10 LGBTQ trailblazers working in business, financial and legal

Following on from the success of last year Attitude 101 is back and once again we’re celebrating 100 LGBTQ trailblazers across 10 categories, and one person of the year. This year we’re proud to be empowered by Bentley. 

The categories are Sport; Politics; The Future, supported by Clifford Chance; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths; Media and Broadcast; Travel; Film TV and Music, supported by Taimi; Third Sector and the Community; and Fashion, Art and Design supported by Klarna. Our Person of the Year is Lil Nas X. 

You can check out the full list and interviews with some of those included in the Attitude 101 issue – out now to download and to order globally. Check out our Business, Financial and Legal category below.

Iain Anderson, UK Government LGBT Business Champion 

An award-winning campaigner for LGBTQ rights at work for many years, Iain Anderson was recently appointed the government’s first LGBT Business Champion, tasked with promoting queer inclusivity in the workplace. He’s also a public policy and corporate communications expert and co-founder and executive chairman at Cicero/AMO. A Financial Times Male Champion of Women in Business and a Stonewall Ambassador, he is on the Queer Britain advisory board and is also a trustee of global LGBT rights charity, GiveOUT.

Mohsin Zaidi, Author & management consultant

A former barrister, Mohsin Zaidi is a multi-award-winning author, who works as a management consultant at Hakluyt. His critically acclaimed memoir on sexuality, race, and class, A Dutiful Boy, won the Polari first book prize, the US Lambda Literary Award, and was named Book of the Year by The Guardian, GQ, and New Statesman. An advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, BAME representation, and social mobility, Mohsin sits on the board of Stonewall and is listed by the Financial Times as a top future LGBT leader, as well as being a regular contributor for several media outlets.

Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, Managing director, Fears

As the first gay managing director of his family’s watch company, Fears, Nicholas Bowman-Scargill is ticking along nicely. A throwaway comment from his mum over a Sunday lunch in 2016 led him to restart the business, which was originally founded in 1846 but had closed down in 1976. By taking a second job at a supermarket during the pandemic, Nicholas enabled Fears to survive without incurring any job losses. His ownership has seen the firm remain true to tradition, proving that classic timepieces never go out of style.

Carl Fysh, Founder & CEO of Satellite414

As the founder and CEO of Satellite414, Carl Fysh represents some of our generation’s most iconic musical talent, including Adele, Beyoncé, and Dua Lipa, to name a few. After a string of hits with his band Brother Beyond, Carl ended up in the world of PR. At Columbia Records, he worked with the likes of Mariah Carey and Bruce Springsteen. Then, three years ago, he set up Satellite414, building a roster of established as well as emerging talent, and has assembled a team who reflect the diversity and scope of the artists, creatives, and activists they support.

Dr. S Chelvan, Barrister & legal advisor to the Memorandum of Understanding (2) Coalition Against Conversion Therapy

The head of Immigration and Public Law at 33 Bedford Row Chambers and a recognised expert in sexual identity-related asylum claims in The Legal 500, Dr. Chelvan’s recent clients have included the gay Kenyan rugby player Kenneth Macharia, who, after a five-year battle with the Home Office, won his asylum appeal in July. Dr. Chelvan shared with Attitude his vision for 2022: “We must see a total UK ban on conversion therapy, so that all LGBTIQA+ people can live freely and openly, with pride.”

Kris Robbens, Senior Director of Global Brand Strategy Adult Sparkling, The Coca-Cola Company

Originally from Belgium, Kris Robbens has more than 15 years of brand management experience at The Coca-Cola Company. A proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, he is an impassioned advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion and is on the leadership team of Coca-Cola’s European LGBTQ+ Inclusion Network. He told Attitude: “We’re excited about the future. A future where there won’t be a need for this kind of work because love will triumph over hate. Until that point, we will fight to make sure a better future for LGBTQ+ people is achieved.”

Adam White, HR digital project manager, Bentley Motors

In his role as HR digital project manager at Bentley Motors, Adam White has steered digital innovation and agile ways of working within HR to ensure that the firm’s people systems offer rewarding colleague journeys. Since joining the company as a graduate in 2016, Adam has worked in a variety of roles, each focused on supporting his colleagues. As the co-founder of Bentley’s growing BeProud LGBTQ+ Network, Adam is revved up to improve LGBTQ+ inclusion within the carmaker as well as across the wider automotive industry.

Lexie Lenoir, Founder of Queer Weddings UK

Hailing from Paris, Lexie Lenoir is the founder of Queer Weddings UK, the country’s first wedding company that is exclusively dedicated to creating days to remember for the LGBTQ+ community. She is also the head of operations at UK Black Pride and has featured in DIVA magazine. She believes that dismantling racism and smashing stereotypes is paramount in the ever-growing wedding industry. As Lexie says, “The good news is we can work collectively to ensure we can be as inclusive and unbiased as possible and thrive as business owners.”

Amanda Walker, Investment banking technologist, JP Morgan Chase

In her day job, Amanda Walker manages technology projects at JP Morgan Chase, and for her ‘gay’ job, she’s the founder of the firm’s Global Gender Identity and Expression Council, responsible for championing inclusion of transgender and non-binary employees. The group provides advocacy, employee education, recruiter training, transition support, parental support, and career events as well as driving health benefits and gender-inclusive technology. The GGIEC is partnered with several charities and has presented its Model for Empowering Transgender Voices in the Workplace at conferences.

Dean Bolton-Grant, Managing director & founder, The Grant Horticulture and The Northern School of Gardening

Dean Bolton-Grant started his horticulture career at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons with Raymond Blanc. The experience set Dean on an international trajectory that saw him become gardener at the Queen of Denmark’s Fredensborg Palace. In 2013, he founded his consultancy, Grant Horticulture, and just 18 months ago, he launched an online retail business. This year, he branched out with The Northern School of Gardening, offering day courses based at the Yorke Arms in Nidderdale, where guests are inspired to breathe new life into their gardens.  

Check out the full, detailed list in the Attitude 101 issue, which is out now to download and to order globally. The Attitude 101 issue includes the FREE Attitude 2022 calendar, presented in association with Taimi.

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