4 Accenture advisors in Leading LGBT and Ally Lists
On Tuesday OUTstanding and the Financial Times unveiled the 2015 edition of their LGBT ranking, with in total 20 leaders working in the professional services industry making the three lists. Four Accenture advisors – Sander van ’t Noordende, Lis Brown, Rica Paras and Ramsés Aldana Ante – have been recognised for their contribution in business and their communities.
Since the first publication in 2013, OUTstanding in Business, a UK-based non-profit networking group that campaigns for LGBT rights in the workplace, and the Financial Times annually release an annual list of the most influential LGBT executives. The ranking recognises leaders that have a large impact on promoting a LGBT workplace, both within their own organisation and in the broader UK business community, and includes three categories: LGBT Executives, Leading Ally Executives and Next Generation LGBT leaders.
The LGBT Executives contains 100 professionals, of which ten work in the consulting industry. The list is topped by CEO of Lloyd’s of London Inga Beale, with Claudia Brind-Woody, Vice-President and Managing Director of IBM, the highest ranked advisor, followed by Beth Brooke-Marciniak, Global Vice-Chair of Public Policy at EY, and Sander van ‘t Noordende, Group Chief Executive Products at Accenture.
“It’s an honour to be recognised,” says Sander van ’t Noordende, adding “Accenture’s commitment to inclusion and diversity truly makes a difference and provides an environment where we all feel empowered to be ourselves. This makes our company stronger, smarter and more innovative, which helps us better serve the needs of our clients and our communities.” Van ’t Noordende joined Accenture in 1987, became a partner in 1999 and holds a position in the firm’s Global Executive Leadership Team since 2006. He championed Accenture’s “Improving the State of the LGBT Workforce” business panel at Davos this year, is a regular LinkedIn influencer blogger on topics such as marriage equality and workplace equality and has spoken at conferences such as Out and Equal.
Besides Van ’t Noordende, three other Accenture leaders have been recognised in this year’s edition. Lis Brown, Managing Director Accenture Technology and the Executive Sponsor for Accenture’s LGBT network in Australia and New Zealand, is ranked #18 in the LGBT Ally Executive category. Rica Paras, Manager at Accenture Technology, and Ramsés Aldana Ante, Consultant at Accenture Products, have been named a Top 30 Next Generation LGBT Leader (under 35). Paras is Accenture’s LGBT Lead for Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, and speaks regularly about experiences as a Transgender woman. Aldana Ante leads Accenture’s LGBT Network in Mexico, where his efforts helped Accenture gain recognition as a Leader in Inclusion & Diversity, and externally he is also a founding member of Pride Connection.
“We are delighted to see Sander, Lis, Rica, and Ramses from Accenture feature in the OUTstanding leading LGBT and Ally Lists. They are true role models, proving that you can be openly LGBT in business and be a huge success. I’m certain they will provide inspiration to anyone who fears that they may have to be closeted at work, and waste valuable effort muting their authentic selves. They deserve credit for the leadership they show in welcoming people of all backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities,” comments OUTstanding CEO and founder Suki Sandhu.
