By being openly gay in the workplace, and leading from a place of authenticity, I can more positively impact the teams I work with and the business itself, says Jan Siegmund, Cognizant’s CFO.
Leadership Authenticity
Cognizant
There’s a lot of talk in diversity circles about authenticity and bringing your true self to work. As an openly gay man, I know how difficult but also how rewarding that is, especially for people in a leadership position.
While leaders often fear the vulnerability that comes with being honest about who we are, I experienced the opposite effect: By doing so, we become less vulnerable and more impactful.
The Long Climb
Which isn’t to say it’s easy. My own experience has at times been a hard climb. When McKinsey hired me out of university as a consultant, it was my dream job. But along with the position came the decision of whether to come out to my new employer.
Throughout my student years, I’d remained in the closet, and the hiding…