C RE LGBTQ N E T W O R K
interview series Michael Bonsor Managing Director ROSEWOOD LONDON
Do you see more/less acceptance of LGBTQ in society? I am blessed to work and socialise in a very inclusive environment. I work and live in the heart of London, and I know how lucky I am to be within a society that is multicultural, diverse, and inclusive. So, I am personally not affected by acceptance, but I see other people’s struggles. Overall, the acceptance is growing. How important is the role of inclusion and equity groups within organisations, and how is the output of such initiatives directly supporting your teams? The role of inclusion and equity is vital within an organisation. As leaders in the organisation, we need to ensure that all groups are welcome in the business, other than it being the right thing to do, the team works at its optimum level when there is cohesiveness and camaraderie. In hospitality it has been taken for granted too much, that the industry is diverse and welcoming – it mostly is of course, however in the business you must ensure that all groups have a voice, that others are aware of how minority groups may feel and provide the catalysis for people to respect each other. We know that equity, diversity, and inclusion are important for commercial success. What does it mean for you, and [how] has it impacted your own personal journey? Agreed, these factors are vital to the success of the business. As far as I know my sexuality has not stopped my career progression over the last 25 years, it may have done and I am unaware, thankfully I am not working at those organisations. Feeling at ease at work and being able to be creative and pushing the boundaries has enabled me to flourish. I have been given a lot of freedom along my career to make decisions and have the autonomy to take the business in the direction I see fit. If you are not feeling that in your workplace, it may be time to change. Stifling creativity, creating unhappy workflows clog the business and it will fail. How did you make it possible to be successful leader and at the same time, a proud member of the LGBT community?
I learnt a lot from my parents, they were incredibly supportive when I came out, as a result very little changed in my life during this time, they were always looking out for me and guided me through. I have had the same approach with team members that I can see that are struggling to be included, you have to take the time as a leader to nurture, mentor, and coach. It was a very proud moment for me to be recognised by Attitude Magazine this year as one of the 101 most influential LGBTQ+ trailblazers in the UK. My sexuality doesn’t define me, but it is a very important part of me. Has there been an organisation that helped or supported you as an active LGBT member throughout your career? At Rosewood, our associates are encouraged to be themselves and to deliver guest experiences that go beyond the expected. For us, your potential is not your professional credentials or your past: it is your personality and sense of curiosity that build the foundation of an exciting career with Rosewood. What do you think is yet to improve for the LGBT community? Ultimately, I know I live in a bubble of positivity and many LGBT community members are suffering daily in regard to being accepted at school, with family or in the workplace. There are so many things that need to be improved. We as leaders in the industry must do our part. Work alongside charities, ensure that our stories of success are heard; for example, I will be travelling to Strathclyde University, where I graduated from to tell my story. The community needs more outspoken professionals to tell their story and inspire others. How can we create spaces that are inclusive, safe, and respectful of all people? We encourage our associates to be curious to discover their natural calling and their purpose in work. We educate our leaders and teams with specialised diversity training. We celebrate the differences of all our associates. We have open channels of communications from a Loop committee with direct access to me through to Social & Family committees focusing on what’s important for our employees at work
If you would like to take part in these CORE LGBTQ+ series, you can contact Krishnan: krishnan@corecruitment.com