Our Japan office recently achieved a Gold rank in the Pride Index by Work with Pride (wwP), a Japan-based initiative to promote equality for LGBTQ+ people in the workplace. We sat down with Naomi, a partner in Tokyo who leads our Diversity & Inclusion initiatives in the country, to discuss the path to this recognition and the local activities of Equal at McKinsey, our LGBTQ+ community.
Naomi, tell us about your role as the lead partner for Diversity & Inclusion and Equal at McKinsey in Japan?
I have always been passionate about diversity and inclusion broadly. I’ve been fortunate to develop my career in a firm that embraces differences and dedicates a lot of time and effort to prove diversity is not just a moral and ethical concept, but required for companies to prosper. Supporting Equal at McKinsey, McKinsey’s global LGBTQ+ initiative, is part of this for me. I can’t imagine situations where talented LGBTQ+ people may need to hold back in being themselves. This is the reason I am passionate about being part of these initiatives.
Could you give some examples of Equal at McKinsey’s activities?
In our Japan office, we have an active and growing community of Equal at McKinsey members and allies. LGBTQ+ colleagues receive equal support on family benefits for their partners, which is consistent across all McKinsey offices. We also organize events, such as the annual Day of Pink, and participate in external LGBTQ+ recruiting events. Our Equal at McKinsey community is very active, and colleagues participate in events across Asia.
What is Work with Pride and their Pride Index?
Work with Pride (wwP) is a Japan-based initiative to promote and expand equality and equity for LGBTQ+ people who work in corporations and other organizations. It started as an employee support seminar organized by IBM Japan, Human Rights Watch and the local NPO Good Aging Yells in 2012. wwP holds an annual accreditation process, the Pride Index, and awards organizations that meet criteria for creating a workplace where LGBTQ+ people can feel comfortable. Their evaluation is based on five dimensions: policy, representation, inspiration, development, and engagement/empowerment. The Pride Index has Gold, Silver and Bronze ranks, and 230 companies were accredited. McKinsey achieved Gold rank this year.
What did you do to receive this recognition?
The fact is we didn’t do anything new to get the accreditation – we documented what we have been doing. I am very happy to have done so because it signals to LGBTQ+ people interested in McKinsey that this is a place for them and it sends a message that the firm is committed to diversity and inclusion internally and for society in general. We also signed the Viewpoint on Marriage Equality in Japan in the same spirit.
What are the plans for D&I initiatives in Japan this year?
My goal for 2021 is to expand our LGBTQ+ and Allies community further and continue to engage in events and communication on this topic both internally and externally. McKinsey globally has been committed to support LGBTQ+ community for a long time – Equal at McKinsey turned 25 last year. But we’re still on the journey. Creating more visibility and awareness will continue to be our focus.