Reflection of the Week

Leading with Pride

Happy Friday, all! And Happy Pride Month!

This month, I’m creating a Pride Month series. I know I discuss issues facing LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs all year, but I’m feeling especially motivated this year to emphasize our pride.

Kicking off our series, I want to explore a powerful theme: Leading with Pride: Owning Your Voice in Business. For LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, our identities aren’t just personal—they’re often deeply tied to the mission and values we build our businesses around. And in a world where visibility can be both vulnerable and radical, choosing to lead authentically is a brave and strategic act.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how visibility functions as a form of leadership. When you own your voice—who you are, what you stand for, and the community you serve—you’re not just representing yourself. You’re expanding what’s possible for others who may not yet see themselves reflected in the entrepreneurial space. Especially in today’s climate, where LGBTQ+ rights and presence are being challenged or erased, your decision to be visible sends a message: We’re still here. We’re thriving. And we’re building powerful, purposeful businesses.

Being out in your business also builds trust. Clients who share your values or identities are seeking service providers who truly understand them. When you lead with who you are, you give others permission to show up fully, too. You don’t have to overshare—but you do get to decide how your story shapes your message.

Authenticity also brings brand clarity. Your unique lived experiences, values, and cultural insights are strategic assets. They help you make decisions, choose collaborators, and shape offers that reflect what truly matters to you. It’s not about appealing to everyone—it’s about resonating deeply with the right ones.

Finally, using your voice publicly—whether that’s in your content, your pitch, or your partnerships—is a way to shape systems. You don’t have to run a political nonprofit to make an impact. Your product, your story, your leadership is advocacy. Each time you choose alignment over assimilation, you’re modeling a more liberated way of doing business.

Questions of the Week

1.     Where in your business are you holding back your full voice or identity?

2.     How can you connect your personal story more directly to your mission or services?

3.     What small step can you take this month to increase your visibility in a way that feels safe and empowering?

Tool of the Week

This week’s recommendation comes from Amy Cosper’s book, The Ultimate Guide to Startup Success. She encourages founders to use AI to help craft or refine their elevator pitches. Try prompting ChatGPT or another tool with: “Write a one-paragraph pitch for my company’s product based on this document,” or “Here’s a description of what my company does. How would you word this as a pitch to investors?”

An elevator pitch should be concise and engaging, with an opening sentence that immediately captures the listener’s attention. It should clearly state the problem you’re solving and your unique solution.

Even if you don’t use it word-for-word, it can be a great mirror to see what language aligns or feels off. Use it as a springboard to own your message with clarity and pride.

Here’s to leading out loud,

Brian