We Are #LGBTBIZ Family with Jonathan Lovitz
Being an entrepreneur is hard enough. You need a solid business plan as well as access to capital and connections with potential partners. A lot of things need to go right to make a new venture successful. Unfortunately, the LGBT-owned businesses who need the collective strength of the community most tend to live in places where there is little access to services. That’s where the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) comes in, providing a network of support through the #LGBTBIZ family.
Jonathan Lovitz serves as Senior Vice President of the NGLCC, an advocacy group aimed at expanding economic opportunities and advancing the LGBT business community. He is responsible for coordinating media and communications, strategic partnerships, and government policy work for the organization. Jonathan appears regularly on MSNBC, CNBC, NPR, The Advocate and Out Magazine, among others, and he was recently recognized by Business Equality Magazine as one of its 40 LGBTQ Leaders Under 40.
Today, Jonathan explains the goals of the NGLCC, discussing the connection between social acceptance and economic growth. He speaks to the concept of a ‘return on equality,’ sharing the extraordinary economic impact of the LGBT community in the US and the benefit to corporations that adopt inclusive business practices. Jonathan describes the discriminatory policies that prevent LGBT-owned businesses from competing on a level playing field and offers insight around how the NGLCC can give smaller, queer-owned businesses access to training and opportunity. Listen in for information about the 2018 NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference and learn the benefits of becoming an NGLCC-certified business!
Listen:
Topics Covered
The goals of the NGLCC
- Certify, connect LGBT-owned businesses
- Partner with corporations, government and affiliate chambers
How social and economic growth are connected
- Business growth follows social acceptance trends
- Harder to oppress community with ‘cash in hand’
The concept of a ‘return on equality’
- Protections for LGBT employees
- Represented in marketing
- Inclusion integral to operations
The economic impact of the LGBT community in the US
- $1.7T (would be tenth wealthiest country)
- ‘Great frontier of American economic development’
Why the playing field is anything but equal
- Equal access to credit in only 18 states
- Discriminatory policies in 17% of Fortune 500 companies
How the NGLCC helps smaller queer-owned businesses
- Ensure level playing field
- Network of support, economic opportunities
- Certification gives access to training
The NGLCC conference in Philadelphia
- August 14—17
- ‘Matchmaking’ with corporate partners
- Activate long-term relationships
How corporations benefit from joining the NGLCC
- ‘Diversity is good for business’
- Showcase great ideas
Recent benchmarking wins for the LGBT community
- BDR vote to include LGBT-, disability and veteran-owned
- HRC requires inclusion for 100 on Corporate Equality Index
The process of becoming an NGLCC-certified business
- Painless and quick
- Fees waived if member of local chamber
How to follow the conference if you cannot attend
- Live stream on social
- Biz Pitch on Facebook