MyGwork’s Chloë Davies aims to improve workplace equality for all
Photo by Getty: Chloë Davies with Pierre and Adrien Gaubert, co-founders of myGwork
MyGwork, the online LGBT+ Business community for LGBT+ professionals, graduates, inclusive employers and anyone who believes in workplace equality welcomes Chloë Davies as their new Head of Partnerships!
A proud bisexual woman, mother of two, chef and entrepreneur who campaigns for inclusion and equality in social spaces, corporate organisations and the wider community, Chloë Davies spent over 15 years working in retail, artist management and PR before starting her own company in 2015.
Many would call her an activist – a label she is not altogether comfortable with – she is part of the UK Black Pride family and volunteers as their Strategic Officer.
She participated at Out & Equal Summit week in Seattle last year, is an LBTQ Women Ambassador and most recently worked as Relationship & Experience Manager for Diversity Role Models: a charity which seeks to embed inclusion and empathy in the next generation.
“A fundamental part of my role is about building a strong relationship with organisations, empowering and supporting them to show they are fully inclusive of their LGBT+ staff,” says Chloë.
“Of course, we have seen progress in the past few years but there is still work to be done within some organisations on true workplace equality and inclusive culture at all levels.”
Chloë believes it’s important to have a role where you feel seen, where you can develop a career, thrive and grow and she hopes to continue to build on the work myGwork and their partners do through networking initiatives such as their Best In Practice Breakfasts, the most recent held Stand Bi Me at Macquarie Bank, and BAME Inclusion at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, as well as help to grow their online mentor platform.
Chloë is also open about her own experiences in the workplace and some of the barriers she has faced progressing in her own career due to discrimination in many different forms:
“It’s hard enough at times being a Black woman in business, but I am also part of the LGBTQIA community and then the barriers increase phenomenally… To be able to make positive change in my role for others within my community is really important.”
She is also candid about how motherhood has influenced this passion and how she wants to support her two young children, while paving the way to creating a world that is more open and understanding than it is now.
“I’m a mother to two beautiful boys but I also love to work and being a working parent comes with its own challenges. Getting my eldest Miles off to nursery before catching the train into London to start my work day – and sometimes my day continues well after 9pm. Once the boys are asleep, I stay up into the small hours working on a project.”
Being able to work for an organisation that respects and understands who she is, and her volunteering commitments is something that is crucial for Chloë.
With a background in volunteering, Chloë has a wealth of experience to draw on and she explains why she has dedicated more and more of her time to UK Black Pride:
“It is the most diverse Pride organisation in Europe and being part of a team that centres and celebrates the experiences of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and Caribbean-heritage LGBTQ people is incredibly fulfilling”.
As a bisexual woman who’s partner is also bisexual, Chloë is aware the needle still needs to move dramatically and describes how she wants her children to be proud of these relationships.
To get there, she says the world needs to understand what these relationships look like, as growing up in her community these things weren’t seen.
“As LGBTQIA people, we often have to edit ourselves, never more so than in the workplace.
“I am excited to be working with myGwork on improving workplace equality and supporting organisations who want to do better but may not know how.”
Follow Chloë and her journey on Twitter here
Only reading DIVA online? You’re missing out. For more news, reviews and commentary, check out the latest issue. It’s pretty badass, if we do say so ourselves.
divadigital.co.uk // divadirect.co.uk // divasub.co.uk
