LGBTQ+ Diversity in the Workplace: Allyship, Business Case and Best Practices

Stan C. Kimer, founder and president of Total Engagement Consulting, is a nationally recognized consultant with unique skills in employee development/career mapping and workplace diversity (specialization in LGBTQ+, Employee Resource Groups, Diversity Councils, Diversity Strategy, and Inclusive Recruiting). Stan formed his own consultancy around these areas in 2010 following a 31-year successful diverse, multi-functional career at IBM. While at IBM as Director of Global Sales Operations for IBM’s consulting practice, Stan served as the executive sponsor overseeing career development for IBM’s 3,000 Sales Operations employees. He has now executed his unique innovative career mapping approach which he launched at IBM, with clients ranging from major corporations to church denominations to professional organizations. During his four years on IBM’s global corporate diversity staff, Stan led IBM into industry leadership in LGBT diversity and established IBM’s procedures for supporting transgender employees and assisting with case management of employees undergoing gender transition while in the workplace. Since forming his own consulting practice, Stan has trained or spoken in over 150 venues reaching over 7,500 professionals. He is a certified Out and Equal Workplace Advocates Building Bridges Trainer and a certified Training Management Corp / Berlitz Cultural Competency Trainer / Practitioner. Within the transgender arena, Stan has provided training to client employees and HR teams and has assisted with case management of gender transitions in the workplace. He is active in leadership roles in dozens of communities and civic organizations including as a volunteer instructor on his church denomination’s leadership development faculty. In 2013, the Triangle Business Journal recognized Stan with one of their Leaders in Diversity – Role Model awards. Stan received his MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and BS in management science from Georgia Tech.-- In his spare time, Stan trains as a competitive adult figure skater.