According to The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 46 percent of LGBTQ+ employees say they are closeted at work. Employees who feel empowered to be authentic in their workplace are more likely to be engaged at work, but finding a welcoming and inclusive employer can be challenging.
Whether you’re an applicant, ally, or employer, this webinar will empower you to:
- Use the tools of LinkedIn, Reddit, Glassdoor, and Fishbowl to research and evaluate the inclusion practices of employers based on LGBTQ+ status and the intersections of other identities
- Identify laws and rights relevant to the job search and interview processes
- Connect with identity-based professional groups
About the Speaker
Matthew French (he/they) is the founder and ’90s-nostalgic brain behind Awesomely Authentic. With 10 years of experience working with the LGBTQ+ community, eight years of professional career coaching, and a love of the ’90s, he offers an authentically high-energy tailored experience to each presentation and training to help organizations, companies, and employee resource groups reach their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.
Matthew currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he works as a diversity, equity, and inclusion manager in the aviation industry. His past roles have included being an equity, diversity, and inclusion specialist at a tech start-up, a facilitator in big tech, and an assistant director for employer partnerships and diversity strategies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). Before UNCC, he was a career counselor and employer liaison at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. He also served as a graduate assistant at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, all while he was the internship coordinator and liaison for OUT for Work. Matthew has a master’s degree in lifespan and digital communication and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Old Dominion University.
During his spare time, Matthew enjoys spending time with his fiancé, Austin, their four dogs, cat, aquarium of fish, and turtle pond. You can find him outside, at the movies, or in the local comic book shop geeking out over superheroes (his favorite is Storm from Marvel Comics). His work has been highlighted in national career development associations, CNN Business, LGBTQ+ nonprofits, and more. Matthew’s heart and love of authenticity are infectious and a much-needed ingredient for your next adventure.
