Pride On Brand
Celebrate pride 365!
We are proud to bring you the voices of amazing executives, leaders and influencers, all who identify as member of the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, we are showcasing some of our favorite LGBTQ+ guests from the Lead With Your Brand!™ Podcast who continue to share their wisdom and move their industries forward.
Use Pride on Brand as a virtual “podcast club” with your Employee Resource Group
The Lead With Your Brand!™ podcast has partnered with Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, the premier organization working exclusively on LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Out & Equal has created free downloadable discussion guides for the shows to make leading a group discussion easy. In addition to the weekly shows that you love, there are two special roundtable episodes each with a panel of guests exploring a particular aspect of the LGBTQ+ experience in the workplace and its impact on personal brand.
Christel S. Miller, Head of Scripted Hybrid, Amazon MGM Studios
Christel has been responsible for and worked on some of the top shows on television that we all know and love, including Jury Duty, Superstore, Dexter and the upcoming Cruel Intentions series on Amazon Prime. Starting her career in the medical profession, she realized that she’d rather tell the stories of working in a hospital instead of actually doing so and quickly shifted gears. She has an incredible career story to share with fantastic advice we all can appreciate.
Tay & Val, Co-Founders, Modern Mind Labs
After both having careers in media and production, Tay & Val embarked on a two-and-a-half-year bike tour that took them across three continents and twelve countries simply to ask people one question, “what is your dream?” Armed with the inspiration to build their dream, they went on to found Modern Mind Labs, a global practice to create and implement wellness-based, EDI-informed, and culture-coherent leadership and team development initiatives.
Javier Constante, President, Dow Brasil & América Latina
Javier Constante has been President of Dow in Brazil and Latin America since late 2019. In this role, he is responsible for developing and overseeing Dow’s regional strategy and financial performance in the region. As an out senior executive at a global company, Javier stands as an advocate and role model for bringing your full, authentic self to work. A true inspiration with an amazing career story!
Brooke Sopelsa, NBC Out Editorial Director, NBC News
Brooke Sopelsa is the editorial director of NBC Out, the LGBTQ digital destination launched by NBC News in June 2016. Under Brooke’s leadership, nbcout.com seeks to both enlighten and entertain by showcasing enterprise reporting, original videos and other unique content about and of interest to the LGBTQ community.
Beck Bailey, Managing Director Global Chief Diversity Officer, Accenture
Beck Bailey is the Global Chief Diversity Officer for Accenture, responsible for building a culture of equality in the workplace for over 740,000 people in 49 countries. Beck leads a global team that is dedicated to ensuring all of Accenture’s people feel they belong and can thrive. His leadership also sets the firm’s Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) strategy and enables stakeholders to embed inclusive practices in all aspects of the organization to deliver 360 Value for our clients and enable business results.
Stephen Macias, President Multicultural Marketing & Communications, R&CPMK, Head of Inclusive Diversity, OSEN Worldwide
In his role, Macias leads R&CPMK’s Multicultural Marketing & Communications division, focused on creating and executing communications initiatives, marketing partnerships, and programs that further connect the agency’s high-profile brand and talent clients to consumers and organizations in the LGBTQ+ community, communities of color, and female driven initiatives. Additionally, Macias helps drive DE&I strategy, campaigns, and efforts for Octagon’s global collection of athlete, personality, and brand clients.
Sarah Kate Ellis : President and CEO, GLAAD
As President and CEO of GLAAD, Sarah Kate and her team’s work is focused on LGBTQ advocacy and cultural change. GLAAD works to ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive representation and creates national and local programs that advance LGBTQ acceptance. Sarah Kate has an incredible career story to share, having worked in the magazine industry for many years before taking the helm at GLAAD.
Carlos Zapata, News Anchor/Reporter, Noticias Telemundo Texas
Carlos has had an incredible career as a reporter and anchor for several television stations. Starting his career at a small newspaper in Ecuador while still in college, rising to one of the top hispanic language stations in the country. Early in his career, he focused his efforts on meeting the super connectors in his industry and building key relationships, ultimately leading to opportunity.
Vicky Pasche, Co-founder + CEO : Charisse Pasche, Co-founder + COO : Dapper Boi
Vicky and Charisse Pasche, co-founders of Dapper Boi, a gender-welcoming, everyday clothing line with smart, down-to-earth vibes for people of all body types. With an industry-disrupting commitment to inclusion, affirmation, and quality, their celebrated clothing business went from a crowdfunded passion project to a seven-figure company in five years.
Chris Mossiah (They/Them), Executive Director – Consumer & Community Banking, JP Morgan
Chris, based in New York City, is an area product manager for a design system within the Consumer & Community Banking Department. They are also the Co-Chair of the Firmwide GEC (Gender Expansive Council) as well as co-lead for the Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, and Non-binary subcommittee of PRIDE Tri-State BRG. Chris has worked for JP Morgan for over 5 years while being a member of the Pride leadership team for over 4 years. Chris also serves on the TNI (Transgender, Non-binary, and Intersex) subcommittee of Open Finance (a forum that unites LGBTQ leaders of major financial services organizations across the NY metro area).
Cece Asuncion, Director of Scouting and Development, Slay Model Management
Cece Asuncion is an out and proud gay Filipino business owner, producer and director, based in Los Angeles, CA. He is a pioneer in the modeling industry, as the founder and Director of Scouting and Development for Slay Model Management, the world’s only all trans modeling agency. His journey in the entertainment industry began when he directed and produced What’s The T?, which followed the lives of five transgender women from New York and San Francisco.
Yvette Miley, SVP of DEI, NBCU News Group
Yvette is the SVP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the NBCU News Group. She has worked for NBCUniversal for 27 years and is the recipient of many of the industry’s highest honors, including three Emmy Awards.
Jennifer Henderson, VP & Executive Technology Lead, TD Bank
Jen Henderson has a career in tech spanning over thirty-five years and is a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ causes. She is currently the VP & Executive Technology Lead of Core Platform at TD Bank. Jen knows firsthand the power both in and out of your career that comes with accepting one's true self.
Deena Fidas, Managing Director & Chief Program and Partnerships Officer, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Deena has had a fascinating career leading inclusion programs across the globe. She is currently the Managing Director and Chief Program and Partnerships Officer for Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, the premier organization working exclusively on LGBTQ workplace equality.
Snehal Desai, Incoming Artistic Director, Center Theater Group
Snehal Desai was recently named artistic director of the famed Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, making him the first person of color to lead the organization. Prior to that, Snehal was the Artistic Director at East West Players, an organization uniquely positioned to stand at the intersection of artistry and social justice.
Sepi Shyne, Mayor, City of West Hollywood
Sepi has had an incredible career as an attorney and in November, 2020, she was elected to the city council of West Hollywood, CA. In doing so, she became the first out LGBTQ Iranian elected anywhere globally and locally became the first woman of color elected to West Hollywood’s City Council.
Luis Sandoval, Senior Correspondent for Univision’s “Despierta America” and host of “Buena Vibra” on K-Love 107.5FM
In 2018, Luis came out as gay during a live broadcast of “Despierta America” with the intention of creating awareness of the issues that LGBTQ+ young Latinos face in America, becoming the first and only out Latino TV personality in Spanish media in the US. He is Two time Daytime Emmy Award winner and Three time GLAAD Award recipient.
Congressman Mark Takano
Representing California's 41st district, Mark has always been a huge advocate for education and has worked to improve his community for over twenty years. In 2012, Mark became the first openly gay person of color to be elected to Congress.
Adrian Whant, Founder & CEO, TrooVRS
Prior to founding TrooVRS, Adrian has over 2O years of experience developing award-winning, revenue-generating advertising marketing solutions for leading media brands, including NBCUniversal/Telemundo and various digital media startup companies across the influencer, original programming and ad network worlds.
Chris Witherspoon, Entertainment Contributor for NBC News/MSNBC, Founder & CEO of PopViewers
In addition to interviewing some of the biggest celebrities in the world as an entertainment correspondent, Chris is revolutionizing the business as founder and CEO of PopViewers, the platform that helps you find what to watch next, invites you to react to the TV and movies you’ve watched, and encourages you to share the experience with fellow content-lovers.
Bobby Amirshahi, Senior Vice President, Macy’s, Inc.
After an incredibly successful communications career in cable television and entertainment, Bobby made a complete industry shift when joining Macy’s. He shares a fantastic career story on how he successfully navigated the pivot (and believes that you can too), and as a communications specialist, he knows first hand the power of personal brand, and how to leverage it to advance your career.
Pride Month Special Episode : Pride on Brand : The Trans Experience in the Workplace
In this special episode, Jayzen welcomes Kate Fisher from Oracle, Aro Royston from Boeing, Alex Dropp from Bank of America and Ashley Brundage from Empowering Differences to talk about their experiences as trans people in the workplace. Click above to download the discussion guide from Out & Equal, and use the podcasts as a virtual “book club” with your resource group or team!
Louis Vega, President, Dow North America
Over his 20+ year career at Dow, Vega has gained wide-ranging expertise, honed his strong business acumen, and led significant growth projects and business development programs. All of this has been augmented through his extensive international experience.
Susan Feniger, Award Winning Chef & Entrepreneur
As an award-winning chef and restaurateur, Susan has had a number of highly successful restaurants and authored six cookbooks over her forty-year career.
Perez Hilton, Influencer and Entrepreneur
Perez Hilton, the “original influencer,” shares his incredible path to becoming one of the most notable celebrity bloggers and a successful entrepreneur.
Ivan Estrada, Broker Associate & CPA, Douglas Elliman
With an amazing multi-faceted career as one of the top real estate agents in Los Angeles, Ivan has an inspirational approach to his work and how he leverages social media.
Erin Uritus, CEO, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
After an incredible career in corporate consulting, working both domestically and internationally, Erin became the CEO of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, the leading organization focused on LGBTQ equality in the workplace globally.
Wilson Cruz, Award-winning Actor, Activist and Humanitarian
Wilson currently stars as Dr. Hugh Culber on Star Trek: Discovery. As the first openly gay actor to an openly gay character on series television, Wilson first came into our homes as Ricky Vasquez on My So Called Life in 1994. His career has spanned television, film and Broadway - and he continues to be an amazing activist for his community.
H Schuster, Founder + CEO, HUSSLUP
H has built her career producing some of the most iconic unscripted television shows that we all love, and now as Founder and CEO of HUSSLUP, is transforming the creative industry. As an opportunity-maker, she is constantly striving in her career to not only create incredible content, but open the door for others along the way.
David Ambroz Head of Community Engagement (West), Amazon
David is the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon where he coordinates with non-profits and community leaders to drive impact and social good. David was honored as an American Champion of Change by President Obama. In his recent book, A Place Called Home, David shares his story of poverty and homelessness as a child, which ultimately became a driving force in his career. A true inspiration for us all.
Brad Baumoel, Global Head of LGBT+ Affairs, JPMorgan Chase
After thirty years in banking at JPMorgan Chase, Brad moved into an amazing role with the firm that aligns his professional leadership talents with his passion for his community. As the Global Head of LGBT+ Affairs, Brad leads the firm’s center of excellence that develops executives who identify as LGBT+, helping to further their careers by bringing their full selves to work everyday.
Sharon-Franklin Brown, Chief Impact Officer, Los Angeles LGBT Center & Board President, LA Pride
Sharon tirelessly to create space for her community and make the world a more equitable place for trans and gender non-conforming people. As Chief Impact Officer for the largest organization in the world serving the LGBTQ+ community, she is responsible for providing strategic leadership, management, guidance to programs and Human Resources for a staff of nearly 800 employees.
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey, Political Journalist, Professor, and Changemaker, National News Anchor, Fox Soul’s Black Report
Dr. Quartay has an incredible career story, now returning to his roots as a journalist, to being a professor to his life long work in advancing narrative, culture, and policy change in pursuit of social and economic justice. Dr. Quartey served as Senior Policy Advisor to Biden-Harris Presidential Campaign and was formerly AARP's first Senior Advisor & National LGBTQ Liaison.
Daniel Reynolds, Editor In Chief, Out Magazine
As Editor In Chief of Out Magazine, Daniel leads the charge for one of the most iconic national publications covering the LGBTQ+ community. Rising through the ranks of Out’s sister magazine, The Advocate, Daniel has penned some of the most notable stories, including the cover story for their Will & Grace reunion issue and won a 2021 GLAAD Media Award..
Lorri Jean, CEO (retired), Los Angeles LGBT Center
Lorri Jean is the CEO of the world's largest LGBTQ+ non-profit, the Los Angeles LGBT Center. As CEO, Lori has driven a period of unprecedented expansion, increasing the budget from $8 to $150 million, the number of locations from one to ten and the numbers of people served annually to more than a half million.
Pride Month Special Episode : Pride on Brand : The Intersection of Race and LGBTQ+ in the Workplace
In this special episode, Jayzen welcomes Patty Dingle from BNY Mellon and Dr. Reza Rahaman from MIT to explore the impact of race and sexual orientation on their careers and in the workplace. Click above to download the discussion guide from Out & Equal, and use the podcasts as a virtual “book club” with your resource group or team!
Patrick Huey, Executive Director, The Quin House
Patrick has had a fascinating career in the hospitality industry in many roles and is now part of the core leadership team of The Quin House, Boston’s newest private social club. Patrick is a huge believer in not being bound by a pre-written script in your career and taking advantage of every opportunity to connect with people and grow your skills.
Telly Leung, Broadway Star & Producer
Telly has performed in seven Broadway shows, including the starring role in Disney’s Aladdin for over two years. He is also a producer, director and professor and always brings the unique “Telly” brand to the job, which as been shaped by his family history and by embracing his true self.
Gordon Bellamy, Gaming Industry Expert and Professor
Gordon is an award winning professional and has played key business and product leadership roles. He also serves as CEO of Gay Gaming Professionals.
Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director, Women in Film
As a agent of change, Kirsten runs the preeminent organization that advocates for women in the screen industries to achieve parity and transform culture.
Patrick Gomez, Executive Editor, Entertainment Weekly
Patrick Gomez, Executive Editor of Entertainment Weekly. His “say yes” attitude has been a hallmark of his success and key to his career breakthroughs.
