The Lens
Pride Month
Pride Month is a time to celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity, and stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. QS Insights Magazine talks to several colleagues who reflect on what this month means to them.
Matthew Wait, He/him. CFO.
"Pride month is important to me as even now, 26 years after I attended my first Pride in London, the memory of the tube packed full of LGBT+ marchers blowing whistles and shocking the straight travelers who were wondering what on earth was going on as we headed to Clapham Common is still vivid in my mind.
It was the first time I felt in a majority rather than as a silent and shamed minority, and the importance of being visible and unapologetic is as necessary now to new generations of LGBT+ youth as it was back then. To feel you are not alone and that your tribe matters, is also why having the Diversity and Inclusion group at QS matters, so people can be themselves, and see they are represented and valued as part of the global QS family. I’m proud to be a visible representative of the LGBT+ community in our leadership team supporting our Diversity initiatives."
"It was the first time I felt in a majority rather than as a silent and shamed minority, and the importance of being visible and unapologetic is as necessary now to new generations of LGBT+ youth as it was back then."
- Matthew Wait, He/him. CFO.
"Pride has been a soft safety net as I’ve eased into my queer journey, saying ‘Jump in, you’re welcome here'."
"The values of Pride support me to be unapologetically myself and embrace who I am, as well as respect and support others."
Laura Lightfinch, She/her. Senior Content Editor.
"As a new member of the LGBTQ+ community and a relatively privileged bisexual white woman, Pride hasn’t always resonated with my personal experiences, as much as I’ve supported it as an ally.
Though in the past couple of years, Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community more widely have provided me with an incredibly warm welcome that’s been full of joy, care and revolution. It’s also acted as an important educational platform for me to better understand the struggles and perspectives of more marginalised members of the community facing anti-LGBTQ+ hate and discrimination in this country and around the world.
For me, Pride has been a soft safety net as I’ve eased into my queer journey, saying ‘Jump in, you’re welcome here. We’ll help you to explore who you are. We’ll show you what is possible and what still needs to change, and we’ll help each other to thrive.’"
Fernanda Rudmer, She/her. Marketing Executive.
"Pride Month is a time to celebrate, but also time to remember the struggles LGBTQIA+ people faced before our time, as well as raise awareness on the issues we are currently facing.
The values of Pride support me to be unapologetically myself and embrace who I am, as well as respect and support others. On my first day at QS, after visiting the HQ to finalise the last steps of my hiring process, I headed to the office where I was going to be based. As I walked into the kitchen, I saw Pride bunting hanging from the kitchen ceiling. Note that though it was January, my colleagues decided to keep the Pride bunting up after Pride Month. In hindsight, I didn’t know anyone, and I hadn’t experienced much of the company culture either at that point, but I remember the comforting feeling in that moment.
I knew from day one that QS provides a welcoming and supportive work environment to everyone and celebrates each person for who they are. My hope for the future is that people everywhere in the world will be able to manifest their uniqueness freely. We are all extraordinary beings who deserve to be loved and supported."
"My hope for the future is that people everywhere in the world will be able to manifest their uniqueness freely. We are all extraordinary beings who deserve to be loved and supported."
- Fernanda Rudmer, She/her. Marketing Executive.
"It is important to advocate for those who are in circumstances where they may be denied a voice."
Leigh Kamolins, he/him. Director of Analytics and Evaluation.
Each June we celebrate Pride Month at QS. Throughout the month we raise awareness of our LGBT+ communities around the world to empower all our people to achieve their full potential. While we work to create an inclusive and enabling environment, we are also working in local and global contexts where not everyone is starting from an equal footing.
As an LGBT+ leader it is important to be a role model. It is important to be visible. It is important to advocate for those who are in circumstances where they may be denied a voice. Creating an inclusive and enabling environment doesn’t happen by mistake, it takes effort to be successful. During Pride Month I take the opportunity not only to celebrate what is great about our community, but to reflect on what I do as a leader, and what more we can do together to create an environment that enables everyone to have a voice and achieve their full potential.
