In 2008 Out Leadership started OutNEXT, the first ever global talent development program for emerging LGBTQ+ leaders. Since then OutNEXT has convened young LGBTQ+ leaders annually in 10 cities around the world. To date OutNEXT has graduated more than 2,000 alumni in New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, London, Hong Kong and Sydney.
OutNEXT is unique, it’s an invitation-only talent development program that is open to employees of our 80+ member firms. Our member firms nominate up to three LGBTQ+ leaders to participate in the program each year.
The first curriculum was developed with McKinsey in 2008 and then expanded in 2012 in partnership with Out Leadership member firm PwC.
Over the past two years we have collected feedback, researched best practices, and developed a new enhanced curriculum. The new OutNEXT curriculum has been developed in collaboration with senior leadership development professionals from Out Leadership member firms and other leaders in the LGBTQ+ community. The program is delivered in six modules and has been designed for both in-person and virtual learning. In June and July this year our team held a series of events piloting the first two modules. The feedback gleaned from these sessions has been incorporated into the full curriculum.
Module 1: Understanding our resiliency as LGBTQ+ leaders
Module 2: “OUTvantage” Understanding the power of your story to sell your brand
Module 3: Using your intersections as our superpower
Module 4: Re-imagining networking
Module 5: Not your average Meyers Briggs
Module 6: Being a professional and an activist – who said we have to choose?
We are so excited to bring the full curriculum to our next cohort of “OutNEXTERS” during our Virtual OutNext Summit this August!