Out Leadership, the global LGBT+ business network, announced today that Kate Kendell, former Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Lee Schreter, Co-Chair of the Wage and Hour Practice Group at Littler Mendelson, are joining its OutWOMEN talent accelerator as Vice-Chairs.
OutWOMEN is the first global network of LGBT+ women executives, connecting out women in business to one another, calling attention to their accomplishments, and leveraging their strength to speed progress for all women in the workplace.
Kendell and Schreter’s appointments come as OutWOMEN’s model shifts following former Director Stephanie Sandberg’s appointment as Executive Director of the LPAC, the only national Political Action Committee whose mission is to build the political power of LGBTQ women. Kendell and Schreter’s expertise will help OutWOMEN expand its network throughout the United States, as they leverage contacts and insights from the philanthropic and legal spaces, and from their respective home bases of San Francisco and Atlanta.
Kate Kendall joins Out Leadership after over 22 years as Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, a legal organization behind many of the most important legal victories for the LGBT+ community in recent history. NCLR saw exponential growth under her leadership, and her tireless service advocating for LGBT+ civil rights has established her as a role model and leader for the LGBT+ community.
Lee Schreter’s new role represents an expansion of her longtime partnership with Out Leadership, having served on the organization’s Global Advisory Board since 2016. Schreter is currently Co-Chair of Littler Mendelson’s Wage and Hour Practice Group, and formerly served as Chairman of the Board for 3 years. Her longtime advocacy for the LGBT+ community in a corporate environment gives her particular insight into Out Leadership’s work, and makes her an ideal leader for the OutWOMEN accelerator.
Kate Kendell said: “I’m excited about the opportunity to expand on OutWOMEN’s amazing work. I know that we can create huge impact for LGBT+ women by channeling the power of business.”
“Having partnered with Out Leadership for many years already, both in representing Littler Mendelson as a member company and by serving on its Global Advisory Board, I am so excited to be more deeply involved in a cause that’s so close to my heart,” said Lee Schreter.
“I could not be happier to welcome two leaders as remarkable as Lee and Kate to OutWOMEN. Both are already great leaders for the LGBT+ community and long-time personal friends — I can’t wait to collaborate and grow the program together. As bittersweet it has been for Stephanie Sandberg to transition into her exciting new role at LPAC, I have no doubt that this new model and our amazing new Vice-Chairs will make OutWOMEN more impactful than ever,” said Todd Sears, Founder and Principal of Out Leadership.
Stephanie Sandberg, former Director of OutWOMEN, said: “Kate and Lee are two fantastic leaders and role models for the LGBT+ community. I’m excited to see how OutWOMEN continues to grow and benefit LGBT+ women in business under their guidance and leadership.”