The Pride Business Forum Heroes is awarded to individuals and highlights the role of members of the top management of organizations/companies who actively fight for equal conditions for LGBTQ+ employees in their organizations/companies, or proactively strive for a better position of LGBTQ+ persons in society.

 
 

Anita Zubak, Executive Director Global IT Operations & Hub Lead, MSD Czech Republic

Anita Zubak, Executive Director Global IT Operations & Hub Lead, MSD Czech Republic

MSD Czech Republic launched the Czech Chapter of the Rainbow Alliance in September 2018, and Anita has been it‘s strongest and most visible supporter. Anita drove all discussions internally to march in the Pride Parade in 2019, despite the very conservative approach with MSD‘s external brand. In the end, with Anita’s support, over 30 colleagues and their family members marched in the parade, representing MSD and breaking the old perceptions in our region. In addition, MSD raised the rainbow flag on top of it‘s building and hosted internal LGBTQ+ events. Anita was part of all of that. Now with Anita’s full support, MSD have signed the Pride Business Forum Memorandum, making MSD CZ full members of the initiative. MSD has Anita’s energy, drive and support to thank for the incredible progress the company has made in such a short time.

 

Carl Clarke, Director People and Property, Vodafone Czech Republic

Carl Clarke, Director People and Property, Vodafone Czech Republic

Carl is passionate about authentic leadership and inclusive workplaces and is actively involved in the Vodafone LGBTQ+ and Supporters Network. Carl has led a four-year global strategy to embed LGBTQ+ inclusion across Vodafone’s core operations. This included leading on targeted interventions (care, branding, policies, employee networks, supply chain, employee lifecycle, enterprise and customer engagement) and repositioning Vodafone as an externally recognized global employer for LGBTQ+ inclusion. Internationally, he has led on changing Vodafone’s global Code of Conduct and international mobility policies; coaching for senior leaders; training for allies and LGBTQ+ role models, and the formation of a creative two-year partnership with Google and GSK to develop LGBTQ+ senior leaders. He also spearheaded international research with OutNow on the experience of LGBTQ+ people when they start work and led Vodafone interventions to address research findings. Since arriving in the Czech Republic, Carl has coached and supported senior leaders outside of Vodafone to progress and ‘get going’ with LGBTQ+ inclusion. It has also included engaging with Vodafone’s supply chain partners to influence the eco-system that Vodafone operates in. More recently, Carl has sponsored the introduction of trans-inclusive benefits into Vodafone, providing financial support to employees that transition gender at work.

 

Denise Waddingham, Country Director of The British Council, Czech Republic

Denise Waddingham, Country Director of The British Council, Czech Republic

After joining us in the Autumn of 2017 as Country Director of the British Council, Czech Republic, Denise very quickly proved herself to be a very valuable ally and active promoter of the LGBTQ+ community. Although The British Council already has EDI principles instilled in their core values, we believe Denise goes above and beyond her role of Country Director in not only ensuring all staff are seen, heard, respected, and valued, but that important conversations are started, and that our values are shared with the community and promoted to other workplaces.

 

Hélene Goessaert, Member of the board, ČSOB group

Hélene Goessaert, Member of the board, ČSOB group

ČSOB is the first Czech bank that signed PBF memorandum in 2019, based on Hélene ́s proposal. In the past, in the traditional czech environment, people did not understand why we even discuss LGBTQ+. Hélene was able to overcome that bias and open the topic in the company. She promotes it as natural fulfilment of the basic respect values, that is part of our ČSOB culture. She regularly discuss with ČSOB Proud, and intervenes when needed (e.g. misunderstood internal communication). People know they may approach her, which creates atmosphere of trust.

 

Michal Nebeský, CEO Citi Czech Republic

Michal Nebeský, CEO Citi Czech Republic

Michal Nebeský actively supports LGBTQ+ and has long been working to raise awareness about the LGBTQ+ community across the corporate world in the Czech Republic. During his time at Citibank, Michal supported the establishment of an internal resource LGBTQ+ group in the bank and an active dialogue between employees on this topic. Thanks to his support, Citi has become one of the main partners of peer-to-peer online mentoring site Sbarvouven.cz which offers mentoring for people coming out and also offers support groups for their parents. Thanks to Michal, Citibank publicly supported the bill on same-sex marriage and also became one of the signatories of the Pride Business Forum Memorandum on the Promotion of LGBTQ+ Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace in 2019.