Beyond Boundaries: Inspiring stories from LGBTQIA+ professionals leading DEI innovation

The HEC MBA LGBTQIA+ & Allies Club recently hosted the first edition of Beyond Boundaries, an event where the community came together to celebrate, discuss, network, and have the greatest time!

I must start by saying that, if the goal of the event was to make sure everyone felt safe, included, heard and celebrated, bravo; the club did a phenomenal job!

The event kicked off with the presentation of a report on Sustainability by Windo, including an important part on findings around DE&I within the CAC40. The kick-off highlights for me, however, were the panels. I was invited to moderate one around inclusivity and was humbled while speaking with three amazing men who tackle this topic with their whole hearts in it. We talked about differences between industries, the challenges, the weight of top management and business schools in creating inclusive leaders and environments, the current trends, and even what we could (and should) expect in the future.

The second panel discussed Intersectionality and I must admit there was a lot for me to learn about the topic, speaking of barriers around culture, background, even language and how they pose a challenge for inclusivity.

The second part of the event started with a networking cocktail. As one of our allies, Pulkita Sharma (MBA ’25), wisely mentioned during her closing speech, no one knows how to party like this community! The group of people who came together was special, to say the least. We had HEC students from other programs, MBAs from other schools, lovely staff members, panelists, alumni, and allies everywhere. The champagne and the conversation flowed seamlessly.

Dinner kicked off in the beautiful dining room at the HEC Paris Chateau and the night was just getting started. A drag queen named Loulou was quick to get us in the party mood with her performance and introduced two of our very own who prepared the drag acts to follow! We were not only surprised but impressed by each act and it was heart-warming to see everyone come together to celebrate them. Yoko Omuka (MBA ’25) and Torrie Griffiths (MBA ’25), you brought the house down!

We danced, toasted, kept the conversation going around the panel topics and so much more. We celebrated each other and took up the space. Hosting an event like this, where everyone is given the chance to celebrate who they are, no strings attached, no judgement, felt like we had made an impact. Leading the way, offering hope and, hopefully, making a difference for those who need it most.

I am proud of what the LGBTQIA+ & Allies Club created and I am proud of all of us who raised our voices and stood proud of who we are, together.

Let's keep the momentum going and make sure that the message continues to be spread. Business schools and companies need to continue the work to ensure everyone is safe being who they are, to ensure we can all bring our full selves into whatever environment we find ourselves in so we can be our best, our most productive, our brightest.

Thank you for all your work creating this wonderful night, for inviting me to take part in it and cheers to many more!

Article by Laura González-Salas, ’25, HEC Paris MBA Student Ambassador

Originally from Mexico, Laura currently lives in France as she pursues her MBA at HEC. Through her writing, she reflects on the life of an MBA student, the challenges of moving countries, and the opportunities for personal growth. She is an active supporter of Inclusion and Diversity.