This Cultural Moment Is Right for the Emergence of an LGBTQ+ Agency Leader

Pride is a community movement that's also deeply personal, especially when it comes to whether someone can bring their authentic self to work. Many queer people wish the agency world had more loud, out-and-proud industry leaders who could tell us: “I’m queer, and this is how I made it to the top.” Mentors are invaluable; even the best leaders follow in the footsteps of other pioneers before forging their own path. And while people different from us teach us so much, relatability helps. But because of the challenges created by discrimination—personal, professional, political, legal, social—LGBTQ+ people don’t have their own Leo Burnett or David Ogilvy. Even in the fictional world, there's not a Don Draper for queer people to turn to. Google Pixel’s Pride Ad Wants You to Spread the Word About Queer-Friendly Spaces Of course, most people make it to the top in advertising through their ideas and innovation. That’s how everyone wants to get there; no one wants to rise up on identity politics. But while ideas get you in the room, power keeps you there. Privilege plays a part in who has power, and bias can be a stepping stone—or a hurdle. But there is also the growing power of representation. Once people see someone else rise, they know they can do it, too. And queer culture loves an icon. With that, there's some optimism: It looks like the queer advertising community is about to get its wish as the age of the LGBTQ+ ad agency icon dawns. Demand for authentic stories The LGBTQ+ community is “the $1 trillion blind spot,” per data consultancy Kantar. While queer demographics may be booming across generations, 66% of LGBTQ+ individuals do not see their lifestyle represented in advertising. More queer people demand more queer stories, and thus, more queer leaders. Countless examples across culture and business demonstrate that authenticity of engagement comes when storytellers can represent the communities they connect with. More queer people demand more queer stories, and thus, more queer leaders. Queer leaders don’t succeed in spite of their identity but because of the unique perspective it gives them. Entertainment gives us a growing number of examples of people whose queer perspective powered their rise. Lena Waithe was the first Black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing (for Master of None in 2017) and the first Black queer female showrunner. Gayle Troberman, CMO at iHeartMedia, was instrumental in launching the Can’t Cancel Pride virtual event series with P&G and has been out in her pre-iHeart roles like IPG and Microsoft as well. Bob the Drag Queen and Peppermint lead Black Queer Town Hall, and Billy Eichner will star in the first gay rom-com from a major studio. Queerness is creative strength. Acknowledging power dynamics While you need good ideas to be successful in the creative business, you need power to be an icon. In previous generations, the power came from the old boys’ network. Today, power can be drawn from other resources—namely, cultural relevance. Queerness is having a moment in popular culture and creating a wellspring of power from which queer business icons can step up outside of entertainment. LGBTQ+ agency legends are imminent, as are their stories of how queerness was an advantage in their success. Businesses Are Facing an LGBTQ+ Leadership Crisis and Lack of Role Models for Younger Talent