Asian consulting leaders recognised as LGBT+ role models

Global diversity & inclusion consultancy INvolve has released this year’s OUTstanding list of the world’s top 100 LGBT+ executive role models, with several high-ranked consultants from Asia on the list.

A number of senior consulting executives from across the continent have been named among global leaders for their efforts to promote LGBT+ participation, including the CEO of Ernst & Young’s Japanese arm Moriaki Kida, who this year featured in top spot. McKinsey & Company practice leader Ali Potia, and Marixi Carlos and Venkatraghavan C. of Accenture in the Philippines and India also made the list.

Moriaki Kida

Taking over the helm in July of this year , EY Japan CEO Mori Kida is a long-time advocate of LGBT+ rights and workplace progression both within EY and externally, and serves as the global sponsor of EY’s Unity network, helping to define the firm’s worldwide LGBT+ strategy. Having featured on INvolve’s OUTstanding list previously, EY’s support for marriage equality in Japan among other recent efforts have seen Kida this year rise to the top position.

“I would not be here today without the support of all of my ally colleagues, clients and friends who have been there for me in the toughest of times,” Kida said in response to the many congratulations on LinkedIn. “The true recognition goes to the leaders who fought for equality and equity during the last few decades. We still need to raise recognition for bi and people of all different gender identities who may not have a voice in this world yet.”

Ali Potia

Also featuring on this year’s list is Ali Potia, the head of McKinsey & Company’s Southeast Asia Consumer Goods and Retail practice who also leads the APAC branch of the management consulting firm’s global LGBT+ network GLAM. Noted for having joined in Singapore in 2007 as one of McKinsey’s very few LGBT+ employees in Asia at the time, Potia has since driven up regional allyship and led the expansion of GLAM to 25 offices in 16 countries.

Further reading: McKinsey's LGBTQ+ network GLAM celebrates 25th anniversary.

Marixi Carlos

Accenture managing director Marixi Carlos leads the firm’s Operations Client Experience division in the Philippines, along with serving as Pride Sponsor for the Diversity & Inclusion Council for Global Operations. Carlos is credited with increasing the number of Pride allies five-fold from 6 percent to 30 percent, as well as delivering a range of learning sessions and supporting the launch of the Ally Primer, a digital booklet that provides understanding on allyship.

Venkatraghavan C.

Over a near two-decade career at the firm based out of Bengaluru, Venkatraghavan C. has worked his way up from a senior analyst role to now serve as Accenture Global Operations human resources lead for India and Sri Lanka. Additionally, he has spent the past three years as the Pride Program Sponsor for Accenture in India, and led ally campaigns, LGBT+ leaders learning sessions, and an inclusive internship and networking program for Trans candidates.

Global inclusions

Leaders at consulting firms beyond Asia also featured prominently on this year’s list, as well as the attendant future leaders and allies lists. Among those were Filipe Mota da Silva, a consulting leader for Tata Consultancy Services in the UK; EY Ireland’s Global Financial Crime and Compliance leader Catherine Vaughan; and in the US, BCGmanaging directors Gabrielle Novacek and Michael Schachtner,along with Diana Ellsworth of McKinsey.