The openly lesbian president and CEO of Chicago Academy of Sciences' Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Laurene von Klan, spoke about inclusion, diversity and her journey as a CEO at a recent Citywide Pride event.
Increasing inclusiveness is a constant challenge, said von Klan at a June 4 event at Harris Bank, 111 W. Monroe, entitled 'Inclusiveness & Acceptance.' The event was a part of Citywide Pride 2008, a month-long series celebrating diversity that is held during Pride Month each year by a coalition of Chicago-area companies.
If a company fails to address diversity and inclusion, it will not be successful, said von Klan, who has been head of the museum since 2005. Prior to that, she was executive director of the nonprofit organization Friends of the Chicago River.
There is a handful of things a company or organization has to do in order to ensure it is accepting and inclusive for both its employees and its customers, she said: First, it must 'walk the walk.' The Nature Museum was able to do this by creating family-friendly policies that include gay and lesbian families.
The issue of diversity is complex, the CEO admitted, so it is important to constantly revisit it. Beyond policies, she said, it is crucial for customers to see themselves reflected in a company. For example, under her reign, the museum addressed the issue of the diversity of its educators, and held sensitivity trainings. Addressing the issues of diversity, inclusion and acceptance over the years has improved morale and decreased the departure of employees, according to von Klan.
But simply 'walking the walk' through company policies isn't enough, according to von Klan.
'Beyond diversity and inclusion is joining,' she said, encouraging attendees to join their company's gay and lesbian groups and to be active in the gay and lesbian community. In 1993, von Klan's older sister joined her in the march on Washington for gay and lesbian rights. For her, that act of 'joining' helped her affirm that she can reach her goals and break the glass ceiling in the workplace, despite the setback of being turned down for a job because of her sexual orientation when she was in her 20s.
There is constantly more work to do in the area of diversity and inclusion, von Klan said. Companies need to continue to tackle the issue. These efforts 'aren't going to happen well unless we have safe and open spaces where people can feel okay,' she added.