WorkFair 2024 Round-up: Celebrating connections between LGBTQ+ talent and inclusive employers

WorkFair, the largest global virtual careers fair for LGBTQ+ students, graduates, and allies, made its highly anticipated return on November 13. Hosted by myGwork, the event was another resounding success, attracting thousands of young, diverse professionals from across the globe.

This year's WorkFair attracted over 6,000 visits to employer booths, and over 2,600 panel/webinar attendees. Its widespread reach was bolstered by partnerships with over 200 universities and business schools around the world, which shared WorkFair with their students and graduates.

Now in its fifth year, WorkFair continues to spotlight early-career job opportunities with inclusive companies dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It provides a unique platform for young LGBTQ+ professionals entering the job market to find roles in corporate environments where they can truly be themselves at work.

WorkFair featured hundreds of job opportunities spanning various sectors, including tech, finance, pharmaceuticals, and media. Global brands and inclusive employers hosted virtual booths, offering participants direct access to entry-level positions at organizations that celebrate authenticity. Participating inclusive employers of choice included S&P Global, Danaher, Oracle, Avalere Health, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Boston Scientific, Taylor Wessing, Novartis, MSD, Standard Chartered Bank, GSK, WTW, Parexel, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Booking.com, GitHub, JTI, Criteo, Santander UK, VF Corporation, Fitch Group, State Street, Morningstar, Finastra, JPMorgan Chase, Marsh McLennan, Yugo and FINRA.

In addition to job opportunities, WorkFair provided attendees with a wealth of career-building resources, including expert-led panel discussions and interactive workshops. These sessions were designed to enhance job-hunting skills, explore industry-specific opportunities, and address the unique challenges LGBTQ+ professionals may encounter in their careers.

One of the event’s highlights was the “Exploring Opportunities in Financial Services” panel, hosted in partnership with the global advisory firm Stout. Industry experts – such as Monica Lockett Green from State Street, James Woolley from Fitch Group, Jennifer Doyle from Finastra, Perry Fields from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Thornall Hembrow from JPMorgan Chase & Co. – shared actionable insights on navigating the fast-paced world of finance. They discussed essential skills, emerging trends, and strategies for success, offering attendees first-hand accounts of the rewards and challenges in the sector while encouraging them to stay true to their identities.

For technology enthusiasts, the “Women in Tech: Breaking Barriers and Building Futures” panel delivered a compelling message of empowerment. Sponsored by LexisNexis, the session featured five trailblazing women, including Marta Dymarczyk from JTI, Nicky Tozer from Oracle NetSuite, Lilinette Pattuinan from WTW, Priyanka Deva from MSD, and Lilian Ortiz Costa from RS Group. They shared inspiring stories of resilience, advocacy, and innovation, emphasizing the need for more women and diversity in the tech space, and the critical role of allies in fostering inclusive environments.

WorkFair also hosted the “Recruiting and Supporting Neurodiverse Talent” panel, in partnership with Capgemini. Experts – including Jack Dyrhauge from Neuropool, Andy Goff from Capgemini, Tricia Lucas-Clarke from GSK, Steven Mason from Criteo, Mark Watson from RS Group, and Mohin Mohammed from Finastra – offered practical strategies for creating supportive workplaces for neurodiverse employees. The session highlighted the immense value that neurodiverse individuals bring to organizations and emphasized the importance of embracing all forms of diversity to build innovative teams.

The popular “CV and Cover Letter Writing: Insights from Recruiters,” panel featured advice from recruitment experts such as Rebecca Schwenk from Novartis, Sotirios Panagiotoulas from JTI, Gabriele Silva from VF Corporation, Luca Maestroni from Boston Scientific, and Aileen Wilson from Pfizer. The workshop covered key elements of crafting standout CV/resumes and cover letters, with tips on presenting unique strengths confidently and effectively.

The inspiring “LGBTQ+ Graduates: Sharing Their Journeys” panel, hosted in collaboration with Fisher Investments, featured graduates from companies such as Pfizer, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Marsh McLennan, and S&P Global. They shared personal stories about entering the workforce, offering invaluable insights into overcoming challenges and thriving professionally.

To complement its panels, WorkFair offered a hands-on workshop to equip attendees with professional growth tools. The concluding “Mastering Job Search Strategies” workshop provided tools and insights to navigate the job market with confidence. This session also included actionable strategies for securing roles aligned with their skills and aspirations.

For those that missed out on any of the above panel sessions, you can still watch them here. And for those of you interested in next year’s WorkFair event, can register your advance interest here.