November 12, 2020, New York, US
Ahead of Transgender Awareness Week, which starts on November 13, Out Leadership, the only business organization working globally to promote LGBTQ+ equality, is delighted to announce transgender artist, songwriter and activist Ms. Mila Jam is joining the company as Senior Advisor, Global Transgender Initiatives.
For over 10 years, Out Leadership has consistently focused on providing a platform for intersectional conversations, celebrating the many important battles fought and won in advancing LGBTQ equality, without losing sight of how far away we are from equality for people of color in America, including LGBTQ people of color. This strategic hire [FTI1] is launching on the back of conversations the company has been convening throughout this year about racial injustice.
“I am very excited to be joining the team at Out Leadership as a Senior Advisor to bring content, resources and information about wellness for trans women of color and for trans excellence. My objective is to create a resource for everyone to use, not just the trans community,” said Ms. Mila Jam. “I want to show the world how important it is to have us on your side, on your team, in your offices, in your brainstorms in your meetings because we deserve to be heard from the ground up. In this role, I have exciting plans to incorporate amazing speakers, leading-edge talent and to create conversations that matter with Out Leadership’s members, corporations and brands.”
Out Leadership CEO & Founder Todd Sears states, “We could not be more excited to have Mila join our team to help expand our work within the trans community and communities of color. Despite the pandemic, 2020 has been the most impactful year for us as we more than tripled our convenings around the world, connecting thousands of leaders and hundreds of CEOs, launched 5 new pieces of research — all focused on driving equality through the power of business. As we head into our 10th anniversary year, Out Leadership’s focus on intersectionality will only increase with new programs and research, including the work Mila will be helping drive. I’m so proud to see the small summit I founded in 2010 grow into this global movement of more than 650 CEOs, 84 multinational companies and thousands of senior and emerging LGBT and Ally leaders around the world.
Earlier this year, Sears spoke about the strength of diversity within the LGBTQ+ community, saying , “There is great power in the many intersections that range from race, religion, gender, and beyond that allow our community to not only advocate for itself but to be strong, genuine, and effective allies to others. The fight for racial justice and equality is everyone’s fight and we should all take this opportunity to show solidarity and take action wherever possible.”
Sears added; “One of the best ways Out Leadership and our business leaders can be an Ally is to share our platform to amplify diverse voices from diverse communities. I am delighted to welcome Mila to the team to continue to further expand our activism supporting transgender issues. There’s so much work for us to do together, and we can’t wait to get started.”
According to Ms. Jam, “For us to make progress for future generations of the trans community, our Allies we have to be willing to open themselves ourselves to risk, to take chances and to ultimately make connections outside their comfort zone. This is our moment– the time is now for us to get this ball rolling.”
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ABOUT MILA JAM
Mila Jam is Out Leadership’s new Senior Advisor for Global Transgender Initiatives. She is an American transgender singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and LGBTQ activist. Mila has toured internationally with the Broadway musical RENT, has performed alongside James Brown, Mark Ronson, Laverne Cox, Travis Wall, Jody Watley, Lady Kier(Deee-Lite) & Natasha Bedingfield. She has appeared on the BBC’s The Lilly Allen Show, MTV and MTV NEWS, and featured in special articles in The Huffington Post, Billboard, BOSSIP, MTV.com, OUT.com and Perezhilton.com. Mila has also been a frequent host of the original YouTube talk show series titled I’m From Driftwood. She is creator of the viral “Stop Killing Us” Instagram series.
Mila was awarded Best Video and Dance Artist at the 2013 GLAM Nightlife Awards and she was named Odyssey Nightlife Awards Breakthrough Artist in 2015.
ABOUT OUT LEADERSHIP
Out Leadership is the oldest and largest global LGBTQ+ business advisory that partners with the world’s most influential companies to build business opportunities, cultivate talent, and drive LGBTQ+ equality forward. We believe that LGBTQ+ inclusion positively impacts business results, and that including LGBTQ+ people at the most senior level of executive leadership builds business. We call this idea Return on Equality™.
Comprised of 84 global member firms and dedicated to cross-industry collaboration, Out Leadership is a certified B Corporation. Out Leadership convenes CEOs, business leaders and allies at exclusive invitation-only events across 4 continents. Out Leadership also operates three talent initiatives: Quorum, which aims to increase LGBTQ+ representation on corporate boards; OutNEXT, the first global talent development program for emerging LGBTQ+ leaders; and OutWOMEN, connecting senior-level LGBTQ+ women in business.