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LinkedIn Friends, I cannot believe that it is July already.  It feels like we were just wrapping up my kiddos school year and having family discussions about what the summer season would look like … where did June go! As June fades and July starts anew I wanted to take a moment to reflect on 3 key events in June that help me pause, reflect and focus my #awareness … and how we, as #leaders and #HR professionals, can make sure this awareness continues in the 11 other months in the year. Specifically, I am reflecting on how June celebrates and lifts up the #LGBTQ+ community as #PrideMonth both celebrates our progress in #equality since #Stonewall and reinvigorates us to continue to advocate for equal rights for all.  How we pause on our newest federal holiday to recognize the #Juneteenth National Independence Day to both celebrate freedom finally realized in 1865 for those who were enslaved … and reflect on the work that still needs to be done in the pursuit of #justice and #freedom.  Finally, June, as #PTSD Awareness Month, allows us to talk about the struggles that many of us as well as our co-workers, friends and family deal with from a Post-Traumatic event.  It also allows us to do a quick ‘#wellness check’ with each other and let those in our lives know that we #love them and care about them. June is an active month! I am sure that I am missing some other key events that you focus on as well … and do not intentionally omit or diminish them … I just wanted to share some of the things that impacted me during those 30 days at the start of summer. As I frequently do, I would leave you with a thought/challenge. These events happen for just a brief moment of time in a long year. What are some ways that you (as a leader) can keep the focus on and feelings from them into a consistent point of awareness in our daily activities.  I don’t have a good answer to this by the way … but am going to try and figure it out! Be kind to yourself and take care of those around you, Eric

Where will you be in 90 days time without action… 🔮 I raise this question as something I've noticed over the years of therapy and coaching is that many people think inaction = staying the same. Now “the same” isn’t typically what they want - or can actually even tolerate. “The same” often means unhappiness - especially when this is played out long term… But the reality is that inaction is rarely staying the same. Inaction is typically further in the direction they don’t want to be going in… 📅 And these small movements each week in the wrong direction create BIG changes in the wrong direction, when these small movements compound from weeks into months and into years. But - it’s a choice… 🌧️ For my client Lia, staying the same meant living in fear of not being accepted for who they truly are. 🌦️ Lia* had been struggling with their coming out (or letting people in) journey for years. They had always known they were queer, but the fear of rejection and isolation from their loved ones had kept them from being their true self. That's when Lia decided to reach out for help. ⛅ Through our sessions, Lia learned that inaction was not the answer. It was not about staying the same, but rather moving in a direction towards self-acceptance and self-love. Together, we worked to break down the barriers that were holding them back from living their truth. 🌤️ Lia's journey towards self-acceptance was not easy. It was bumpy but it was worth it. They were able to let go of their fear and share their true self with their family. Lia's words say it all, ☀️ "Thank you for helping me come out to my family, the biggest step in my life! I would not have been able to do that without your unwavering support and I will be forever grateful." To take action or not take action - that is the question… Send me a DM and let's chat. Let's make this the moment that everything changed. #queer #mentalhealth #lgbt #lgbtq #transgender #nonbinary *) Name & Photo anonymised to protect my client’s privacy.

Why is Pride month celebrated? What does Pride stand for? And why June? These are common questions, so let me simplify it for you in 'Smita Simplifies'. Pride month is globally recognized and celebrated in June, though some countries observe it at different times. It all began after the Stonewall riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, USA. Pride marches emerged in various locations to advocate for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. Throughout June, we dedicate time to amplify their voices and support their rights. For those unfamiliar with the community, here's what you can do: 1) Educate yourself by reading about their experiences and struggles. 2) Expand your social circle to include members of the LGBTQIA+ community. They're incredibly welcoming. 3) Consider becoming an ally. These are just a few starting points. Stay tuned for more insights. #pridemonth #lgbtrights Kelp (formerly KelpHR) Tagging some of my friends, colleagues, and associates who would add value to this cause. harish iyer Abhina Aher Parmesh Shahani Sridhar Rangayan Nishtha Nishant

Making myself visible - not just during Lesbian Visibility Week, but every week. EVERY SINGLE DAY. It is hard to show up, day after day. I have daily commitments that mean I could quite easily NOT show up today. Or tomorrow. Or next Wednesday. I have responsibilities that take me away from my desk, out of the country for days/weeks at a time - which means I could make the excuse NOT to show up. To not produce content for you to read. I have things that really knock me off balance. That shake me to the core. I get daily emails, messages from TROLLS, from people that think I should be INVISIBLE. And they are very vocal about that. Yet, I continue to show up. EVERY SINGLE DAY. Because I know there may be just ONE person that sees my posts. Or that I speak to in person. That hears ONE thing in the messages I am delivering. That ONE thing could change the entire trajectory of their life. THAT is why I show up and make myself VISIBLE. How about you? What do you do to be visible in YOUR community? And why do you make yourself visible? P.s celebrating this 2% win today!! I work DAMN hard to be visible on LinkedIn. Ash Priscillia #LesbianVisibilityWeek #LVW24 #LGBTQ #Inclusion #Belonging #CultureChange

Just stumbled upon this photo – a professional headshot from a chapter of my life filled with questions and possibilities. At that time, I was on the cusp of major personal and professional changes. I hadn't fully embraced my trans identity, and my career path felt like a maze with multiple exits. Ask me what I wanted to do, and you'd get different answers each time. They were all true, just a little scrambled - yet threaded with a common theme. Looking at this photo now, it's clear that every uncertain answer was part of the journey to becoming who I am today. The clarity I sought was there all along; it just took some living to bring it into focus. For anyone out there navigating their own maze: it's okay not to have all the answers. Sometimes, the questions are the best part. They're what keep us moving, learning, and growing. Because in the end, not having all the answers doesn't just keep life interesting—it's what makes the journey invaluable. #CareerGrowth #EmbracingChange #LGBTQ #Equality #trans #Growth #TechDiversity #Marketing

Instead of looking towards the end of the year waiting for a reset ask yourself this…. 🌟 “How much progress with my confidence and authenticity can I realistically make by next week?” Unsure of the answer? Here's a sneak peek at what's possible week by week if you take the leap: ✅ Gain clarity on your goals. ✅ Develop empowering strategies. ✅ Cultivate a stronger sense of self. ✅ Feel more confident in your own skin. And no, I'm not making this up! 🙌🌈 Just in the last week I saw: 🏆 Melissa - Gained a deeper sense of self-acceptance and body positivity, appreciating her unique beauty. 🏆 Johannes - Catapulted his career to new heights with unwavering self-assurance and a clear vision. 🏆 Joao - Discovered inner strength and resilience that positively impacted his romantic relationship. To name a handful… But in the next week, they’ll make even further progress with their personal goals. ⏳ Because they’ve started before they felt ready - not waiting for “the right moment”. So on that note, If you're ready to boost your confidence without the unnecessary delays Message me “INTERESTED” and let’s chat :) #mentalhealth #lgbt #lgbtq #transgender #menshealth *) Names anonymised to protect my clients’ privacy.

📚 ICYMI, we're reading "All Boys Aren't Blue" (a memoir-manifesto by George M. Johnson) for Pride Month. In today's discussion on Act 1, there were a few key takeaways from George's story: ✨ In one story, George had to make the excruciating choice between something they loved (Double Dutch Jump-roping) and something they were socialized to believe they were supposed to love as a boy (football). How might we create better spaces for kids to choose what they love without having to deny parts of who they are? ✨ George invited adults/society to see the ways we perpetuate the problem through a discussion on pages 10-11, concluding: "I learned that kids who saw me as different didn't have an issue until society taught them to see my difference as a threat." How can we unteach/reteach kids to see difference as something to lean into with curiosity rather than away from with fear? ✨ My main takeaway was the importance of identifying and naming my privilege as a white, cisgender, straight woman and finding ways to leverage that on behalf of those who identify differently. (You'll hear more on that in this video.) What about you? Have you read Act 1? What were your main takeaways? We'd love for you to join us next Tuesday for Act 2! #pridemonth #bookclub #lgbtq+ #bannedbooks #allboysarentblue

ON STAGE LAST WEEK – FOR THE FIRST TIME – I shared two personal stories. I wanted to make the big themes from my Keynote more relatable and thought that this would be the perfect way. I talked about my Metis heritage, and my late grandfather Pettigrew who was a survivor of the residential school system. I also talked about being married to the most wonderful man on earth for the last 27 years. Why? Because despite these truths about WHAT I am, they don’t help anyone understand WHO I am. If we want to build truly diverse and inclusive communities we need to look beyond the stereotypes, beyond the labels, and understand what people value. Because it’s our values that make us who we are, not the labels that apply to us. There is no denying that some groups of people have not had a fair shake in our world. And those wrongs still need to be righted. But let’s do it in a way that is about shared values. Not stereotypes. Values are the answer. #keynotespeaker #values #valuesdriven #eventprofs #humancentric #data #speaker #lgbtq #metis

ON STAGE LAST WEEK – FOR THE FIRST TIME – I shared two personal stories. I wanted to make the big themes from my Keynote more relatable and thought that this would be the perfect way. I talked about my Metis heritage, and my late grandfather Pettigrew who was a survivor of the residential school system. I also talked about being married to the most wonderful man on earth for the last 27 years. Why? Because despite these truths about WHAT I am, they don’t help anyone understand WHO I am. If we want to build truly diverse and inclusive communities we need to look beyond the stereotypes, beyond the labels, and understand what people value. Because it’s our values that make us who we are, not the labels that apply to us. There is no denying that some groups of people have not had a fair shake in our world. And those wrongs still need to be righted. But let’s do it in a way that is about shared values. Not stereotypes. Values are the answer. #keynotespeaker #values #valuesdriven #eventprofs #humancentric #data #speaker #lgbtq #metis

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ As we come together to celebrate, let's take a moment to bask in the warmth of acceptance and love that defines the LGBTQIA+ community. ✨ Here are some gentle reminders to guide us as we navigate this month of celebration and unity. ✨ 1) Allyship Matters: Being an ally is an active role. It's about action, not just words. If you are an ally, thank you for your support and involvement. 2) Embrace Learning: Every year, we learn more and the LGBTQIA+ community evolves. Stay open to new information and be willing to learn about different identities and experiences. 3) Live and Let Live: Respect everyone's journey and choices. Allow people to live their truths without judgment or interference. Embracing diversity means letting others be who they are. 4) Support Authentic Allies: Organizations may show their support with Pride flags and merch in June, but look out for small brands that support the LGBTQIA+ community all year round. 5) Support Questioning Folks: Being out and proud is fantastic, but not everyone is ready or safe to do so. Some are still questioning, and that’s okay. Be considerate and give them the space they need. #PrideMonth #LGBTQIA #Allyship #Diversity #Inclusion #Stonewall #LiveAndLetLive #SupportSmallBrands #PRIDEatWork #Doyouagree #Support #Proud