Olivia McEvoy on how Booking.com is making LGBTQIA guests feel safe while travelling

In an interview with DIVA, Olivia McEvoy, the Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Booking.com, spoke to myGwork about her remarkable journey as a DEI practitioner and her insights on creating a workplace where everyone can be wholly themselves.

Growing up in rural Ireland during a time when LGBTQIA rights were not even on the agenda, Olivia witnessed many challenges faced by her community. Despite growing up in a culture that portrayed queer life in a less-than-positive light, her experiences did not discourage her but rather moulded her into a passionate advocate for change, including during the successful marriage equality referendum in 2015.

“Those formative years shape your world,” Olivia reflects. “I was really struck by a couple of insights at the recent Out & Equal global summit including how we live our lives at the intersection of who we are and how and where we grew up. There is no doubt that the abject shame that was and is imposed on so many LGBTQIA people growing up can be a limiting factor in confidence, self-esteem and wellbeing.”

Read the full article with Olivia on DIVA.