Pride Business Forum Hero Award
Recognise those who do more
There are people among us who work hard to make sure everyone in the company is treated fairly and feels safe. They do more than what is expected.
The Pride Business Forum Hero Award is for these special people. It is given every year to those whose work deserves praise.
Will you tell us who should get the award this time?
Who you can nominate
Heroes and heroines can be anywhere, for example:
- Leaders in top management
- Members of your LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG)
- HR professionals
How to nominate somebody
H2: How to nominate somebody
To nominate someone, just fill out our form. Please give clear details, including a short biography, a photo, and your reasons for why you think they deserve the award. Make sure the person agrees before you send the nomination.
Pride Business Forum Hero Award acknowledges individuals and highlights the role of members of the top management of organizations/companies, members of employee resource groups, or employees in HR who actively advocate for equal conditions for LGBTQ+ employees in their organizations/companies, or work towards improving the status of LGBTQ+ people in society, all beyond their professional agenda.
This award represents special recognition for those individuals who excel in promoting equal opportunities for LGBTQ+ employees. It is focused on these heroes who dedicate their energy and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment for LGBTQ+ colleagues in their organizations, going above and beyond their professional duties.
The Pride Business Forum Hero award aims to emphasize the key role of these individuals in supporting equality and diversity in the workplace. This may include not only the implementation of specific measures and projects but also active leadership in dialogue and awareness for the rights of LGBTQ+ people, both within the organization and in society.
Pride Business Forum Hero Award 2025
Category: Top management
Monika Ladmanová, Head of Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic
Monika co-founded the Pride Business Forum 15 years ago and the PBF Foundation. She has long promoted LGBTQ+ rights in the workplace and society. In the cabinet of EU Commissioner Věra Jourová, she focused on equal opportunities and helped include LGBTQ+ equality in the EU strategy.
Now, as Head of the European Commission Representation in Czechia, she supports marriage equality and works to change institutions from within. On PBF’s 15th anniversary, we honour her as an inspiring advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Czechia and Europe.
Matthijs Welle, CEO, Mews
Matt helped found Pride Business Forum 15 years ago as Sales Director at the Hilton hotel. Today, he is the CEO of the fast-growing technology company Mews and an open advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, which he actively promotes within his company.
In 2025, he supported Mews joining the Pride Business Forum. He publicly speaks out in favor of DEI, criticizes companies moving away from these values, and stresses that DEI is key to success. His courage and focus on inclusion make him an exceptional leader we want to honor.
Pavlína Kalousová, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Asahi
Pavlína has supported LGBTQ+ inclusion since the founding of Pride Business Forum. As Director of Business for Society, she helped shape the platform and brought new ideas for lasting change in Czech workplaces.
At Plzeňský Prazdroj, she helped build an inclusive environment, supported creating an LGBTQ+ employee group, the company’s Pride participation, and introduced educational programs. On PBF’s 15th anniversary, we honor her consistent work to foster a more inclusive culture.
Category: Member of LGBTQ+ employee resource group
Marian Kramařík, Procurement Category Expert, T-Mobile
Marian has actively supported LGBTQ+ inclusion in his company for over ten years. Regardless of the level of support, he has always been the one to steadily push things forward — often on his own, without much visibility, recognition, or resources.
He has been involved in organizing Prague Pride activities, initiated awareness campaigns, participated in the employee resource group, and contributed to building an open and inclusive company culture. Marian also speaks publicly, leads workshops, and has developed anti-hate speech training. His long-term efforts and contributions, often unseen, truly deserve recognition.
Michaela Švarcová, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, MSD Czech Republic
Michaela leads DEI efforts at MSD. Building on her master’s thesis about LGBTQ+ employee groups in the Czech Republic, she created the ERG toolkit, now used by many companies. In 2025, she became Global Co-Lead of the Rainbow Alliance.
Her achievements include organizing panels, co-hosting the MSD DEI Festival and MSD Voices, leading MSD at Prague Pride and EXPO, and working with the Pride Business Forum. She shares research, works with leadership, and promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion widely.
Aleš Bernášek, Strategist, Vodafone
Aleš is a role model for all employee resource group leaders. Since 2019, he has led Pride in Vodafone, consistently raising awareness of LGBTQ+ topics. He helps organize participation in events like Fun&Run and Prague Pride and oversees Vodafone’s tech support for the Prague Pride festival.
Last year, Aleš helped localize and implement two major global programs: Allyship and mentoring. He manages internal LGBTQ+ platforms, provides education, and shares Vodafone’s best practices to support other companies on their inclusion journey.
Previous years
See who has won the award before: