Proud Futures: creating a front door for LGBTQ+ talent in finance

For many LGBTQ+ students and early-career professionals, finance and professional services can still feel like spaces where they don’t quite see themselves reflected. InterBank’s Proud Futures was created to change that, to offer a visible, welcoming “front door” into the industry where ambition and authenticity can coexist. You can find out more on the Proud Futures website here.

This Q&A with Proud Futures founder Marc Anthony Caporiccio explores the inspiration behind the initiative, why visibility matters so much for LGBTQ+ talent, and what he hopes attendees will take away.

What inspired you to create Proud Futures, and what gap did you feel needed to be addressed?

The idea for Proud Futures really grew out of a simple frustration experienced by many LGBTQ+ folk who feel they don’t see anyone like them in finance or professional services. There are plenty of insight and networking events in London, but very few speak to the experience of being LGBTQ+ for those wondering whether they’ll belong in the finance or professional services industry. Not long ago I was mentoring a university student and was surprised they felt the need to remove any mention of their experience leading the university’s LGBTQ+ student society when recruiting for an internship in finance. They didn’t feel they could be out and land a position with a top firm. That experience stayed with me.

Shortly after joining the committee of InterBank, I realized that our member firms were already doing brilliant inclusion work internally, however there was no coordinated, visible front door for LGBTQ+ students trying to break in. That was the gap. We had the networks, the willing firms, and the out professionals ready to share their stories; we just needed to bring it all together in one room. InterBank’s Proud Futures is that room; it’s a space where students don't have to choose between ambition and authenticity.

What do you remember about entering the financial services industry yourself, and how did your own experiences shape the idea for Proud Futures?

I entered the industry by way of a career pivot and honestly, I spent the lead up to my interview process quietly anxious about how much of myself I could show. But my nerves were met with inclusive colleagues and vibrant LGBTQ+ employee networks at two firms, both global. These experiences rewired my sense of what was possible. It's exactly why Proud Futures centres on LGBTQ+ professionals candidly sharing their journeys navigating recruitment, interviews, internships, and full-time careers.

For the first 10 years of my career I worked in early talent, driving global inclusion programs that equipped students with skills and connected talent with opportunity. My professional experience shaping early talent opportunities gave me the confidence to develop and drive the idea for Proud Futures. On a personal note, I want students to walk in and feel the same shift I felt: from "can I be myself and successful here?" to "of course I can."

Why is it particularly important to create opportunities and visibility for LGBTQ+ young people looking to start a career in financial services?

Financial services has historically been perceived as a conservative, traditional industry — and that perception alone can be enough to put LGBTQ+ students off even applying. If you don't see yourself reflected somewhere, you start to assume it isn't for you. That's how talent is lost before a single application is ever submitted.

Visibility matters because it changes the story before it's even told. When a student sees an out professional thriving at a firm they're interested in, it quietly removes a barrier they might never have named. And it goes beyond recruitment; firms that invest in LGBTQ+ visibility tend to be the ones building genuinely inclusive cultures, where people progress and stay. So the opportunity we're creating isn't just about first impressions or early insight; it's about the long arc of someone's career. LGBTQ+ young people deserve to enter this industry knowing they can bring their full selves, contribute fully, and build a future without having to leave part of who they are at the door.

What do you hope someone attending Proud Futures takes away from the experience, whether that's a new connection, a different perspective, or simply more confidence about their future?

Honestly, if someone walks away with just one thing, I'd want it to be a shift in how they see their own potential. Maybe that comes from a conversation with a panelist who shared a struggle they recognize, or an InterBank member who made them feel genuinely welcome, or simply standing in a room full of LGBTQ+ professionals and realising, "I'm not alone in this."

Concretely, I hope they leave with at least one real connection — a name, a LinkedIn message sent, a follow-up that could become an opportunity. We've already seen it work: I was touched to know a student at our inaugural event last year secured a summer internship at one of our member firms directly through connections made on the day. That's the proof of concept. But beyond the career mechanics, I want them to feel a sense of belonging they can carry forward. If Proud Futures makes one person feel more confident walking into their next interview, or more willing to be themselves at work, then it's done its job.

If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice about being LGBTQ+ and building a career, what would you say?

I'd tell myself: find your people early. Don't wait for inclusion to find you; go looking for it. The networks, the allies, the out colleagues who'll become mentors. Believe me when I say they're out there, and the sooner you connect with them, the less isolated the journey feels.

I’d also remind myself that being LGBTQ+ isn't a complication to manage alongside a career; it's part of what makes me unique and good at what I do. The empathy, the resilience, the perspective we all build as LGBTQ+ professionals are assets. I wish I'd understood that sooner, instead of treating my identity as something to downplay. You belong in this industry exactly as you are.

To learn more about upcoming events and how to get involved, visit the Proud Futures page.

Interbank is a proud partner of myGwork, the LGBTQ+ business community. Find out more about LGBTQ+ friendly job opportunities at Interbank.