Joburg executive makes LGBT honours list
IN recognition of her contribution and efforts to champion LGBT equality in the workplace, Liesbeth Botha has been named in the 2017 OUTstanding Leading LGBT+ Executives List.
OUTstanding is a professional membership organisation for global businesses that work directly with LGBT+ and ally leaders to promote inclusion in the workplace. The list recognises inspirational role models across the globe who work to ensure that the workplace is equally inclusive.
PwC Africa’s strategic digital transformation leader, Botha was the first partner in Africa to be included in the Leading LGBT+ Executives List and ranked #67 in the OUTstanding leading LGBT list.
Botha said she was honoured. “At PwC we recognise that people are unique and different from one another, and that when we’re free to be ourselves, regardless of background, preferences, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, culture or personal beliefs, we’re at our best. And when we are at our best, we bring the different insights and skills needed to solve the important problems and understand the changing needs of our clients,” she said.
Botha is a co-founder and sponsoring partner for the PwC Be Yourself network in South Africa, which arranges awareness and social events and networks with similar outside organisations, striving to create an inclusive workplace where staff can “be themselves”.
The 2017 role models were nominated by peers and colleagues, and nominations are reviewed by OUTstanding’s judging panel, with each person scored on the seniority and influence of their role, their impact on LGBT+ inclusion inside and outside the workplace, and their business achievements.
OUTstanding founder and chief executive Suki Sandhu said: “These lists exist to challenge the assumption that you can’t be out and successful in business, and to highlight the importance of role models in inspiring the next generation of business leaders.
“By recognising and celebrating those who are leading the charge, the lists demonstrate how far the quest for workplace equality has come. But there is always more to be done. Big business and the public sector have the power and influence to promote LGBT+ inclusion more widely, paving the way for real societal change around the world.”