1kQueer and Pride Academy: Empowering LGBTQIA+ youth 

The goal is to provide a safe space for New Zealand LGBTQIA+ students and early to mid-career professionals, fostering academic and career growth. It's a program designed to offer guidance, support and encouragement through networking and educational events, while also identifying and nurturing future talent.   

Collaboration with universities and advocacy groups, like Rainbow Business at Auckland University, has shaped the Pride Academy's design, focusing on onboarding LGBTQIA+ students into career pathways and understanding their priorities.  

“We wanted to do more for the students and young people in our community. Listening to them helps us understand better what they know about and value when choosing careers and employers,” says Janine Chester, Digital Account Executive and GLEAM ANZ Co-lead. “Through Pride Academy forums, many were surprised to learn that companies like Microsoft and KPMG prioritise diversity and inclusion.”  

Originally launched with accounting firm KPMG, the Pride Academy is part of GLEAM ANZ's 1kQueer program, which aims to help 1,000 young people with their career pathway. It offers guidance on selecting inclusive employers like Microsoft and provides tailored support for various stages of education and professional development.  

Starting at the high school level, top LGBTQIA+ graduates with outstanding academic and community contributions can earn a Rainbow NZ Charitable Trust scholarship, sponsored by KPMG and Microsoft. “We aim to support and nurture future rainbow leaders,” says Janine.  

The Pride Academy then focuses on the next age group, supporting university students and early-career professionals by expanding perspectives, fostering networking, and sharing resources. Events feature community leaders and role models, such as Microsoft’s Andrew Boyd, GM Digital Natives & Startups Asia - Growth Markets, who shared his career journey at an event in 2024. The next forum in March 2025 will focus on resources for New Zealand entrepreneurs in partnership with StartOut, an organisation driving LGBTQ+ economic empowerment.  

Janine highlights the open, honest conversations at these forums, where participants feel comfortable asking career questions specific to their situations. “We’ve created a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth to share valuable career insights, and we emphasise the importance of choosing an employer where they can be their authentic selves.”  

Pride Academy event attendees also explore development opportunities like Microsoft's pro bono Student Accelerator and Student Ambassador pathways. Community connection is key to fostering diversity, so the forum encourages engagement with LGBTQIA+ community organisations, such as Rainbow Auckland and Rainbow Youth, which provide valuable soft skills training on topics like allyship.  

By the end of 2024, the successful 1kQueer program is growing and will have impacted 150 people across four Pride Academy events in Auckland. GLEAM ANZ plans to expand in New Zealand and to Australia through local university rainbow chapters in March 2025 and involvement from the business and community sectors. Organisations like Air New Zealand, New Zealand Police, and AWS are already expressing interest.  

GLEAM ANZ is empowering LGBTQIA+ students and young professionals to choose and prepare the best career pathways for them, while enriching the talent pool. As Janine says, “Through 1kQueer and the Pride Academy, we’re fostering inclusivity and building a diverse rainbow talent pipeline for Microsoft ANZ and the wider workforce.”