Lee Thomas-Wragg - Inclusion and Authenticity Never Mind The Job Spec

I’ve known Lee Thomas-Wragg since we joined the Radical Recruit team together back in mid-2020. Lee is such an energetic, empathetic, and passionate human-being, and I have immense respect for him and how he is a leading figure deeply immersed in advocating for LGBTQIA rights and workplace diversity. 


Through this incredibly open conversation, Lee shares how, as an openly queer man living in London with his husband, he has had to overcome societal challenges and internal conflicts. He shares his experience of growing up, where he faced exclusion, bullying, and harassment, leading him to hide his true and authentic self, and he talks about how these experiences, and witnessing societal stigma, served to intensify his struggles with mental health. 


Professional Journey and Shifts in Perspective
We explore Lee’s professional journey and his focus on proving himself in a corporate world dominated by privilege and heteronormativity, and how his early career was driven by a desire to fit into a middle-class mould, resulting in financial success but personal dissatisfaction. We also discover how Lee's priorities shifted towards authenticity and empowerment, leading him to take on leadership roles that allowed him to support and inspire others.


The Role of Allyship
Importantly, we discuss the role of Allyship, and Lee advises to go beyond superficial support to active engagement; whether that’s speaking against untruths, championing marginalised voices, and being action-driven as opposed to the performative gestures on social media or in policy statements.


Challenges in Corporate Inclusivity
We delve into his experiences and opinions on policies and initiatives for diversity and inclusion, and how he has observed a disconnect between these efforts and their implementation in the corporate world. Lee acknowledges that there have been advances in gender diversity, other aspects, such as LGBTQIA inclusion, often aren’t as prioritised. Again, Lee emphasises the need for genuine representation and allyship, rather than tokenism, in the workplace.


Changing Hearts and Minds Consulting
Establishing Changing Hearts and Minds Consulting marks a change in Lee’s career and highlights his desire to quicken the pace and focus the direction of corporate inclusivity efforts. Through his consultancy, Lee talks about how he aims to foster real change through heart-centric approaches, combining his corporate savvy with a deep understanding of human empathy and diversity.


Lee also shares how he plans to continue to advocate for visible signs of support, such as displaying rainbow flags, to create an inclusive atmosphere. He stresses that while this may seem a small gesture, it can significantly impact individuals who feel marginalised or underrepresented.


Progression and Career Development within the LGBTQIA Community
Lee plans to leverage his strengths in empathy, emotional intelligence, and corporate experience to make a tangible difference in the lives of LGBTQIA individuals and the broader community, and we delve into the challenges LGBTQIA individuals face in career progression and development, and he highlights the importance of succession planning and creating opportunities for LGBTQIA talents to advance in their careers.


The Journey Ahead for the LGBTQIA Community
One of Lee’s greatest strengths is his optimism, and he expresses hope for the future of the LGBTQIA community, emphasising the need for unity and support within the community itself. He called for those in privileged positions to amplify the voices of the more marginalised members and to fight for equal rights for all.

Connect with Lee-Thomas-Wragg on LinkedIn here

Learn more about Changing Hearts & Minds Consulting here