Fast Company’s Queer 50 list celebrates inclusivity within innovation
For the first time, this year’s list recognises those with an established history of impact.
Fast Company has produced its second annual Queer 50 list, showcasing the 50 women and non-binary leaders across industries including finance, tech, media, and entertainment. Created in collaboration with Lesbians Who Tech & Allies (a community of LGBTQ women, non-binary and trans individuals in and around tech – and the people who support them), its Honourees include business leaders, leading activists and politicians who have tirelessly worked towards racial and gender parity. For the first time, the list also honours trailblazers “who have an established history of impact, as well as the next generation of innovators who are changing the game”. This list has a strong sense of inclusion — 14% are trans and 50% are people of colour: 40% are Black, Latinx, or Indigenous.
Number one on the list is Alicia Garza, the activist, author and founder of Black Futures Lab. Alicia has written and campaigned about issues including rights for domestic workers, police brutality, anti-racism, and violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people of colour. “I continue to be surprised at how little black lives matter,” she wrote in 2013. “And I will continue that. Stop giving up on black life. Black people. I love you. I love us. Our lives matter.”
At Number two is Sally Susman, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Pfizer, who in December 2020 achieved the first authorisation in the world for COVID-19 vaccines; what Susman calls “a career-defining moment… It was terrific that Pfizer was the first company to bring forward a COVID-19 vaccine. But it was also important how we did it, and the kind of transparency [we had], and building confidence among people to take this new vaccine, and answering questions from governments around the world.”
Amy Errett, CEO and Founder of Madison Reed is at number three: her hair-colour startup grew by 130% during the pandemic, earning over $100m in revenue and almost doubling its customer base. From the field of music and entertainment, Janelle Monáe – long an advocate and organiser for the black community – took the number 17 spot, while award-winning product engineer Caitlin Kalinowski was number 18. “It's wonderful to have a list that mixes all facets and highlights queer women, [elevating] tech and business,” said Kalinowski. “We have to do a better job in closing the gap and showing that STEM can be for everybody… Everyone has a role to play in closing the gap and leading the way for the next generation in STEM.”
Fast Company, whose panel of judges included Anne Chow, CEO, AT&T Business and Angela Benton, founder and CEO, Streamlytics, says it considered five criteria in compiling this list: the size and growth prospects of each person’s business or organisation; their place in the broader business and social conversation; the impact of their contributions during the unprecedented events of the past 12 months; their career trajectory over the past 12 months, and potential for growth; and their activism and advocacy for the queer community.