The Out Entrepreneur | Bringing Our Whole Selves to Work | Conversations with Leading LGBTQ Bosses

Ash Beckham is an energetic and dynamic public speaker. Her YouTube video, “I am SO GAY” has garnered over 400,000 views in two months. The video has been shown in classrooms and boardrooms around the globe increasing the number of actual views to well over 750,000. By blending honesty and humor, Ash delivers unforgettable talks about why we need to remove the word “gay” as a pejorative from our lexicon and other LGBTQ+ issues. Her Tedx Talk, “Coming Out of Your Closet” has reached over 6 million views. Through a personal connection with her audience, Ash inspires people to individually change and be part of a bigger societal shift toward conscious word choice and action.

Ash Beckham is an energetic and dynamic public speaker. Her YouTube video, "I am SO GAY" has garnered over 400,000 views in two months. The video has been shown in classrooms and boardrooms around the globe increasing the number of actual views to well over 750,000. By blending honesty and humor, Ash delivers unforgettable talks about why we need to remove the word "gay" as a pejorative from our lexicon and other LGBTQ+ issues. Her Tedx Talk, "Coming Out of Your Closet" has reached over 6 million views. Through a personal connection with her audience, Ash inspires people to individually change and be part of a bigger societal shift toward conscious word choice and action.

Brandon believes impact-focused businesses make the world better. In 2006, he co-founded the Keller Williams Capital Properties real estate organization. In just over a decade, he and his business partners expanded their company into a regional network of 8 offices and $2 billion in annual sales in a little more than a decade. From his professional success and personal journey he brings a great deal of empathy, skill, and perspective to conversations about growing companies during a time of such rapid change and innovation.

Brandon believes impact-focused businesses make the world better. In 2006, he co-founded the Keller Williams Capital Properties real estate organization. In just over a decade, he and his business partners expanded their company into a regional network of 8 offices and $2 billion in annual sales in a little more than a decade. From his professional success and personal journey he brings a great deal of empathy, skill, and perspective to conversations about growing companies during a time of such rapid change and innovation.

Alex Williams is the founder and owner of Holistic Hyperbarics, a first of its kind hyperbaric oxygen therapy spa that offers a once exclusive procedure as an affordable, accessible treatment option for the general public. What makes Holistic Hyperbarics different is that it is a female-founded business purposely walking away from traditional sterile medical care and providing another option in a patient-first restorative spa environment. Here, treatment becomes approachable, accessible, and nurturing.

Alex Williams is the founder and owner of Holistic Hyperbarics, a first of its kind hyperbaric oxygen therapy spa that offers a once exclusive procedure as an affordable, accessible treatment option for the general public. What makes Holistic Hyperbarics different is that it is a female-founded business purposely walking away from traditional sterile medical care and providing another option in a patient-first restorative spa environment. Here, treatment becomes approachable, accessible, and nurturing.

Scott is a reformed Mortgage Banker, who is now a 20+ year veteran in the inclusion and diversity consulting space and the CEO of inQUEST Consulting. He, and his team, work some of the world’s largest brands on their people strategies and as he says “helping adults to play nice.”  He believes we need to challenge ourselves to do “D&I differently” and not rely on the same old solutions.  Scott is also a civic leader.  He is board chair for the Chicago Sinfonietta, the country’s most diverse orchestra and board member for Disability:IN, one of the largest disability inclusion organizations.

Scott is a reformed Mortgage Banker, who is now a 20+ year veteran in the inclusion and diversity consulting space and the CEO of inQUEST Consulting. He, and his team, work some of the world's largest brands on their people strategies and as he says "helping adults to play nice." He believes we need to challenge ourselves to do "D&I differently" and not rely on the same old solutions. Scott is also a civic leader. He is board chair for the Chicago Sinfonietta, the country's most diverse orchestra and board member for Disability:IN, one of the largest disability inclusion organizations.

Joanna Martinez is an award winning business owner and the force behind the soon-to-be-launched learning series Disruption University. Her book, A Guide to Positive Disruption, focuses on her experiences working though the ups and downs of the corporate world to make positive changes at the companies for which she has worked. Joanna is recognized as a global procurement and supply chain leader, providing a range of services to management and employees. Her clients range from Fortune 50 companies to technology startups, and last year, she was named #9 on the list of Top 20 Global Procurement Influencers by Thinkers360.

Joanna Martinez is an award winning business owner and the force behind the soon-to-be-launched learning series Disruption University. Her book, A Guide to Positive Disruption, focuses on her experiences working though the ups and downs of the corporate world to make positive changes at the companies for which she has worked. Joanna is recognized as a global procurement and supply chain leader, providing a range of services to management and employees. Her clients range from Fortune 50 companies to technology startups, and last year, she was named #9 on the list of Top 20 Global Procurement Influencers by Thinkers360.