Following its highly successful launch event in October, 2007, exeQutive – Toronto’s business forum for executives in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community – is meeting again on Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 to discuss the business case for diversity and affinity programs.
LGBT consumers in Canada have an estimated buying power of more than C$75 billion. However, studies demonstrate that the real value of diversity to business can be internal: LGBT individuals who work in a welcoming environment, where diversity is respected and promoted, are more committed to their employers and have less conflict outside of work: Employee retention is higher. Another study concluded that: “Gay male leaders are succeeding where many are failing in today’s business world. Their employees are happier, their companies are thriving, and they are proving to be shining examples of how to lead the 21st century workforce—across industries”.
Interest in exeQutive’s inaugural event far exceeded the group’s expectations, and since then demand for membership has been brisk. Says John Clifford, exeQutive’s founder: “We have had a high level of interest by LGBT business leaders, both men and women, in becoming a member of exeQutive. This has been inspiring and our membership continues to grow.” exeQutive’s members include entrepreneurs, executives from companies such as the Campbell Soup Company, CIBC, IBM Canada, Telus, TD Bank Financial Group and VISA, and partners and executives from some of Canada’s leading law and other professional firms such as Blakes, Deloitte, Goodmans, KPMG, McKinsey & Co. and McMillan Binch Mendelsohn.
exeQutive’s next event will take place on Wednesday, March 5th at Verity. Alison Konrad (from the Ivey business school) and Paul Douglas (from TD Bank Financial Group) will lead a discussion on the business case for diversity and affinity programs. Konrad has studied, lectured and written extensively on the topic; Douglas chairs TD’s Diversity Leadership Council and has witnessed the value of diversity programs first-hand.
For more information, email exeQutive at info@exeQutive.ca or call John Clifford at 647-223-3963.
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About exeQutive: exeQutive is a forum for LGBT business leaders, whose mission is to strengthen the leadership and promote the businesses of executives in the LGBT community in Toronto, and to support younger LGBT business people and professionals.
exeQutive grew from the idea that the businesses and careers of LGBT business leaders would benefit from better networking and professional development opportunities in an LGBT-focused environment, while at the same time allowing those leaders to give back to their communities. exeQutive’s founder, John Clifford (a corporate partner in the McMillan Binch Mendelsohn law firm), said: “exeQutive is about business leadership, career advancement and community. Its mission is to provide a forum for LGBT business leaders -- professionals, executives and accomplished entrepreneurs -- to meet, share their successes and learn from each other.”
“There are many vibrant business and LGBT organizations in Toronto, but as an openly gay lawyer on Bay Street, I looked around and discovered that there did not exist any group with a focus on executive leadership and LGBT-issues. If fact, I couldn’t find a comparable organization anywhere else in North America.”
Clifford worked with a core group of business executives, entrepreneurs and professionals to develop his concept and create exeQutive, which held its first event in October, 2007. In addition to networking and participating in the leadership development and learning offered at exeQutive events, members will have an opportunity to participate in exeQutive’s mentoring activities.
exeQutive also is committed to supporting the LGBT community through the donation of a portion of all membership revenues to a local charity. The Bill 7 Award Trust (see www.bill7award.ca for more details and how the Trust helps LGBT youth) has been identified as the charitable organization that exeQutive will support in 2008.
LGBT men and women interested in becoming a member of exeQutive may apply for membership by completing exeQutive’s application for membership and paying an annual membership fee.
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For more information, email exeQutive at info@exeQutive.ca or call John Clifford at 647-223-3963.