RIMScast: Pride Month: How Risk Pros Can Protect and Uplift LGBTQ+ Employees

Pride Month: How Risk Pros Can Protect and Uplift LGBTQ+ Employees

Jun 22, 2021

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.

Rejoining RIMScast this week is special guest, Victoria Nolan! Victoria is a member of the RIMS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council and the owner of Victoria Nolan Enterprises. Previously, she was the Risk Manager at Clean Water Services in Oregon for 30‒½ years.

This month, June 2021, marks the annual Pride Month. In Justin and Victoria’s conversation today, they discuss the new legislation that protects those in the LGBTQ+ community, the anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been enacted into law this year, how these both impact the risk profession, and what risk leaders can do to influence their organizations to protect their LGBTQ+ employees. Victoria also shares what the RIMS DEI Council is doing to help provide safety and opportunity for LGBTQ+ risk professionals, her own personal and professional experiences over the last year as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and her advice to other risk leaders on improving DEI in their workplace.

Key Takeaways:

[:01] About RIMS’s Global Membership.

[:27] About today’s episode with Victoria Nolan.

[:35] How to access RIMS LIVE 2021 sessions and keynotes online!

[1:15] Upcoming RIMS Virtual Workshops.

[1:46] More about today’s episode with Victoria Nolan.

[2:24] Justin welcomes Victoria back to RIMScast!

[2:31] Victoria shares her insights on how Pride Month last year was much more than just Pride Month.

[3:12] How this last year has been challenging for Victoria as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

[4:47] As a risk professional, Victoria comments on what she saw as some of the more major changes over the last year.

[6:29] Victoria shares her experience over the last year from the lens of a RIMS DEI leader.

[8:07] Discussing legislation and advocacy, Victoria shares her thoughts and feelings on the executive order signed by Biden in January that expands LGBTQ+ non-discriminatory protections and the recent press release by the Human Rights Campaign that stated 17 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been enacted into law in the U.S. this year, surpassing 2015 as the worst year in recent history for LGBTQ+.

[14:45] Upcoming RIMS webinars!

[15:41] If you’re looking to give back, consider volunteering for Spencer’s Risk Manager on Campus Program.

[15:58] Be sure to visit the RIMS DEI Council page!

[16:32] What risks should companies consider when it comes to the protection of their LGBTQ+ employees?

[20:11] The topic of pronouns has become more prominent in the past couple of years. Why are pronouns so important and how can including your pronouns in the business world have a positive effect?

[23:21] How the RIMS DEI Council is helping to provide safety and opportunity for LGBTQ+ risk professionals.

[27:31] Justin thanks Victoria for joining RIMScast once again and shares some of the links to look out for in this episode’s show notes.

Mentioned in this Episode:

RIMS Events, Webinars, and Services:

Did you attend RIMS Live 2021? Sessions are accessible through June 30th, 2021. Log in with your badge number: RIMS LIVE 2021

If you did not attend RIMS Live 2021 but want to access on-demand content, purchase the “Post Event Virtual Pass” for $499 to access the sessions, keynotes, and marketplace until June 30th. Visit: RIMS.org/RIMS2021

Registration for the VIRTUAL Spencer & Gallagher Golf Tournament is now open! Visit SpencerEd.org for more information and to register through August 15th, 2021 (You choose the golf course and team all while continuing to support the Spencer Educational Foundation!)

Spencer’s Risk Manager on Campus Program — Volunteer Today!

Upcoming Webinars:

June 23, 2021 | “Bermuda and the Changing Landscape of Climate Risk” | Sponsored by Bermuda Business Development Agency

Mentioned in this Episode:

“Biden issues executive order expanding LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections,” NBC News

“2021 Officially Becomes Worst Year in Recent History for LGBTQ State Legislative Attacks as Unprecedented Number of States Enact Record-Shattering Number of Anti-LGBTQ Measures Into Law,” by Wyatt Ronan | Human Rights Campaign

RIMS Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council

RIMS Virtual Workshops: Claims Management — Register now for July 15‒16th, Aug. 23‒24th, or Nov. 8‒9th

RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community!

RIMS Virtual Workshops

Upcoming RIMS Webinars

On-Demand Webinars