PwC is a proud supporter of the LGBT+ community

As the leader of the Operational Restructuring team within PwC’s Deals division, I guide our team in supporting clients through transactional or restructuring needs, offering tailored solutions to meet each client's unique challenges.

A key lesson I've learned in my career is to always be honest with yourself for your own growth, not for anyone else, and to find allies and sponsors to help overcome obstacles like naysayers and microaggressions.

I am deeply involved in our global Inclusion and Diversity networks, having contributed to PwC’s submission to the Stonewall Corporate Equality Index in London, and supporting mentoring programmes for LGBTQ+ young adults in Canada and the UK. As an LGBTQ+ parent, I am always open to sharing the journey my family has taken to become what it is today, acknowledging the difficulties we faced without role models along the way.

I hope that, by sharing my experiences openly, I can provide support and inspiration to others navigating similar paths.  

We strive to nurture a diverse and inclusive culture that makes it easy for people to feel free and express their ideas openly. We do this through a number of people networks – Shine is one of them. 

In 2019 we aligned all our global LGBT+ networks under one fresh, new identity: Shine. Every day, our LGBT+ professionals shine. We bring our authentic selves to PwC, making our workplace culture brighter. The rainbow is a powerful symbol for our community because it allows each distinct colour to shimmer and shine.

The name Shine also  reflects our vision of creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace atmosphere for our LGBT+ colleagues. With Shine, our people shine the light on the important issues that impact our diverse and under-represented community. Every day, we work hard to continue building trust in society, to make our workplace and our culture stronger, and to create brighter opportunities that let each and every one of us truly shine. Shine. A simple, powerful idea.

From 28-30 June 2019, PwC organised its first ever Global LGBT+ summit in New York, in conjunction with the World Pride celebration and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. The Summit brought together 200 PwC LGBT+ leaders and staff from 28 countries - including Africa - to share knowledge, network and talk about LGBT+ issues. A local perspective from the Summit. 

What impact has the Summit made on you personally?

Lourens Klopper, Manager, PwC South Africa

“The Summit renewed the energy in me - the energy to unashamedly be myself - in the workplace and thrive in it! I met so many role models - Partners, Associate Directors and other senior staff, who are so successful at what they do at PwC, and yet they fall in the LGBT space. It just reminded me that I can be myself and be successful at PwC - because PwC allows me to Shine!”

• Global Human Rights Statement
• Global Code of Conduct

In 2019 the South African Workplace Equality Index awarded PwC a gold medal in recognition of our progressive policies that explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, the firm’s language that is gender neutral and policies which protect the rights of LGBT+ people.