In a diverse work environment, fostering pride in the workplace is key to ensure that everyone is included and has strong opportunities for personal and professional growth. OutFront Philippines, the LGBTQ+ Business Resource Group of Capital One Philippines Support Services Corp., highlights four initiatives that helped them grow their group to hundreds of members since its launch in March.
Developing leadership skills
“A workplace must be an avenue for individual growth,” says Pete Hayden, GM, Capital One Philippines. Development encompasses different programs for LGBTQ+ associates in the community with the aim of providing additional resources to help them in their journey and career. For OutFront Philippines, this includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE) seminars which highlight the importance of self-awareness among members. Monthly coffee chats are also held to give OutFront members opportunity to meet and listen to the stories and advice of the senior leadership team as well as discuss topics that can help in their development. Some of these include perception management and gender diversity in the workplace.
Creating a sense of belonging
“We hope not only to provide the best environment for our current associates who are members of the LGBTQ+ community, but also to show anyone considering working here that we are truly committed to serving and supporting all of our associates,” Hayden shares. OutFront joins job fairs to showcase its commitment to include and develop individuals who are part of the community. Members are also part of all appreciation and welcoming programs in place, helping both tenured and newly hired LGBTQ+ associates feel and see that there is a workplace with a strong support system where they can flourish.
Promoting an open environment
Fostering understanding enables openness and this is done through educational sessions and conversations around topics relevant to LGBTQ+ individuals. OutFront Philippines just recently held HIV awareness sessions and is planning to be part of other initiatives in the future to further its strategic goals. Partnerships with other groups, such as Capital One Philippines’ Women’s Business Resource Group, also help OutFront widen its reach and identify allies.
Integrating with the local community
Integrating OutFront with the broader local community creates more meaningful impact, like when the group joined the organization’s Investing for Good initiative in Don Bosco Calauan where OutFront members partnered with associates to host sports workshops. The members also engaged the LGBTQ+ youth in Calauan to understand their struggles and find ways to support them in the future.
Another important milestone is its affiliation with the Philippine Financial Industry Pride, the first interbank organization promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace for global financial organizations in the Philippines. OutFront represented Capital One in the nationwide Pride March held on June 24 in Marikina City.
“Capital One Philippines invests in all of its associates, including those who are members of the LGBTQ+ group. We want them to feel a true sense of belonging and know that they have a safe place here in Capital One,” says Hayden.