Back in the day, you could hardly hear about any kind of minority leadership, whether we’re talking about black people, women, or individuals from the LGBTQ+ community. But, as more companies and institutions started to focus on diversity and inclusion, more people began to have the courage to step up, be authentic, and prove what they’re capable of.

The LGBTQ+ community, through their common experiences, have had the opportunity to develop skills such as leveraging empathy, being courageous, and being authentic, which are some of the most sought-after leadership competencies in the workplace today.

In this episode, Steve and I discuss how the leadership environment has evolved throughout time to a more inclusive one, what the future holds for LGBTQ+ leaders and how they can leverage their skills to climb the organization ladder. Steve also encourages straight people to become allies for the minorities in their teams, and shares some actionable takeaways on how we can start doing that.

Steve Yacovelli is the Owner and Principal of TopDog Learning Group – a company that provides guidance and solutions in change management –and has over 25 years of experience as a leadership, change management, and diversity & inclusion consultant. His book, “Pride Leadership” is one of the first to focus on developing leadership talent specifically for the LGBTQ+ Community.

Listen to Episode 43 of Rejuvenaging, to learn how you can contribute to creating a more inclusive environment, where everyone can be authentic and use their particular skills to build a thriving culture.  

Questions I ask:

• What is TopDog Learning Group and how did it come about? (02:18)
• What do you do that’s different than others and makes you so good at what you do? (04:27)
• What’s different about LGBTQ+ leadership as opposed to leadership in general? (10:24)
• Is there a set of experiences that is unique to the gay community? (12:02)
• Are you optimistic that we’re going to see greater acceptance in the future? (22:39)
• Can you give us a short course on each of your books and why somebody may be interested in reading them? (28:38)

In this episode, you will learn:

• How Steve is helping his clients to adapt to the new virtual world. (05:36)
• Steve’s expertise in the diversity inclusion area & the reason he wrote the book “Pride Leadership”. (08:51)
• The six areas to focus on, to become a leadership rockstar. (11:17)
• How having the courage to share your authentic self at your workplace helps you be more effective. (16:13)
• The importance of being an ally to the minorities that are part of your team. (17:42)
• Six ways you can combat silent collusion in the workplace. (26:49)
• The meaning of ‘knowledge transfer’ and how can people in the older age range can apply it. (31:17)

Connect with Steve:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook Page
• Twitter
• Book: Steve Yacovelli – Pride Leadership: Strategies for the LGBTQ+ Leader to be the King or Queen of Their Jungle

Useful Rejuvenaging Resources:

• Website: https://www.thementalhealthgym.com/
• Book: Dr. Ron Kaiser - Rejuvenaging: The Art and Science of Growing Older with Enthusiasm
• Email: ron.kaiser@thementalhealthgym.com 
• TEDx Talk: Aging Enthusiastically to Make the World a Better Place

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