LGBTQ+ at London Business School

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LGBTQ+ at London Business School

Think at London Business School

Coming out isn't something you do just once

Smoove CEO Jesper With-Fogstrup, EMBA2021, on leadership, fearless conversations and supporting more people to be out in business

By Laura Kennedy

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Think at London Business School

Being an openly bisexual woman CEO at Lloyd's of London

Equality pioneer, Dame Inga Beale shares her story and her insights for leaders today

By Rosie Parry

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Think at London Business School

Telling my story has been cathartic

Recruitment and admissions manager, Satouka Basso, shares her thoughts on inclusion and the importance of the PROUD@LBS network

By Sarah Biddlecombe

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Think at London Business School

Allyship is key to progress in the D&I space

Julia Hamilton MBA2023 argues that the onus to drive change should be on organisations rather than individuals

By Rosie Parry

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Yifei You

Born in China, Yifei You joined London Business School’s Out in Business Club (OiB) while studying a Masters in Management. Being part of OiB gave him the confidence to apply for a role at BlueCity, a provider of the world’s leading LGBTQ+ dating apps – he is now Founder and CEO of his own company Portus Protocol.

Read Yifei's story

Niklas Vater

Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Niklas has brought his experience of launching ESCaPe Berlin, a campus movement to increase awareness and visibility of the LGBT+ community, to London Business School’s Out in Business Club.

Read Niklas' story

Acacia Taylor

Half Irish and half Maori, Acacia grew up in a small town in Ireland. Currently studying a part-time Masters in Finance at LBS, while working as an Associate at Howden Capital Markets, she recently helped organise EUROUT, Europe’s leading LGBTQ+ business conference.

Read Acacia's story

Podcasts

The importance of Pride

Listen to London Business School’s Out in Business Club members discuss topics such as how to celebrate Pride, the importance of encouraging allies and collaborating with other diversity clubs, and coming from places where being LGBTQ+ remains a crime or taboo.

Justine Greening: turning tides and overcoming systemic barriers

Listen to former Secretary of State for Education the Rt Hon Justine Greening discuss her life, career and experience of being the first openly gay woman in the Conservative party cabinet. This was part of a panel discussion which took place at the LBS Women in Business EQUALL conference, earlier this year.

Think at London Business School · London Business School’s Out in Business Club – The Importance of Pride

Think at London Business School · Justine Greening: turning tides and overcoming systemic barriers

POWER OF ALLIES
Enabling an inclusive environment

The success of our inclusive campus climate would not be possible without the support of powerful allies. OiB is a proud partner of many other student clubs throughout the year which allows for some of the most successful and buzzworthy events.

Out in Business Club

OiB serves to empower LGBTQ+ students to build the life and career they want. Our goal is to work towards a future where LGBTQ+ individuals are proportionally and authentically represented in business. We do this by building an inclusive queer community, engaging with allies, hosting our flagship EUROUT Conference, and providing students with networking and career opportunities.

Objectives:

Foster an inclusive, welcoming community for all LGBTQ+ people at LBS
Provide career support for students through networking opportunities, recruitment sessions with companies and interview preparation
Host our flagship EUROUT Conference: Europe's largest student-led LGBTQ+ Conference representing 20+ schools, 600+ attendees and 20+ business schools from around the world
Most importantly, have fun! Each year we sponsor events for students and partners, including our infamous Rainbow Party hosted at Heaven, London's iconic LGBTQ+ nightclub

The EUROUT Conference

Delivered by the OiB club, the EUROUT conference is the club’s marquis event and one of the School’s flagship conferences. Held every year in November, the EUROUT CONFERENCE brings over 350 delegates, employers and activists together from around the world to connect, grow, and discuss current issues at the intersection of business and LGBTQ+ rights.

350

delegates

corporate sponsors and companies present

partner international schools

PROUD@LBS

PROUD@LBS is the network for LBS LGBTQ+ staff and allies. Our mission is to guarantee an inclusive workplace where all staff feel that they belong regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Our objectives are:

To provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ identifying staff and allies to raise and discuss challenges and opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community at LBS.
To be a consultative body for the School and the staff community on topics relating to or impacting the LGBTQ+ community.
To be a voice of the LGBTQ+ community, providing a forum to share lived experiences and enabling potentially marginalised individuals and groups to be heard.
To provide a social and networking space for LGBTQ+ identifying staff and allies.

Reaching Out MBA Fellowship

LBS was the first European business school to offer a Reaching out Fellowship, a bursary to support those who help the LGBTQ+ community. The Reaching Out MBA Fellowship was created as a joint effort between top business school programmes and Reaching Out to demonstrate that business schools are the top destination to develop the out LGBTQ and active ally business leaders of tomorrow. All MBA admits are eligible to apply for the Fellowship, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Find out more about the MBA

Out in Business Scholarships

These scholarships aim to support exceptional candidates who intend to contribute to LGBTQ+ equality and the Out in Business Club during their time at London Business School. Preference will be given to those whose prior experience, and personal and professional goals help to raise the profile of LGBTQ+ people in business and enterprise.

All successful candidates are eligible to apply for these scholarships, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Find out more about the Graduate Masters OiB Scholarship

Find out more about the EMBA London OiB Scholarship

Find out more about the MBA/MiF OiB Scholarship

Find out more about the Sloan OiB Scholarship