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FAST COMPANY'S 2023 QUEER 50
Introducing Fast Company’s fourth annual list of LGBTQ women and nonbinary
innovators in business and tech.
Fast Company is proud to announce our fourth annual Queer 50 list in
collaboration with Lesbians Who Tech & Allies. As in past years, the 2023 list
chronicles the most powerful queer women and nonbinary leaders across a range of
industries. (Past lists can be viewed here: 2020 Queer 50, 2021 Queer 50, and
2022 Queer 50.) After a challenging year of anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric,
the list is a celebration of queer representation and influence in the highest
ranks of massive companies and spheres of tech and entertainment. Honorees
include those working on addressing the most newsworthy topics of our time,
including AI and VR technology, reproductive justice, trans rights, and the
future of work. (You can read more about our selection process here.) We’re
proud to honor their contributions.
1. 01
Amber Hikes
deputy executive director of strategy and culture, ACLU
2. 02
V Pappas
COO, TikTok
When V Pappas left a plum role at YouTube in 2018 for a job at a hot new
social media app, they couldn’t have predicted what the future held. At the
time, TikTok—whose parent company is Chinese internet giant ByteDance—had
just been introduced to Americans, and Pappas was entrusted with turning
the app into a household name. Five years later, after the pandemic fueled
explosive growth, TikTok is all that and more, boasting a U.S. audience of
150 million active users. But its origins have also made TikTok an avatar
of geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, and in turn a target
of U.S. regulators. In 2022, Pappas testified before Congress to defend
TikTok against allegations about its ties to the Chinese government; [more
recently](https://www.fastcompany.com/90870528/despite-tiktok-ceos-best-efforts-congressional-sentiment-remains-strongly-against-the-app),
CEO Shou Zi Chew was in that hot seat. Amid the tumult, Pappas—who [came
out as nonbinary](https://twitter.com/v_ness/status/1622662816942673921)
earlier this year—has become even more critical to TikTok’s success, even
stepping in as interim CEO in 2020. “I’m told one of my ‘superpowers’ is
that … I can steer a ship through choppy waters,” [Pappas
told](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/the-fighter-v-pappas-and-the-battle-for-tiktoks-future)
_The Information_. —Pavithra Mohan
3. 03
Maura Healey
governor of Massachusetts
When Maura Healey won election on November 8, she became Massachusetts's
first-elected female governor, the nation’s first openly lesbian governor,
and one of only two in the country. (Recently elected Oregon governor Tina
Kotek is also openly lesbian, but her race was called a few days after
Healey’s.) “I want to say something to every little girl and every young
LGBTQ person out there,” Healey said to her supporters on election night.
“I hope tonight shows you that you can be whatever, whoever, you want to be
and nothing and no one can ever get in your way, except your own
imagination.” During her first 100+ days in office, Healey has focused on
affordable housing, calling it “the most critical issue facing the people
of Massachusetts,” and proposed funding to improve the state’s
transportation system. She also made headlines for an April executive order
confirming protections for medication abortions within her state, and
requesting that the University of Massachusetts and healthcare providers
stockpile mifepristone doses for patients. “Abortion remains safe, legal,
and accessible in Massachusetts,” Healey told _Fast Company_ via email.
“We’re going to protect patients and providers and ensure that
Massachusetts remains a beacon of hope for all those seeking care.” —Julia
Herbst
4. 04
Martine Rothblatt
founder and CEO, United Therapeutics
By training, Martine Rothblatt is a lawyer with a PhD in medical ethics. By
profession, she is among the most successful trans business women of all
time, with an estimated net worth of [$580
million](https://www.forbes.com/self-made-women/). After Rothblatt
cofounded Sirius Satellite Radio in 1990, she launched United
Therapeutics—with the mission to find a cure for her daughter’s rare lung
disease. As CEO, she has grown the biotech company to a [$9.82
billion](https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/uthr) market cap and
made [groundbreaking
investments](https://www.forbes.com/profile/martine-rothblatt/?list=self-made-women&sh=d2f8c9c4c6c0)
in pig cloning, genetic modification, and 3D bioprinting with the goal of
creating what Rothblatt describes as an “[unlimited supply of
transplantable
organs](https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/01/11/1064800/martine-rothblatt-transplantable-organs-10-breakthrough-technologies-2023/).”
(In 2022, a United Therapeutics subsidiary provided the first human
transplant of a genetically modified pig heart. Though the patient died
several months later, the procedure was considered to be a medical
breakthrough.) “I actually believe there is no part of the body that cannot
be 3D-printed,” Rothblatt [has
stated](https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/01/11/1064800/martine-rothblatt-transplantable-organs-10-breakthrough-technologies-2023/).
Once dubbed the “[Trans-Everything
CEO](https://nymag.com/news/features/martine-rothblatt-transgender-ceo/index5.html),”
Rothblatt identifies as
[transhumanist](https://www.ted.com/speakers/martine_rothblatt). “I think
human immortality is achieved by sharing ourselves with others, especially
younger generations, because we all live in each other's minds, and by
doing the best that we can with our lives to help create a fair and totally
sustainable world for future generations,” she tells <i>Fast Company</i>
via email. —AJ Hess
5. 05
Dawn Laguens
EVP and chief global strategy and innovation officer, Planned Parenthood
Before joining Planned Parenthood, Dawn Laguens made a name for herself as
a political consultant whose résumé included early ballot measures fighting
LGBTQ discrimination and a notable campaign against former Ku Klux Klan
leader David Duke’s 1990 bid for Senate. Laguens had already worked on
campaigns with Planned Parenthood when then-president Cecile Richards
reached out in 2010, as Indiana Republican Congressman Mike Pence was
introducing an amendment to strip the organization of federal funding.
“Cecile called and asked me to help fight that fight,” Laguens recalls.
“[Then] I just couldn’t leave. I loved the people and the work.” As chief
brand officer, Laguens was tasked with modernizing the organization’s brand
and building out its digital ecosystem. Though Laguens left Planned
Parenthood in 2019 for a role at design firm Ideo, her absence was
short-lived. As anti-abortion legislation swept the country, and at the
urging of current president Alexis McGill Johnson, Laguens returned to the
organization to oversee global strategy and innovation. Her job involves
everything from strengthening partnerships with organizations abroad to
growing investments in founders and entrepreneurs across the for-profit
space—work that feels ever more critical in the aftermath of the Supreme
Court’s decision to strike down _Roe v. Wade_. “Every day, it’s [about how]
you can make the world better, and you’re working across so many things,”
Laguens says. “It’s a thrilling place to work, even under the bad
circumstances that we find ourselves in politically.” —Pavithra Mohan
6. 06
Beth Ford
CEO, Land O'Lakes
"Food security is national security," says Beth Ford, who has been the sole
openly gay female CEO of a Fortune 500 company since she took the helm of
Land O’Lakes in 2018. It’s a role she has redefined during her time with
the member-owned agricultural cooperative, working with everyone from the
company’s farmers to tech CEOs and politicians to make meaningful changes
to food systems. ”We've got to prioritize water, immigration reform, and
[agricultural] research investment," she says. Ford recently joined
President Biden's Export Council, where she plans to focus on "the
interconnected nature of the global food supply." She's also a strong
advocate for immigration reform, citing the fact that agriculture is 2.5
million workers short. Ford has worked [to get Wi-Fi to rural
communities](https://www.fastcompany.com/90475432/queer-50-beth-ford);
launched the [American Connection
Corps](https://www.fastcompany.com/90638350/beth-ford-is-pushing-for-investment-in-rural-america),
which brings college grads back to their hometowns to build out digital
infrastructure; and spearheaded the [American Connection
Project](https://www.fastcompany.com/90753688/beth-ford-change-narrative-rural-america),
which advocates for private and public sector investment in rural internet
infrastructure. —Aimee Rawlins
advertisement
7. 07
Brittney Griner
athlete
Two-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time WNBA All-Star Brittney
Griner, or BG, may be remembered as the most significant sports figure of
2022. BG’s nearly [10-month-long detention by Russian
authorities](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34877115/brittney-griner-russia-drug-case-line-prison-trial-more)
unfolded alongside the escalation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and
culminated with a State Department-coordinated prisoner exchange. “I’m
never going overseas to play again unless I’m representing my country at
the Olympics,” said the Phoenix Mercury center at [a recent press
conference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhpe8VNAA2s) after thanking all
those who helped bring her home. “The whole reason a lot of us go
over[seas] is the pay gap. . . . That's the biggest reason people are still
going overseas, and that's why I was there. Hopefully that changes.” In
addition to her outstanding[ athletic
record](https://www.wnba.com/player/brittney-griner/#/bio), BG’s advocacy
sets her apart. She has announced [a partnership with Bring Our Families
Home](https://www.wnba.com/news/brittney-griner-phoenix-mercury-partner-with-bring-our-families-home-campaign/)
in support of U.S. hostages and wrongful detainees. This year, her
foundation, [BG’s Heart and Sole Shoe
Drive](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34495695/brittney-griner-shoe-drive-collects-more-donations-ever-thanks-phoenix-mercury)
collected over 3,400 pairs of shoes and raised more than $30,000 to benefit
Phoenix Rescue Mission. “To everyone who is wrongly detained right now
across the world, stay strong,” she said. “Just keep pushing because we’re
not going to stop. We’re not going to stop fighting. We’re not going to
stop bringing awareness to everyone [who's] left behind.” —AJ Hess
8. 08
Liz Jenkins
COO, Hello Sunshine
As chief operating officer of Hello Sunshine—the Reese Witherspoon-founded
media company behind breakout streaming hits _Big Little Lies_, _The
Morning Show_, and _Daisy Jones_, as well as movies like _Gone Girl_—Liz
Jenkins oversees the company’s finances and business operations, as well as
physical production. She started her career at GE and Credit Suisse before
working in the entertainment industry, but she says that she had always
wanted to work in media. After learning that GE owned NBC and meeting
then-CEO Jack Welch in her teens, she even informed him that she wanted his
job. “My first roles were in investment banking in media. I wanted to lay
the foundation and get core capabilities that could help me to be
successful in a media career down the road,” she says. Eventually, Jenkins
made her way to entertainment studio MRC, where she oversaw new business
and the greenlighting process for film and television projects. Jenkins is
currently on the board of Snap and serves as the chair of GLAAD’s board of
directors. “The community is under attack like never before,” she says of
her work with GLAAD. “The time is now for us to all really engage and think
about how we can help; the past few years have been a call to action.”
—Yasmin Gagne
9. 09
Laela Sturdy
managing partner, CapitalG
10. 10
Jen Wong
COO, Reddit
Since joining Reddit in 2018, Jen Wong has built a small but mighty
advertising business that serves as the social network’s primary source of
revenue. In 2021, _The Information_ reported that Reddit’s ad revenue was
on track to exceed $350 million, and despite economic headwinds, Wong says
the company has continued adding new advertisers in 2023. Despite those
impressive numbers, Reddit still [reportedly
draws](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/how-reddit-grew-its-ad-business-bolstering-ipo-hopes)
just a fraction (3%) of overall ad spend compared to social media behemoths
like Meta. As the IPO market recovers and Reddit awaits a much-delayed
public offering—the company filed confidentially [back in late
2021](https://www.fastcompany.com/90755146/as-reddit-gets-ready-for-an-ipo-jen-wong-is-holding-the-reins)—Wong
is looking for other ways to monetize, from launching a developer platform
to enabling users to sell to each other. “We think that because our users
are extremely high intent and high engagement, we will have one of the
highest average revenue per user on the internet,” Wong says. Reddit is
also keeping a close eye on the meteoric rise of generative AI, even
[opting to charge
companies](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/technology/reddit-ai-openai-google.html)
for access to its API. (Some third party app developers have [criticized
the
decision](https://www.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/) and
said they won't be able to keep operating with the new fees, and this week,
a number of subreddits went dark to protest the API changes.) ChatGPT and
other AI tools have been trained on data from Reddit—and while Wong and
other execs welcome the use of Reddit for noncommercial purposes, they
strongly believe the platform has an invaluable repository of information.
“We own one of the most important datasets on the internet,” Wong says. “I
think [our data] will only grow in value as more auto-generated content
propagates because ultimately our content [is] original human ideas,
curated by humans.” —Pavithra Mohan
11. 11
Yvette Miley
EVP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, NBCUniversal News Group
DEI isn’t just a corporate mandate for Yvette Miley; it’s what her 40-year
career in journalism is based on. In 2020, NBCUniversal News Group’s
chairman [set a
goal](https://deadline.com/2020/07/nbc-news-diversity-1202979811/) of
having 50% of its news organization be women, and 50% of the entire
organization consist of people of color. That same year, Miley was promoted
to executive vice president of DEI, after 33 years with the company. It was
a new title that Miley says reflects decades of work in “opening doors for
others at every point in my career.” Miley has gone on to introduce the
NBCU Academy, a journalism and content-creation training program for
college students from underrepresented communities that, since launching in
2021, has increased its membership by 50%, added 45 schools to its network,
and expanded to include STEM programs. “I can't even put into words how
momentous this effort has been,” Miley says. “It was a startup two years
ago, and now it's become this center of excellence.” Miley hopes she’s
instilling the value of keeping the door open for others. “My hope is that
those pathways will remain open for those to come after me, who are going
to be better than I can ever be.” —KC Ifeanyi
12. 12
Tara Bunch
head of global operations, Airbnb
Tara Bunch’s early tenure as Airbnb’s global head of operations was “quite
a ride”—including a global pandemic and an initial public offering—but now
she is focused on the future. Customers want to travel and connect with
others affordably and safely. On her watch, Airbnb has rolled out enhanced
features, including expanded host details like hobbies and interests, and
recently introduced travel insurance, as well as identity verification in
more markets. The site has undergone a “massive overhaul,” she says,
[emphasizing private rooms within
homes](https://www.fastcompany.com/90880031/airbnb-launches-rooms-short-term-rental-laws).
Such spaces allow more hosts to participate, while also increasing
affordable travel options, Bunch says. Internally, she is focused on
building teams and developing future leaders. She is an executive sponsor
of the company’s AirPride and Trans@ employee resource groups to develop
LGBTQ talent. “The most important legacy you can leave as a leader is that
you've built a great team that can carry the company forward,” she says.
She was also behind Airbnb’s first-time presence at the Out and Equal
Workplace Summit, which focuses on workplace equality for LGBTQ employees.
Airbnb recently announced that it would be tying 10% of executive
compensation to achieving diversity goals. “It’s something we're incredibly
committed to, and we hold ourselves accountable against [it], as well,” she
says. —Gwen Moran
advertisement
13. 13
Lisa Becket
Executive Vice President, Global Marketing, Disney
The past year marked some major milestones for the $160 billion
entertainment giant: The Walt Disney Company celebrated both its 100th
anniversary and Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th. Disney’s Cruise Line
welcomed a fifth ship, the Disney Wish, to its fleet. In her role
overseeing marketing across Disney Parks Experiences and Products, Lisa
Becket helmed campaigns supporting them all, from a new “World of Color”
show in Anaheim to “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” in Orlando.
Becket’s approach to marketing at Disney aims to emphasize the company’s
diverse consumer base. She leads a marketing initiative called BRAVE, which
she describes as “an intentional collection of actions to influence
inclusivity in [Disney’s] culture, business, and all of the content we put
into the market.” In the past year, Disney’s CEO asked Becket to co-lead
the company’s Pride 365 Collective, a coalition of LGBTQ employees and
allies working on improving the company’s engagement with the LGBTQ
community. A member of the nonprofit Out & Equal’s board of directors,
Becket also represents Disney outside the company’s ecosystem. There, she
works with other global leaders to promote LGBTQ workplace equality. The
aim, she says, is to “strengthen their role as change agents,”—a crucial
message coming from a leader at an entertainment company that has been
[targeted by anti-LGBTQ activists and
politicians](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dont-say-gay-bill-florida-disney-espn/).
—Jessica Klein
14. 14
Karine Jean-Pierre
White house press secretary
15. 15
Amy Errett
founder and CEO, Madison Reed
Already shown to be a pandemic- and now recession-proof business,
hair-color startup Madison Reed just keeps growing. CEO Amy Errett reports
25% year-over-year growth as of the first quarter of 2023—the same quarter
the startup began offering a new loyalty program, which gives customers
points for their purchases. “It’s very rare to have membership around
salons,” Errett says, something Madison Reed is in a unique position to
provide, since the company uses its own products across its 85 Hair Color
Bars—20-plus more than it boasted last June. “There's continuity in the
ability for us to service somebody anywhere,” Errett says. “We have tons of
customers who’ve been to 10 or 15 of the locations . . . when they're
traveling.” Boosting Madison Reed’s expansion, Runway Growth Capital
provided[ $50 million in loan
funding](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/runway-growth-capital-announces-a-senior-secured-term-loan-of-50-million-to-madison-reed-301742244.html)
this February. Wholesale relationships with Ulta.com and Amazon continue to
move the company’s products online. But Errett says one of her most
standout accomplishments is internal—the company pays for 100% of
healthcare costs for all 800 employees, more than 500 of whom joined in the
past year, and 58% are people of color. Salon workers “typically don't have
healthcare benefits,” Errett says, and part of her commitment to DEI is
offering the same benefits to salon workers as employees at the company’s
headquarters have. “We would not treat any [member] of our workforce
differently.” —Jessica Klein
16. 16
Stephenie Landry
VP, net zero operations, Amazon
On the back of Stephenie Landry’s door at Amazon’s Seattle offices is a
countdown representing the months until the end of 2040, the year by which
Amazon plans to reach net-zero carbon emissions. That goal isn’t new—Amazon
announced its Climate Pledge in 2019—but Landry’s role in it is. In March
2023, after two decades at Amazon, including eight years helming its
grocery division and a seven-month sabbatical, Landry became the retail
giant’s vice president of Net Zero Operations. “I really wanted to spend
time working on something that was going to help [Amazon] survive for the
long haul,” she says. "[It] won't just impact Amazon but... all the
industries that we work in." As the [VP of
Grocery](https://www.fastcompany.com/90639202/what-it-was-like-to-oversee-amazons-grocery-business-during-the-pandemic),
Landry helped launch the first Amazon Fresh store seeking net-zero
certification in March 2022. Amazon has made other climate moves, including
reaching 85% renewable energy (with a goal to hit 100% by 2025) and is
rolling out thousands of electric vehicles. “There’s also a long way to
go,” Landry admits. The company emitted 71.54 million metric tons of carbon
dioxide in 2021. Her challenge, she says, is to “really put the execution
plan and muscle” behind that net-zero commitment. —Kristin Toussaint
17. 17
Caitlin Kalinowski
head of AR hardware, Meta
Caitlin Kalinowski has been with Meta for a decade. But if you ask her, the
work she’s been doing just over the past year can be summed up as “the most
exciting consumer electronic products in current history.” Since March
2022, Kalinowski has been leading the augmented reality hardware team for
Reality Labs at Meta, working on AR glasses code-named, “Project Nazare.”
Little has been shared about the tech, but it’s clear that AR is a key
focus for Meta as it races toward integrating a virtual world with real
life. “I strongly believe that the next big iteration in technology . . .
is really all-day wearable glasses coupled with AI,” Kalinowski says. She
says the glasses could one day allow you to call a friend and feel like
they’re physically in the room with you as you speak: “It’s less of a ‘Hey,
we’re transporting you to a different place’ than it is ‘Hey, we’re going
to make you feel closer to the people who you know.’” —Jessica Bursztynsky
18. 18
Christine Su
head of product, AI recommendations, eBay
The first 90 days of Christine Su’s time at eBay consisted of a lot of
“listening and learning.” Now, Su is ready to tackle the challenging task
of revamping eBay’s mission of reselling as AI-powered “recommerce,” to
both a new generation and those who have known the brand for decades. The
company’s AI could, for example, help a Gen Z thrifter find a denim jacket
they want to buy. This connects the seller and the shopper to a product
they both loved at different points in time—and keeps the jacket out of the
landfill. “You’re going to see a very different eBay that is personalized,
that deeply understands you,” Su says. Su joined eBay in January after more
than two years at Twitter, where she led product strategy for global
regulatory content moderation prior to Elon Musk’s takeover. “I'm really
attracted to product problems that are very human in nature,” Su says.
“When you get to build a product that requires deep empathy for the
customer—and if you build the product well—it connects people, and it also
is good for the business.” —Jessica Bursztynsky
advertisement
19. 19
Jessica Robertson
cofounder and chief content officer, TOGETHXR
20. 20
LaFawn Davis
SVP of Environmental, Social, and Governance, Indeed
Since becoming the company’s first Black queer woman in the C-suite in
2021, LaFawn Davis has focused on the intersection between environmental
and social justice, and the disproportionate impact of environmental racism
on people already facing bias. And she’s set some ambitious goals,
including helping 30 million job seekers who face some type of bias get
hired by 2030. To do that, Indeed has launched products that promote
equitable hiring such as [Skill
Connect](https://www.indeed.com/press/releases/indeed-helps-people-without-college-degrees-get-jobs-with-skill-connect?co=US),
to help job seekers without a college degree highlight their skills, and
[Fair Chance Filter](https://www.indeed.com/esg/fair-chance-hiring), which
helps prospective hires with criminal records find employment. Another step
toward equality is the adoption of salary transparency. This spring, 40% of
job postings on Indeed shared salary information, a 137% increase from
three years ago. To adapt to the rapid changes in hiring, Davis created an
AI Ethics team meant to ensure fairness and equity in Indeed’s products.
But as Davis points out, “hiring is a fundamentally human process; you
cannot remove humanity from the process.” Corporate wellness has become a
focus of Davis over the last year, too. She launched the Work Wellbeing
Score, which has measured happiness, stress, purpose, and satisfaction at
over 90,000 companies. Outside of Indeed, she joined the[ World Wellbeing
Movement](https://worldwellbeingmovement.org/) Board of Directors. Davis
believes the[ ESG backlash
](https://www.fastcompany.com/90897647/why-leaders-must-resist-the-esg-backlash)and[
widespread cost-cutting in
DEI](https://www.fastcompany.com/90854906/this-is-the-real-cost-of-cutting-diversity-programs)
is not only shortsighted but temporary. Companies who continue to invest in
these programs will see their positive impact on both society and the
bottom line, she says. —Kathleen Davis
21. 21
Bethany Eppner
global head of advertising solutions, Spotify
Since cementing itself as one of the biggest players in music
entertainment, Spotify has begun to exert its gravitational pull on
neighboring fields, including
[podcasting](https://www.fastcompany.com/3046504/spotify-launches-podcasts-video-and-context-based-listening)
and live events. The prospect of expanding into a new medium was what first
drew Bethany Eppner to the company after more than a decade in television
marketing and strategy. She joined Spotify in 2021 to head up The Podcast
Boutique, a one-stop management and monetization shop for the platform’s
largest podcasts, and says advertising in the medium was “a little bit of
the Wild West.” Her team’s innovation has paid off: In the first quarter of
2023, Spotify
[reported](https://ads.spotify.com/en-US/news-and-insights/spotify-first-quarter-earnings-2023/)
its strongest earnings since 2018, and a 17% increase in ad-supported
revenue. Eppner now helms the rollout of live events, which will be a
mixture of existing Spotify parties and festivals and bespoke events with
brands. Advertising strategy has been “tricky to figure out, but I think
finally my group has nailed it,” she says. Her career wasn’t the only facet
of her life that changed during the pandemic. Eppner, who thought she’d
never leave New York City, moved with her two children to Westport,
Connecticut, where she was surprised to discover there was no Pride
organization. She cofounded Westport Pride, which has raised over $10,000
for queer youth programs and every year outfits a major bridge to the town
in rainbow colors. “It gives me chills every time I drive over it,” she
says. —Maddie Bender
22. 22
Clare Martorana
federal chief information officer
Two years into her tenure as federal chief information officer at the White
House Office of Management and Budget, Clare Martorana is working behind
the scenes to patch an abysmal statistic: An estimated 60% of government
information technology projects fail. She’s made it her mission to breathe
new life into decaying digital infrastructure. As the Board Chair of the
Technology Modernization Fund, Martorana has helped oversee a $52 million
investment into federal agencies’ infrastructure in the first quarter of
2023—a more than tenfold annual increase from just two years ago. Building
an IT platform for the U.S. Agency for International Development and
shifting retirement services for railroad workers from phone and paper to
an online interface are two of the most recent
[projects](https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/technology-modernization-fund-announces-targeted-investments-in-improving-customer-experiences-for-the-public-12192022)
to receive funding. A central priority driving Martorana is how to break
down silos and scale best practices to entice people like her to join
federal agencies. “Imagine a day when technologists have no difficulty
finding a job title in government like one they’d apply for in the private
sector, and so decide to apply and join us in federal service,” she
recently [told Federal News
Network](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/technology-main/2022/12/federal-cio-martorana-on-her-plans-for-2023/).
—Maddie Bender _Correction: A previous version misstated Martorana's title.
She is the Federal CIO at the White House Office of Management and Budget._
23. 23
Christie Smith
global lead of Talent & Organization/Human Potential, Accenture
Managing roughly 4,500 employees at professional services firm Accenture
requires more than just “early morning meetings,” says Christie Smith,
who’s had several already by the time of our 9:30 a.m. interview. Her team,
which consults on talent and organizational change, uses Accenture’s
digital infrastructure to support diversity in hiring and retention and has
seen the number of requests from clients grow by the "high double digits"
since last June. ** ** “We’ve looked at AI [as a] phenomenal way to begin
to level the playing field,” she says. Instead of considering only résumés,
AI helps Accenture’s clients prioritize skills, which helps surface job
candidates that might otherwise be overlooked because of their
socioeconomic backgrounds. Inside Accenture, the firm is also embracing
technology, in the form of virtual reality. [The firm’s enterprise
metaverse](https://www.fastcompany.com/90876215/how-workers-at-accenture-and-walmart-are-using-virtual-reality),
where employees from Bangalore to San Francisco can collaborate as digital
avatars of their choosing, allows them to express themselves “in their own
image,” Smith says. “When you’re 738,000 employees and growing, [using]
this technology to have a sense of culture and belonging . . . is
remarkable, especially for the Pride community.” As Accenture’s Pride
Champion, Smith has helped grow the company’s Pride chapters to 90 across
45 countries. The newest chapters just opened in Thailand and Bulgaria.
This past year, Accenture’s Pride allies expanded to nearly 120,000, the
firm’s largest ally community. In the wake of global threats to transgender
healthcare, Accenture sponsors gender-affirming health benefits for nearly
95% of its employees in more than 20 countries. —Jessica Klein _Correction:
an earlier version of the article mischaracterized the context of the quote
about "high double digits."_
24. 24
Liana Douillet Gúzman
CEO, Folx Health
This past year has seen a wave of legislation seeking to limit trans
people’s access to gender-affirming healthcare. But that hasn’t slowed down
Liana Douillet Guzmán—or Folx Health. “78% of our members did not have
access to affirming care before Folx and 71% actively avoided seeking care
for fear of discrimination,” explained Guzmán [on
LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lianamdouillet/recent-activity/all/).
The digital health startup, which made [Fast Company’s Most Innovative
Companies list
](https://www.fastcompany.com/90850746/folx-telehealth-trans-patients-lgbtq)this
year, launched in 2020 by offering hormone therapy telehealth, and has
since expanded into sexual wellness, primary care, and mental health
services, as well as health education for the LGBTQ community. Folx
recently introduced an enterprise offering for employers, and insurers will
start covering its services later this year. Guzmán, who became CEO of the
startup in February 2022 and [ranked #31 on last year’s Queer 50
list](https://www.fastcompany.com/queer-50/list/rank/31), was previously
the COO at crypto exchange Blockchain, before joining Skillshare as CMO.
She’s overseen a number of milestones at Folx this past year, including a
$30 million Series B raise last October. “[Folx] is helping shift the way
the world sees our community,” Guzmán recently [told _Fast
Company_](https://www.fastcompany.com/90850746/folx-telehealth-trans-patients-lgbtq)_.
_—Julia Herbst
advertisement
25. 25
Brandi Carlile
musician and activist
This year, Brandi Carlile continued her wildly successful run bringing
together artists across genres to support women and the queer community.
She sang with Elton John at Dodger Stadium; brought Joni Mitchell on stage
with her at 2022's Newport Folk Festival; and won three Grammys, including
Best Americana Album. Her Girls Just Wanna Weekend concert festival closed
out its fourth year, hosting a slate of female performers at an
all-inclusive resort in Mexico. (Carlile launched the consistently sold-out
event in 2019, as a counterpoint to the slew of male-dominated festivals.)
In 2023, Carlile expanded this vision with The Mothership, a three-day
festival over Mother's Day weekend, which she called an "epic celebration
of mothers, mother figures, motherhood, mothering, and all forms of chosen
families.” The event was held in Florida—an intentional choice, given
recent attacks on LGBTQ communities and reproductive rights; Carlile also
used it to elevate teachers, who have been hit particularly hard by
Governor Ron DeSantis' laws and rhetoric. Carlile's music is infused with
activism, so it's no surprise that her focus on inclusion extends far
beyond the stage. In the first half of this year alone, her Looking Out
Foundation—which is funded in part by her wine brand XOBC Cellars—helped
raise $300,000 for [victims of the earthquake in
Syria](https://people.com/country/brandi-carlile-wife-catherine-raised-300k-in-seven-days-for-earthquake-relief/),
$250,000 for displaced children in Ukraine, $140,000 for Everytown for Gun
Safety, and $550,000 for LGBTQ organizations in Tennessee. —Aimee Rawlins
26. 26
Christina Hennington
EVP and chief growth officer, Target
As Target’s chief growth officer, Christina Hennington’s purview is
massive—and has only continued to grow. Last year, she assumed leadership
of Target in India, a 4,000-person team that contributes to every area of
the company’s business. She also oversees Target Food & Beverage, expanding
her leadership across all core merchandising categories, from candles to
iced tea, and has led company-wide efforts to source renewable, reusable,
and recycled products for Target brands. The retail giant added $3 billion
in total sales growth in 2022, despite inflation and softer discretionary
spending. More recently, Target has faced criticism over [its
decision](https://corporate.target.com/press/releases/2023/05/Target-Statement-on-2023-Pride-Collection#:~:text=Our%20focus%20now%20is%20on,Month%20and%20throughout%20the%20year)
to remove some items from its Pride Collection due to right-wing backlash
and "threat impacting [its] team members' sense of safety." Hennington
continues to serve on Target’s Racial Equity Action and Change committee,
which propels diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. As a founding
member, she has been on the forefront of expanding the number of
Black-owned beauty brands sold at the retailer. Hennington says she likes
to dive into all aspects of the business: “People are surprised at my
willingness to geek out on almost anything. You can’t micromanage from the
C-suite, but I’m curious about everything, so I’m always excited when
someone gives me a chance to dive in and get my hands dirty.” —Colleen
Hamilton
27. 27
Roz Francuz-Harris
VP of Talent Acquisition, Zillow
In the past year, Roz Francuz-Harris has climbed through Zillow’s ranks to
become vice president of talent acquisition in just over two years. She
says she can pinpoint when she felt her career first take off in 2015,
while representing her then-employer Aerotek at the Lesbians Who Tech &
Allies conference. “I realized that we needed a trusted resource when it
came to those unknowns around employment,” she says. “That's where my
leadership was born.” Inclusion has been paramount for Francuz-Harris,
starting with hiring outside of tech hubs. At Zillow, she’s implemented a
more proactive “push” model of recruiting from underserved communities,
which has helped add around 1,500 people to its distributed workforce of
5,700 people. In 2022, [BIPOC
representation](https://www.zillowgroup.com/news/zillow-shares-pay-equity-and-representation-data-for-2022/)
reached 42% and attrition for Black employees declined below the company’s
average attrition rate for the first time. Francuz-Harris attributes part
of the company’s appeal to Zillow’s progressive benefits package which
includes family planning, gender-affirming care, and mental health
resources. Outside of Zillow, Francuz-Harris serves as a mentor and board
advisor to Lesbians Who Tech (an editorial partner of the Queer 50 list),
and an advisor to Rewriting the Code's Black Wings. “I've been working to
support the women in computer science programs. They continue to take the
industry by storm.” —Lydia Dishman
28. 28
Jacqueline Guichelaar
SVP and General Manager, Customer Experience, Asia Pacific, Japan, and
Greater China, Cisco
After leading Cisco through the considerable technology demands of the
pandemic, Jacqueline Guichelaar is returning to a customer-facing role as
customer experience officer for Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China.
The pandemic “gave CIOs a seat at the table like never before,” Guichelaar
says, which enabled her to contribute to strategic decisions within the
company, including upgrades to the company’s IT systems, applications, and
data and analytics function, while also making products more sustainable.
“We’ve built things [at] Cisco in 12 months that would have taken us 3 to 4
years to do in the past,” she says. Guichelaar recently relocated to
Singapore from California, but remains involved with a number of causes,
including the American Cancer Society, Covenant House California, and
Christo Rey. She is also executive sponsor for Cisco’s Pride Inclusive
Community, which draws attention to the challenges for and opportunities of
the LGBTQ community, both within Cisco and externally. —Gwen Moran
29. 29
Robin Diamonte
CIO, Raytheon Technologies
As chief investment officer for one of the world’s largest aerospace and
defense companies, Raytheon Technologies, Robin Diamonte is responsible for
overseeing $115 billion in global retirement assets for the company, which
employs around 180,000 workers. She says that facilitating retirement is “a
win-win strategy for the company but also for people who work their whole
lives to retire with financial security.” Diamonte has also overseen
full-pension funding at Raytheon and at United Technologies Corporation
(UTC), prior to the companies’ merger in 2020. Like many other
organizations, Raytheon no longer offers pensions to new employees, so she
has helped develop an annuity investment option for employees that delivers
guaranteed lifetime income. This work earned her the first Lifetime
Achievement Award from industry newsletter _The Allocator._ She also
advocates for retirement security outside of Raytheon through her
involvement with The Aspen Group and CIEBA, an industry group of CIOs. A
member of the company’s global diversity, equity, and inclusion advisory
committee and executive sponsor of Raytheon’s new LGBTQ employee resource
group, she refers to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a concept which maps
human needs ranging from food and safety to self-actualization. Some LGBTQ
employees still face barriers to physical safety, she says. “Part of my job
as executive sponsor is trying to communicate that need to senior
leadership.” —Gwen Moran
30. 30
Jessica Austin Barker
chief digital and client experience officer, TIAA
Jessica Austin Barker never planned to leave her career in tech to work in
financial services. But when the opportunity presented itself in spring
2022, she was inspired by the mission of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity
Association of America (and its CEO) to make a change. “I love solving
problems and working with multifunctional teams, and I was swayed by TIAA’s
mission around helping people retire with dignity.” In the 10 months
Barker has been in her role, she’s made TIAA more customer-centric,
elevating the data and experiences of the company’s education- and
healthcare-worker clientele. “We want to bring our clients to life in more
tangible ways,” she says. Newly implemented client visits help make the
need for customer experience more visceral and urgent. “[TIAA employees]
can feel the inspiration and also the pain,” she says, noting that reports
and slideshows don’t help teams develop the type of “true empathy and
engagement” that meeting people on panels or all-hands meetings can. She
sees her efforts as a multi-year transformation for a 100-year-old company.
“I’m hoping to see customers come back and see a new TIAA,” Barker says.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner
advertisement
31. 31
Moj Mahdara
cofounder and managing partner, Kinship Ventures
“Women are not always given the best access to deal flow,” says Moj
Mahdara, who cofounded the venture capital firm Kinship Ventures with
Gwyneth Paltrow in 2022 to change that. It’s not just about diversity for
investors—companies, too, can “future-proof their cultures and operations
by having more nonbinary [folks], women, and people of color on their cap
tables.” ** ** Currently[ raising $75 million for its first
fund](https://www.axios.com/2023/03/02/scoop-gwyneth-paltrow-is-raising-a-75-million-venture-capital-fund),
Kinship aims to invest in consumer goods, tech companies, and Web3, having
already[ backed blockchain payments platform
MoonPay](https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2023/03/02/gwyneth-paltrows-venture-capital-firm-aiming-to-raise-75-million-report-says/?sh=6bd2ee733312).
As a partner in the venture firm Intuition Capital, Mahdara invested in
another 12 companies over the past year. The former Beautycon CEO also
backs business leaders, “bringing more diversity and equity to the beauty
industry” via BeautyUnited, a community of industry heads Mahdara cofounded
in 2020. Its third yearlong mentorship program began serving 12 new fellows
in February. ** ** A founder and board member of the [Iranian Diaspora
Collective](https://www.iraniandiasporacollective.com/), Mahdara spends
many hours advocating for internet freedom in Iran and bringing awareness
to gender apartheid. A queer Iranian who’s married with two children,
Mahdara also uses their platform to emphasize “queer family
representation,” they say. “I get a million zillion DMs from people in the
Middle East [saying], ‘Oh my God, I’ve never seen two queer Iranians
together.’ . . . People should know that you can be queer and Iranian and
have a family.” —Jessica Klein
32. 32
Katherine Wetmur
Managing Director and CIO for Cyber, Data, Risk and Resilience, Morgan
Stanley
Katherine Wetmur has spent two decades of her 30-plus year career in tech
and engineering working at Morgan Stanley. “As a technologist, you’re able
to really see the impact of the work you do directly,” Wetmur says. Over
the past 20 years, she’s witnessed the “digitization of the world” as all
workplaces become more tech-centered. As CIO, Wetmur’s responsible for
all cybersecurity work at Morgan Stanley, including risk and response to
crisis—pandemics included. Over the past year, her team of 3,500 has
secured a number of patents in big data, building new technologies and
capabilities to protect Morgan Stanley and its clients. “We’re focused on
how we can do things at scale and at speed, faster, with machines,” Wetmur
says. “We’re taking the experts in the field and getting them data in a
quicker, more organized way.” She’s continuing to take advantage of
emerging tech to enhance security, including utilizing AI and analytics to
respond to issues faster. Even with all these digital feats, there’s a
human element at the heart of her leadership. “The technology we have is
built by people and informed by the people who build it,” Wetmur says.
“It’s important to have a diverse and inclusive workforce that does that.”
She’s passionate about the company’s programs to teach STEM skills to
underserved youth, including a partnership with Girls Who Code, which aims
to launch more women’s careers in tech, and Makerspace, which leads STEM
workshops for students in shelters. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner
33. 33
Dylan Mulvaney
actor; creator
With approximately 13 million social media followers, Dylan Mulvaney is
among the most visible trans celebrities of all time. Over the past year,
Mulvaney’s series documenting her transition has received more than[ 1
billion
views](https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/dylan-mulvaney-celebrates-year-girlhood)
on TikTok, helped [capture the attention of President Joe
Biden](https://nowthisnews.com/biden-forum), and earned her the [2023
Queerties’ Groundbreaker
Award](https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/tiktok-dylan-mulvaney-trans-queerties-1235539613/).
But with this visibility, the actor has also been the victim of vehement
anti-trans cyber abuse and right-wing hate. Her partnerships with brands,
such as [Bud
Light](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-20/white-house-condemns-anti-lgbtq-vitriol-amid-bud-light-boycotts#xj4y7vzkg),
[Tampax](https://www.them.us/story/dylan-mulvaney-tampons), and
[Maybelline](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trans-activist-dylan-mulvaneys-partnership-with-maybelline-yields-a-new-round-of-boycott-calls-376b4f06),
have triggered violent outbursts, bomb threats, and boycotts among some
conservative groups. However, Mulvaney’s work has also galvanized
significant support among allies. “The people who are targeting us right
now, I’m trying to find grace for them because I know that this was planted
from something else. And I can only hope that they will see the beauty, and
the humanity, and the importance of an identity, and not [try] to strip
that away,” Mulvaney [recently
explained](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr_sZhRLdt1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==).
Mulvaney’s perseverance of presence has enshrined her as an LGBTQ leader
and her representation has helped establish that trans people always have,
and always will, exist. —AJ Hess
34. 34
Shamina Singh
founder and president of the Center for Inclusive Growth, Mastercard
This year’s DiversityInc survey placed Mastercard atop [its
list](https://www.fair360.com/top-50-list/2023/) of the top 50 companies
for diversity—an accolade that, according to Shamina Singh, signifies that
her company is putting its money where its mouth is. Singh leads
Mastercard's philanthropic hub, which went into overdrive during the
pandemic. The speed at which the Center reacted to a global crisis, and the
cross-collaborative partnerships forged between the public and private
sectors, have informed the company’s “new normal,” as it has taken on
inflation and the war in Ukraine. Singh says her identity as a queer
person has impacted her career deeply, just as her identities as a child of
immigrants and a woman of color have. “It's for me distinctive but, in some
respects, it's also indistinguishable,” she says. In a role centered around
making connections, the more integrated her life and work can be, the
better. This past Valentine’s Day, Singh united South Asian business
leaders and celebrities to celebrate the Respect for Marriage Act and raise
money for Desi Rainbow, a safe space for South Asian queer people and
allies. After experiencing great losses during the pandemic, the event was
a cathartic reminder of her chosen family. “For me, this was a moment to
remember that being in community with other LGBTQ people . . . is a really
important part of how I gain my strength and where I find happiness.”
—Maddie Bender
35. 35
Lorraine Bardeen
corporate VP and CTO, industry solutions, Microsoft
Lorraine Bardeen is focused on how Microsoft can ethically use artificial
intelligence in a quickly evolving world. "AI is driving rapid change,” she
says. “I’m proud of Microsoft’s deep commitment to creating responsible AI
by design. Our work is grounded in a core set of principles, including
fairness, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and
accountability.” Bardeen says her team’s work, which includes overseeing
customer relationships and providing digital solutions across industries,
has impacted millions. Among those solutions is
[Microsoft](https://news.microsoft.com/2023/04/04/ai-in-action/)’s Azure
AI, which is a collection of AI services used by over 85% of the 100
largest U.S. companies by revenue. Bardeen was recently selected to join
the company’s CEO Inclusion Council to represent the LGBTQ employee
resource group and says she hopes her work on the council helps foster a
culture of growth and authenticity. In September 2022, Bardeen celebrated
20 years at the company by launching her [LinkedIn
series](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorraine-bardeen/recent-activity/shares/),
“20 things I’ve learned in 20 years at Microsoft,” which she hopes will
inspire others to grow “into the leaders they are meant to be.” —Laya
Neelakandan
36. 36
Rosanna Durruthy
VP of global diversity, inclusion, and belonging, LinkedIn
advertisement
37. 37
B. Pagels-Minor
founder, DVRGNT Ventures
B. Pagels-Minor had to take a beat after being [abruptly
fired](https://www.fastcompany.com/queer-50/list/rank/44) from Netflix in
2021. “I started off just recovering from the actual experience but also
from having a kid,” Pagels-Minor says. “I couldn’t [do] anything else until
I did that healing process.” When they started job hunting, some potential
employers saw the circumstance of their public ousting from Netflix as a
liability, between their role in a [walkout led by trans
employees](https://www.fastcompany.com/90688299/netflix-trans-employees-plan-a-walkout-today-over-dave-chappelle)
and allegations that they leaked company information (which they denied).
“I would go through the whole interview process,” Pagels-Minor says, “and
the hiring manager was like: I want to hire you; every single person who
interviewed you wanted to hire you. But our vice president said we can't.”
So, Pagels-Minor focused instead on building a consulting practice and
advising entrepreneurs, which also offered the flexibility they desired as
a new parent. But they quickly realized that they wanted to support nascent
companies with actual capital. In January, they officially launched DVRGNT
Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in pre-seed and seed-stage
companies, courting founders from middle America who might otherwise be
overlooked. Pagels-Minor is currently raising a $10 million debut fund,
with plans to close by early next year. “While it isn't specifically a
diversity fund, it is [about] this idea of economic equity: How do you
actually create a more equal society from an economic lens?” Pagels-Minor
says. “If all VCs only invest in a very small percentage of the U.S., no
wonder there’s less opportunity in those regions.” —Pavithra Mohan
38. 38
Joannie Fu
VP of Network and Edge Group, Intel
When Joannie Fu joined Intel 23 years ago, it was after she had experienced
criticism for her androgynous presentation and exclusion from client
meetings at a previous employer. In contrast, she says Intel has set
industry standards for employee affinity groups and LGBTQ inclusion. Fu has
been out for the entirety of her Intel career, which she says is unique.
“There are VPs at Intel who are out in their personal life; there are VPs
who we have hired from the outside who had been out. But I am probably the
only one who has worked my way up—from when I joined Intel as a commodity
buyer and a construction manager to now.” She says the through line of her
work has been exploring the intersection of humanity and technology to
solve complex problems. What that means these days is thinking a lot about
responsible artificial intelligence amid the rapid development of powerful
black-box models. Ensuring positive outcomes means being deliberate about
an AI model’s tasks; one Intel AI project uses cameras to measure the
freshness of the food at individual Chipotle restaurants, allowing the
chain to optimize the customer experience. Most important, Fu says, is
including humans as guardrails throughout the process. “The AI algorithm is
only as good as the people who program it.” —Maddie Bender
39. 39
Olivia Julianna
Director of Politics and Government Affairs, Gen-Z For Change
As a 19-year-old activist, Olivia Julianna first grabbed America’s
attention when she used her TikTok platform to stop a website targeting
Texans supporting abortion access. The action drew cyberbullying from
Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida; but instead of being shamed,
Julianna sprung into action. The Houston-raised student turned Gaetz’s jabs
into a fundraiser, quickly earning $1 million in donations for an abortion
fund. That number has now [topped $2.3
million](https://secure.actblue.com/donate/genzforchoice), thanks to the
nonprofit collective of young activists where Julianna serves as a
director. Her nontraditional fundraising method—spotlighting mistreatment
by a politician via a viral social media moment to encourage voter
registration and donations—has since [been
replicated](https://twitter.com/ash_in_wv/status/1553943800405434368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1553943800405434368%7Ctwgr%5Ee8e85b35ff4c96379c6793fddcec17c2dea8187b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Folivia-julianna-abortion-fundraiser-trolled-matt-gaetz-2-million-dollars-2022-8)
and suits the nonprofit’s mission of “leveraging the power of social media
to drive progressive change.” Now 20, Julianna is working toward her
bachelor's degree in political science at the University of
Houston-Victoria, and with more than 641,000 [TikTok
followers](https://www.tiktok.com/@0liviajulianna), she continues to use
her platform to share her honest thoughts on U.S. politics. —Melissa
Kravitz Hoeffner
40. 40
Mo Matheson
EVP and Chief HR officer, Nike
Six years ago, Monique “Mo” Matheson made a pledge to increase workforce
diversity. By [2022, women represented 51% of Nike’s global corporate
workforce](https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/reports/fy22-nike-inc-impact-report),
and 44.1% in leadership positions, up from 29% in 2017. She’s also made a
commitment to inclusive benefits. In the past year, as Nike employees
returned to a hybrid office, Matheson says the leadership team has invested
in listening to what employees need. What they heard was an emphasis on
access to reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming care. Nike also
recently implemented guidelines and an education program to help support
transgender employees. The goal, says Matheson, is to create a common
understanding and reinforce the company’s commitment to inclusion and
respect. For Pride month, Matheson says they are “celebrating our employees
and our employee network, and we're bringing in our point of view [on]
trans athletes in the amateur space.” She adds that the company wants to
“make sure that people have access to sport for mental health—because
movement is good, and because it's a way to create human
connections.”—Lydia Dishman
41. 41
Imara Jones
founder and CEO, TransLash Media
An award-winning reporter, social entrepreneur, and nonprofit founder,
Imara Jones has had a busy year. That’s no surprise, given her dedication
to creating stories that uplift trans futures. In 2018, she launched a
docuseries called _TransLash_, which shared her experiences as a Black
trans woman living in New York City. The film gained critical acclaim and
helped Jones realize the vital need for media that “tells trans stories to
save trans lives.” In 2021, TransLash officially became a nonprofit
organization, and has since partnered with WNYC and Samsung, and written
curriculum for the National Education Association. Jones’s core focus
remains media-making. Her organization has developed the Webby-nominated
_TransLash _podcast, a weekly TalkBack video series, and a newsletter. As
TransLash grows, Jones says she is intent on creating an organizational
culture that strives for excellence while emphasizing self-care. “People
are people and not machines,” she says, noting that it’s especially
important to remember in a field as labor- and time-intensive as media.
Despite her achievements, Jones knows her work is just beginning. “If it’s
hard, that means you’re doing it right.” —Colleen Hamilton
42. 42
Niecy Nash-Betts
actor and producer
Starting out in comedy before expanding to more dramatic roles, Niecy
Nash-Betts has learned that the best advice for any actor is how to say no.
“So many times, people want to do [anything] and everything to be part of
the industry, that it is tough for them to filter out the noise and be
selective,” says the Emmy-nominated actor. “When you find your voice and
your way through it all, you can start to embrace the word ‘no’ and fully
mean it.” Nash-Betts, who has had a two-decades-long career, is currently
experiencing her own renaissance. In 2022, she and her wife, Jessica Betts,
were the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of _Essence_, and she
signed a multiyear first-look deal with eOne to develop and produce
scripted and unscripted television. She recently won a Critics Choice Award
for her role in _Dahmer_ and is set to appear in Ava DuVernay’s adaptation
of_ Caste_. Nash-Betts is also starring in the ABC spinoff series, _The
Rookie: Feds_. “I had never seen a character like Simone actualized on
screen for network television,” she says, of the role. “A queer Black,
woman kicking ass and taking names? Sign me up!” —Yannise Jean
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43. 43
Vivian Chu
cofounder and CTO, Diligent Robotics
For Vivian Chu, the artificial intelligence revolution began in 2017. Back
then, she was a young roboticist imagining ways that technology could make
the U.S. healthcare system more humane, efficient, and fair. This dream
eventually became Diligent Robotics, the company she cofounded that
integrates AI-equipped robotics technology into hospitals and clinics.
Robots take over work that is “dull, dirty, or dangerous and allows people
to do the things that they are best at, such as spending time with their
patients,” says Chu. As interest in robots and AI has grown over the past
year, so has her company. Since 2022, Diligent Robotics has doubled in
employee size, tripled their customer base, and raised almost $50M in
funding. However, Chu says she is most excited that this year’s growth has
enabled her to hire a leadership team, including product, finance, and
people leaders. For a scrappy startup founder who is used to wearing every
hat, this has been game-changing. “I think you need to have everyone in the
room in order to build the best products,” she says. —Colleen Hamilton
44. 44
Julie Averill
EVP and Chief Information Officer, Lululemon
Julie Averill’s love of technology started early. “I just loved computers,
but I didn't have any idea that it could lead to a career,” she says. “I
didn't see anyone [who] I aspired to be.” Despite this, Averill found her
way to a career in tech, serving as the first CIO at REI, after more than a
decade as a vice president at Nordstrom. “I was involved in . . . making
[Nordstrom’s] inventory available to everyone who shopped at
Nordstrom.com,” says Averill. “It sounds like a 'No duh' thing now, but we
were the first ones to do it.” As CIO at Lululemon, she reports to the CEO
and oversees global e-commerce, data analytics, cybersecurity, and more.
Since joining Lululemon in 2017, Averill says she is most proud of her work
launching the company’s technology development center in Bengaluru, India.
Despite fears instilled in her by a conservative Christian schooling, she
is now proudly out. “I've been married to my wife for 33 years and we used
to be very closeted,” says Averill. “And that led me to be a shell of
myself in the office.” That changed three years ago. Averill gave the
keynote speech at Lululemon’s annual leadership summit and spoke publicly
about her queer identity. “The reaction that I got from the community was
overwhelming,” she says. “I had no idea how many people felt safer by
having a leader [who] represents them.” —AJ Hess
45. 45
Emma Kinema
senior campaign lead, Communications Workers Union of America
As a video-game quality assurance tester, Emma Kinema’s experienced
“crunch” periods of lengthy overtime and toxic workplace culture. She
understands industry workers’ need to build power and collective
solidarity, an effort she’s championed since becoming a founding member of[
Game Workers
Unite](https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-video-game-union-movement-20190412-story.html).
Dedicated to unionization in the once union-bereft gaming industry, the
group marked its five-year anniversary this year—a year also marked by[
mass tech
layoffs](https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/09/tech-industry-layoffs/). Now
with the Communication Workers of America union, Kinema’s expanded her
organizing to the wider tech sector. CWA’s Campaign to Organize Digital
Employees, which Kinema helped launch in 2020, had[ organized around 3,000
workers](https://www.thestrikewave.com/original-content/2022/9/1/blizzard-albany-qa-workers-organize)
across digital media and retail companies by August 2022, many of whom
joined a union for the first time. CODE-CWA now boasts more than 25 units
across companies including Google parent Alphabet and The Trevor Project,
which provides crisis support services for LGBTQ youth (a meaningful coup
for Kinema, who is transgender and[
tweeted](https://twitter.com/EmmaKinema/status/1631743254902493185) that
she’s “used the Trevor Project's resources numerous times”). The group also
helped Raven Software workers organize at Activision Blizzard, “right in
the heart of major corporate game development,” as[ Kinema told
Wired](https://www.wired.com/story/raven-software-gaming-union/), adding,
“This industry will be organized, one way or another.”—Jessica Klein
46. 46
Leilani Farol
head of office of the CISO, Fidelity Investments
Financial institutions typically aren’t described as having a “startup
feel,” but that’s what drew Leilani Farol to the Fidelity Investments’
position to head the office of the chief information security officer in
December 2022. Part of that culture difference comes from CISO Adam Ely’s
background as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, she says. Farol saw
an opportunity to apply her multifaceted background—she has overseen
hardware and software implementations for such companies as Pfizer, The
Estée Lauder Companies, and Bank of America—at the financial institution.
As a lifelong athlete (who has been known to get up at 4:45 a.m. on frigid
New York City mornings to play volleyball), Farol is focused on building a
talented team capable of handling Fidelity’s complex cybersecurity and
technology needs. Farol is also serious about developing and providing
opportunities for the next generation of leaders. She recognizes that, as a
queer Asian woman, she can play a role in representation while modeling
authenticity in her daily life. “I will scream [from] the highest mountain
if I need to provide that visibility,” she says. —Gwen Moran
47. 47
Janelle Monáe
musician and actor
Janelle Monáe is ready to party. The nonbinary performer’s latest album,
_The Age of Pleasure,_ which Pitchfork [described
as](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/janelle-monae-the-age-of-pleasure/)
“a rapturous Afrofuturistic sound collage for sunny days and sticky
nights,” came out June 9, just in time to be the soundtrack to Pride. An
ode to [queer love](https://genius.com/Janelle-monae-the-rush-lyrics),
[self-love](https://genius.com/Janelle-monae-water-slide-lyrics), and
generally living life to the fullest, Monáe tested songs for the LP by
seeing how people would react to them at parties. “If the songs can’t work
at the party, they’re not going on the album,” they
[told](https://variety.com/2023/music/news/janelle-monae-age-of-pleasure-album-lipstick-lover-1235609896/)
Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1. (Monáe uses they/she pronouns, or, more
accurately, as she told the _Los Angeles Times_ last April, “my pronouns
are free-ass motherf—ker and they/them, her/she.”) With eight Grammy
nominations, their own multimedia company
[Wondaland](https://www.fastcompany.com/90263428/how-singer-songwriter-actress-activist-janelle-monae-gets-so-much-done),
and a filmography that includes _Hidden Figures, Moonlight_, and _Glass
Onion: A Knives Out Mystery_, it’s no wonder the singer is feeling
confident: “I'm light as a feather, I'm light as a feather, yeah, baby, I
float,” they sing. “It's hard to look at my résumé, hoo, and not find a
reason to toast.” —Julia Herbst
48. 48
Angelica Ross
actor; president, Miss Ross Inc.; Founder, TransTech Social Enterprises
Angelica Ross refuses to be put in a box. She rose to fame in Ryan Murphy's
_Pose_, where her performance as Candy Ferocity brought the history of NYC
ball culture to a new generation. For several years before landing that
iconic role, though, she worked in technology. That experience inspired her
to start TransTech Social Enterprises, which provides trans people with the
skills and support they need to have successful tech careers. Two years
ago, the nonprofit organization had 800 members. Today, they serve almost
5,000 people in 50 countries. “We went from having very little support to
having the support of huge companies like Google,” says Ross. In order to
serve this expanding talent pool, Ross and her team are launching TransTech
Global, a for-profit arm that will provide high-paying remote work
opportunities to women, queer, and trans tech workers. And she’s just
getting started. In the next year, she is developing a podcast series,
releasing a new single called _Purr_, planning two unscripted television
shows, and performing during [Stonewall
Day](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/christina-aguilera-to-headline-stonewall-day-on-june-23-at-hudson-yards-in-nyc-301811718.html)
on the same lineup as Christina Aguilera. “I am going to do as much as I
possibly can do as a Black trans woman with my resources and access,” she
says. “It is worth seeing the vision through.” —Colleen Hamilton
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49. 49
Tali Bray
EVP, Technology Diversity, Community, and Sustainability, Wells Fargo
When Tali Bray was first offered a leadership DEI role at Wells Fargo, her
mentors warned her not to take it. She was at the top of her 30-year
career, which has spanned early growth startups and large-scale enterprise
organizations. They warned that the role could diminish her standing in the
two male-dominated fields she was in: technology and finance. “It was a
poignant moment for me,” she says. “I had to think about where I found
genuine satisfaction and what my community needed.” However, as Bray’s
experience has shown, finding satisfaction in your work can be a key driver
for success. In the past year alone, she has helped Wells Fargo donate $300
million to more than 3,400 nonprofits by cultivating deep relationships
with community partners such as the Transgender Law Center. Additionally,
she has helped scale neurodiversity programs at the company, which are more
important than ever due to the increase in rates of anxiety and depression
caused by the pandemic. She is quick to emphasize that business outcomes
drive her decisions, whether that means increasing mental health resources
or ESG investment options. “The more expansive we are in our thinking, the
more effective we can be,” she says. —Colleen Hamilton
50. 50
Ola Sobiecki
executive creative director, Hinge
Hinge had a problem. [Ola Sobiecki](https://olasobiecki.com/) says an
internal study found that 80% of the matchmaking app’s LGBTQ community felt
they didn’t have access to the necessary resources to find success in the
dating world. So Sobiecki did what they’ve done in leadership roles at
Spotify and Nike: They developed an innovative solution. With
[Not-So-Frequently Asked
Questions](https://hingeapp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/categories/7722332505747-NFAQ),
which launched on the Hinge app and website in August, a diverse array of
experts weigh in on critical questions for users, such as how to navigate
queer dating as a late bloomer, how to help a trans date feel more
comfortable when you’re cis, and more. The series was an immediate hit,
with its dedicated hashtag racking up more than 31 million shares on
TikTok. “Everyone felt really seen and heard,” Sobiecki says. “I think they
felt the way that we approached engaging with them [was] different, unique,
and human.” Sobiecki’s work is part of a larger trend at Hinge. In recent
years the company has launched numerous initiatives to support users across
its communities, including partnering with GLAAD on ongoing app updates and
launching Mental Health Advocates of Tomorrow, which focuses on therapy
access for BIPOC and LGBTQ daters. Sobiecki says that ultimately their work
is driven by curiosity, collaboration, and what drew them to Hinge in the
first place: “There’s no better mission than helping everybody find love.”
—Zachary Petit
Writers: Maddie Bender, Lydia Dishman, Yasmin Gagne, Colleen Hamilton, AJ Hess,
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, KC Ifeanyi, Yannise Jean, Jessica Klein, Pavithra
Mohan, Gwen Moran, Laya Neelakandan, Zachary Petit, Aimee Rawlins, Kristin
Toussaint
EDITORS: Kathleen Davis, Julia Herbst
DIGITAL PRODUCT: J.J. Guaragno, Haewon Kye, Kristin Lenz, Cayleigh Parish, Eric
Perry, Luis David Gutierrez Velazquez
DESIGN/PHOTO: Jeanne Graves, Celine Grouard, Kat Kluge, Sandra Riaño, Maja
Saphir, Mike Schnaidt
VIDEO/ANIMATION: Holly Bernal, Brian Corneliess, Anna Quinlan, Vanessa Singh,
Emma Wheylin, Frank Zadlo
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