Creating Inclusive Workplaces Where LGBTQ+ Talent Thrives

As LGBTQ+ rights face renewed pressure around the world, how can organisations build workplaces that go beyond inclusion to foster true belonging?

In partnership with myGwork, Financial Times host a panel discussion exploring what it takes to support and empower LGBTQ+ professionals. We’ll hear what’s working, what isn’t, and how organisations can meaningfully support the community.

The conversation will be followed by a networking session — an opportunity to exchange ideas and connect with peers committed to lasting change.

Schedule

• 5:00 – 5:10pm | Attendees arrive
• 5:10 – 5:30pm | FT opening remarks
• 5:30 – 6:30pm | Panel discussion
• 6:30 – 6:45pm | Q&A
• 6:45 – 8:00pm | Networking

Meet the speakers:

Aasha Tikoo (she/her) is Director of Strategic Partnerships for award-winning, myGwork who are the business community for LGBTQ+ professionals, graduates, inclusive employers, and anyone who believes in workplace equality.
She works with clients including Amazon, BBC, AstraZeneca, and the United Nations to increase visibility across the LGBTQ+ community, organise online events, promote EVPs, create content, and deliver training on allyship in the workplace, unconscious bias, rethinking diversity management, and drive current employee engagement.
She has worked across several industries, including corporate law, management consultancy, broadcasting, telecommunications, and advertising, in the field of early talent, playing a pivotal role in championing inclusion initiatives in graduate recruitment. She has been recognised for her efforts via various awards and accolades.
After working so closely with the myGwork family client-side for 6 years, and experiencing first-hand the exceptional work, impact and commitment of the team, she jumped at the opportunity to join them and contribute her expertise to their efforts.
She is an alumna of Queen Mary University and lives in London with her husband and two daughters.

Bobbi is Chief Executive of Trans in the City an organisation she founded in response to seeing a lack of co-operative working between global corporates to help the trans and non-binary community and has transformed it into a global organisation with over 350 major organisations collaborating on furthering trans awareness across the world.

With many years global diversity and inclusion experience along with senior operational and programme management experience in the banking, trading, technology and energy sectors she is extremely active in all areas of diversity and speaks at many events around the world on LGBTQIA+ inclusion in business, trans issues and diversity and inclusion in industry. She is in demand on radio, TV and other online mediums and writes regularly for DIVA magazine.

Hannah Sarney is the Editorial Product Director at the Financial Times. In that role, she champions newsroom innovation and audience-focused strategies by bridging editorial, data, product, and technology teams. She founded the FT’s Next Generation Board and the programme continues to partner emerging leaders with the FT Group Management Board each year to bring fresh perspectives to business challenges. Hannah is an advocate for lesbian visibility in the workplace and Proud FT, the FT’s LGBT+ employee group. Beyond the FT, Hannah serves as a trustee for the Financial Literacy & Inclusion Campaign (FLIC) and serves on a number of advisory boards.

Sam Lewis-Williams has spent almost seven years at the Financial Times leading the Marketing Automation team within the Consumer Revenue Group. She specialises in using data personalisation, automation and storytelling to connect audiences with our journalism and build long-term relationships with our subscribers.