and colourful parades is fantastic (and a lot of fun!!), but for me real inclusivity extends far beyond the month of June. At Intuita, we believe that inclusivity should be a constant, integral part of our culture—not just a seasonal gesture. True pride is demonstrated through ongoing actions, policies, and an unwavering commitment to creating an environment where everyone feels equal, valued and respected, every single day. It's about ensuring that our workplace is a safe space for all, celebrating openness, allowing people to be themselves and actively working to eliminate discrimination and bias. Inclusivity at Intuita isn't a one-time celebration; it's a daily practice, a year round endeavour, where we celebrate diversity and foster a sense of belonging every day. It's in the way we recruit, the way we support our teams, and the way we engage with one another. I'm proud that Pride is more than just a symbolic gesture or a month-long celebration for us as a company; it is a reality that we embrace all year round. #𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 #𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐃𝐚𝐲 #𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 #𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 #𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

📷 Cobalt’s ‘Out’ and About event last Friday organised by Kate Peers-McQueen and Ciarán Nicholl - but why do we celebrate pride events? Celebrating Pride events in corporate spaces is crucial to foster an inclusive and supportive work environment, and ensure our LGBTQIA+ employees feel valued and respected. We also aim to bring awareness and understanding among all staff, and foster allyship. At our event, we tried to give back to the community by supporting queer-owned small breweries and brands, purchasing products from Luv Jus and PROUD Beer. Trying to give back to the community can be hard if you don’t know where to go, but there is a company trying to fix this. ‘Everywhere is Queer’ is an app that has documented over 500 queer-run businesses across the globe. Fostering inclusivity and support doesn’t stop on the 30th of June, and within Cobalt we champion inclusivity everyday, not just internally but within our clients also. We speak to decision-makers across the real estate industry daily, and with the support of our Head of Inclusion, Megan Bond, our team are well-prepared to consult with our clients on inclusive hiring practices to ensure everyone entering a business can feel comfortable. #Pride #Pride2024 #CobaltCares

Equity and inclusion is always front of my mind in my daily life, no more so than during Pride month. But what can you do when Pride Month is over? Turns out, there is a lot and you don't have to wait another 11 months to focus on #Pride and #Inclusion ☺️ As an ally, I've looked at how all of us can take meaningful actions to create an inclusive environment (anywhere, not just the workplace): 📖 Educate yourself on LGBTQI+ issues. 🗣️ Speak up against discrimination. ♥️ Use inclusive language. 🏳️🌈 Support LGBTQI+ initiatives. 📣 Be visible and vocal in your support. 👂 Listen and offer support. 🛡️ Promote a safe and inclusive workplace At Dimply, we recently reflected on our internal policies and introduced enhanced Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy, Social Value Policy, and "The One Dimply Way." Full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/et5ZkcAm #equity #pridemonth #allyship #proudally

💼Our professional paths are as diverse as the colors of the rainbow. 🌈 Each day, we weave our unique threads into the fabric of our organization. Let’s celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and our invaluable contributions. 🌟 Visibility Matters: Visibility isn’t just about being seen; it’s about being heard. As we honor Pride Month, let’s amplify LGBTQIA+ voices. Share stories, experiences, and triumphs. Let’s create a workplace where everyone feels seen, valued, and validated. 🌟 Representation matters: when we see ourselves reflected in leadership, it inspires us to reach higher and dream bigger. 🤝 Allies: Allies play a crucial role. Whether you’re part of the community or an ally, stand up for inclusion. Be the bridge that connects understanding and empathy. 🌟 Breaking Barriers: Remember those moments when you challenged norms? When you advocated for change? Those are the stepping stones toward a more inclusive workplace. Keep pushing boundaries, and encourage others to do the same. 🌟 Safe Spaces: Let’s create safe spaces where authenticity thrives. When colleagues can bring their whole selves to work, innovation flourishes. 🌈 365 Days of Pride: Pride isn’t confined to June—it’s a year-round commitment. Let’s celebrate, educate, and uplift every day. 🌺 Tag a Colleague: Tag someone who embodies inclusivity. Let’s build a network of support and encouragement. 🙌 Remember, our journey is richer because of our differences. Let’s continue to learn, grow, and create a workplace where everyone shines. 🌟🌈 #pridemonth #pride365 #DEI #tagacolleague

The annual transformation of corporate logos into rainbow ones on LinkedIn prompts me to reflect on the true essence of #diversity and #inclusion... #PrideMonth is a time for celebration, reflection, and a call to action. But let me tell you that, unfortunately, #diversity and #inclusion are more than a logo change. It’s about understanding and genuine support. We change our logos and post fun and colourful pictures of our offices, complete with (of course) rainbow pancakes. But when I see this performative commitment, I can’t help but wonder: 🌈 What does your top management team really know about the LGBTi+ community? Are they aware of the unique challenges and discrimination that members of this community face both in the workplace and beyond? 🌈 How many LGBTi+ individuals are out and proud within your organization? More importantly, how many of them hold positions where they can influence decision-making and drive change? 🌈 Is your (colourful) support reflected in policies, practices, and culture year-round? It’s time for us to go beyond surface-level actions and make a real difference. True inclusion means creating an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work every day. Let's challenge ourselves to understand, support, and celebrate the LGBTi+ community and make them visible and empowered within our organizations every day. Because #pride resonates with #integrity: embracing our uniqueness, without a hint of shame, in every facet of our lives. We are all different, and that's beautiful.