Pride Business Forum Heroes recognizes individuals and highlights the role of top management of organizations/companies that actively promote a level playing field for LGBTQ+ employees in their organizations/companies, or proactively advocate for improving the position of LGBTQ+ people in society.

 
 

Zdeněk Hřib

Zdeněk Hřib

Zdeněk Hřib had supported LGBTQ+ equality before being elected Prague mayor and actively continues this support in his position – despite the sometimes-loud opposition of some political colleagues. Under his leadership, the town hall flew a rainbow flag for the first time during the Prague Pride festival. The city has also joined the Fast Track Cities initiative, which aims to reduce the spread of HIV. The city provided premises for the first LGBTQ+ community centre in Prague. Zdeněk Hřib was the first mayor to join support for We Are Fair (Jsme fér), and he publicly committed to actively promoting the equality of LGBTQ+ employees at Prague City Hall.

 

Roman Knap

Roman Knap

The head of Česká pošta met for the first time with the Pride Business Forum and the principles of LGBTQ+ equality at SAP, where the company signed the Pride Business Forum Memorandum in 2017. He also transferred these values to the management of state-owned Česká pošta. Roman Knap signed a memorandum on behalf of Česká pošta at the beginning of 2021. It thus became the first state-owned company to strive for a level playing field for all its 28,000 employees, including LGBTQ+. Thanks to his commitment and leadership, Česká pošta is becoming an LGBTQ+ person-friendly company, setting an example for other state-owned companies.

 

Dagmar Kuchtová

Dagmar Kuchtová

The Director General of the Confederation of Industry and Transport has long been an active advocate for the promotion of LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace among the Confederation’s member companies. Thanks to its activity, the association openly supports activities related to gender equality and diversity in its programme statement. Dagmar Kuchtová attended a meeting of business leaders with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to support marriage for all, and is a signatory to letters for political leaders in this regard. Dagmar Kuchtová is the initiator of changes in the field of LGBTQ+ equality at the Confederation of Industry and Transport.

 

Alena Sochorová

Alena Sochorová

Alena Sochorová
Alena Sochorová has been in the top management of Microsoft since 2019. In the role of Divesity & Inclusion Champ, she actively promotes LGBTQ+ equality both internally and externally. Thanks to her, Microsoft signed letters in support of marriage for all – addressed to the Prime Minister and other politicians.
 
Last year, Alena Sochorová initiated a letter from representatives of the Pride Business Forum to Vladimír Dlouhý, President of the Chamber of Commerce, offering cooperation in LGBTQ+ equality. Thanks to her many years of experience and leadership, Alena Sochorová advises other companies on how to start LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace.

 

Richard Stonavský

Richard Stonavský

Richard works at Vodafone Czech Republic as an Exco Commitee sponsor for LGBTQ+ equality. As part of employee activities, he raises questions about how to increasingly approach the topic of equality towards LGBTQ+ both in the workplace and externally – explaining why it is important to create a work environment that is open and inclusive. He personally advocates LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace and society as a whole. Richard is a role model as an openly gay man in such a prominent executive position.

 

Pride Business Forum Chairperson Award

Since 2021, Christian Schwenke – chairperson of the Pride Business Forum – has awarded a business world figure who has personally contributed to changing corporate culture for the benefit of LGBTQ+ employees.
 
 

RTomáš Spurný

Tomáš Spurný

Moneta Money Bank CEO Tomáš Spurný has changed the bank’s approach and culture with his leadership and personal commitment – in a short time and during the pandemic. He led the company to make changes that created a better working environment for LGBTQ+ people. The Czech banking sector lags significantly behind in promoting LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace, not only globally but also in comparison with other Czech market sectors. Tomáš Spurný goes against the flow, because he believes that LGBTQ+ people deserve equal treatment at work and also generally. He is a trendsetter in his industry, which is why Christian Schwenke – chairman of the Pride Business Forum – awarded his personal prize to him.