Celebrating diversity and fostering inclusion

The GLEAM Employee Resource Group (ERG) community is thriving, with more employees each year joining Pride marches across Australia and New Zealand, including Melbourne Midsumma, Brisbane Pride, Auckland Rainbow Pride, and Wellington Pride. Marching behind a Microsoft banner and a rainbow ‘Pride Burst’ flag symbolising 42 communities, employees celebrate diversity with music, dancing, and joy. 

For the GLEAM ANZ team, these festive gatherings have a more serious underlying message about visibility and representation. “We march in Pride parades to be visible and show the world that Microsoft is diverse and inclusive,“ explains Terry Lynch, Mission Critical CSA Office 365, Teams and Exchange Hybrid, and Microsoft GLEAM ANZ Co-lead.  

True to its inclusive message, the ERG hosts Pride-themed events to ensure everyone can participate, including Mardi Gras film screenings, Drag Queen bingo, and a ‘Sweat 'n Sparkle’ workout in Sydney. In 2024, the virtual ‘Colours of Pride’ intersectionality event, co-hosted with Women and Military ERGs, featured speakers like thought leader Cassie Roma and Microsoft New Zealand Managing Director Vanessa Sorensen, sharing different perspectives and personal experiences. The event highlighted the value of giving employees a platform to show support and allyship.  

“It was inspiring to hear how diverse life experiences have shaped what Pride means to people, overcoming struggles, uplifting others to show allyship, and strengthening family bonds,” shares Terry. “We need to support all under-represented minority communities, recognising no one is defined by one single identity.” 

The GLEAM ANZ team balances fun with impact, building partnerships with allied organisations and contributing to equality regulatory associations. 

Studies show that it takes eight visible symbols of inclusion for people to feel safe coming out at work. At the Sydney and Melbourne offices, community health organisation ACON’s rainbow ‘Welcome Here’ stickers reflect Microsoft’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. “I'm proud that this inclusion program visibly displays our commitment and makes people feel welcome from the moment they walk through our doors,” says Terry. 

ACON has guided GLEAM ANZ on inclusion and equality best practice for many years, helping the business uphold the values of ACON’s Pride in Diversity program and prepare for silver Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) certification. 

In New Zealand, GLEAM members celebrate Microsoft’s Rainbow Tick certification. The rainbow refers to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, takatāpui, intersex or asexual (LGBTTQIA+). The tick is a certification mark for organisations that complete a diversity and inclusion assessment process, signalling they accept and value people in the workplace and embrace the diversity of sexual and gender identities. 

To truly embrace diversity, inclusivity must be integral to every role. “Diversity and inclusion are core to Microsoft ANZ’s vision. In discussions with our managers, just as we track customer success or technical delivery, we must also show progress in fostering an inclusive culture. GLEAM helps make that easier for people,” says Terry. 

Janine Chester, Digital Account Executive and GLEAM ANZ Co-lead, shares a pertinent story: “A new employee once asked me to sign him up for the Auckland Rainbow Pride parade but didn’t attend. A year later, he joined with his family and partner, saying he now feels Microsoft is a place where he can truly be himself. That’s sums up our culture.”