Mastercard Sponsors OutWOMEN, Out Leadership's Initiative Convening LGBT+ Women Business Leaders

NEW YORK, May 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Out Leadership today announced that Mastercard will extend its support of the organization's efforts to drive greater equality in the workplace. The global technology company joins law firm Hogan Lovells as a global sponsor of OutWOMEN, a groundbreaking initiative convening and celebrating LGBT+ women leaders in business.   

"We believe that in order for any company – or even for society – to succeed, every person must be in a position to operate at their best," said Randall Tucker, chief inclusion officer, Mastercard. "This includes valuing and driving inclusion and diversity. Our continued work with Out Leadership will help to extend the conversation and allow companies to build on successes where employees in all their diversity feel accepted and valued."

The OutWOMEN initiative launched in 2016, and has convened a growing network of LGBT+ women business leaders at Out Leadership's summits in New York, London, Hong Kong and Sydney, as well as at invitation-only salon dinners in other major business centers.

Stephanie Sandberg, Out Leadership Managing Director and lead coordinator of the initiative, notes: "OutWOMEN began as a question we asked the leaders in our network: do you think that LGBT+ women in business need a more effective, more formal way to meet one another, and to do business together?"

"The answer was a resounding yes," Sandberg continued. "And now that we're building out the initiative and broadening its scope, we're certain we've just begun to tap into something tremendously powerful. The fact that just 26% of the Financial Times' list of the most powerful LGBT+ executives are women demonstrates that LGBT+ women in business need visibility and role models. We're grateful to Mastercard's visionary sponsorship, which will allow us to keep building this valuable resource."

About Mastercard

Mastercard MA, www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world's fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MastercardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

About Out Leadership

Out Leadership is the global LGBT+ business advisory company, partnering with the world's most influential firms to build business opportunity, cultivate talent, and drive equality forward. Including LGBT+ people at all levels powerfully benefits bottom lines. We help companies realize their Return on Equality™.

Out Leadership is a certified B Corp. For more information about our global initiatives or to learn about our advisory work, please visit www.outleadership.com

Please contact  
Dave Hughes  
Director of Communications  
dave.hughes@outleadership.com  
917-336-0604 ext 709

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SOURCE Out Leadership