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LGBTQ+ visionary leaders are breaking barriers in every field, from business and tech to nonprofits and social justice. These trailblazers not only make an impact in their respective industries but also advocate for equality and inclusion, creating space for others to follow in their footsteps.
We’re highlighting eleven exceptional LGBTQ+ leaders—including executives, founders, and activists—who are transforming the corporate and nonprofit landscapes. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, representation, or insight into the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ professionals, these leaders stand out as powerful role models for the next generation.
From R. Martin Chavez’s pioneering work on Wall Street to Liana Douillet Guzmán’s leadership in LGBTQIA+ healthcare, each of these individuals exemplifies excellence and commitment to both professional success and social progress.
R Martin Chavez, Sixth Street Partners
R. Martin “Marty” Chavez is a pioneering figure in finance and technology, known for transforming Wall Street’s trading business into a software-driven operation. A partner and vice chairman at Sixth Street Partners, Chavez focuses on research, diversity, and engagement with portfolio companies. During his tenure at Goldman Sachs, he served as chief information officer, chief financial officer, and cohead of the Securities Division. Chavez is a trailblazer for both LGBTQ+ and Latino representation as one of Wall Street’s most senior openly gay executives. Beyond finance, he advises numerous AI and biotech startups and serves on boards including Alphabet Inc. and the Broad Institute.
Read R. Martin Chavez’s Conversations at the Top
Diana Feliz Oliva, Gilead Sciences
Diana Feliz Oliva is the associate director of advocacy and community engagement at Gilead Sciences and the first openly transgender person hired in the company’s thirty-year history. With over fifteen years of experience, she has dedicated her career to advocating for marginalized communities, including transgender individuals, people living with HIV, and incarcerated populations. Prior to joining Gilead, she built one of the largest transgender health programs in the US at St. John’s Well Child and Family Center. Oliva’s personal journey from poverty and incarceration to becoming an Ivy League graduate fuels her passion for uplifting and empowering vulnerable communities.
Read Diana Feliz Oliva’s 2021 Visibility feature
Monica Trasandes, GLAAD
Monica Trasandes is the director of Spanish language and Latinx media representation at GLAAD, where she advocates for accurate and inclusive portrayals of LGBTQ+ Latinos in the media. With over fifteen years of experience, she works with media outlets to ensure LGBTQ+ stories are told with authenticity, helping to shift perceptions of queer Latinx communities. A native of Uruguay, Trasandes’s personal journey fuels her passion for advocacy. In addition to her media work, she’s an author and playwright, using her platform to educate and empower future generations of storytellers and to push for greater LGBTQ+ visibility.
Read Monica Trasandes’s 2021 Visibility feature
Isabel Sierra Gómez de León, Adobe
Isabel Sierra y Gómez de León is an award-winning creative leader at the intersection of tech, business, and art. She currently serves as the head of Adobe’s EMEA Creative Studio, where she drives innovation and brand strategy. With previous leadership roles at Square and Bloomberg, she is known for shaping teams that blend creativity and business goals to deliver impactful results. Also an artist, she uses photography and graphic design to reflect on modern societal issues.
Jorge Valencia, Point Foundation
Jorge Valencia has been the executive director and CEO of the Point Foundation since 2007, bringing extensive experience in nonprofit management and a deep commitment to LGBTQ+ youth. Before joining Point, Valencia led the Trevor Project, where his leadership expanded the organization’s budget and volunteer base significantly, making it a national leader in suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth. Valencia has personal insight as an openly gay man from a Mormon Latino family into the challenges of marginalization faced by LGBTQ+ youth. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, he is also a skilled communicator.
Read Jorge Valencia’s 2024 Q&A
Liana M. Douillet Guzmán, FOLX Health
Liana M. Douillet Guzmán is the CEO of FOLX Health, the first digital healthcare provider created specifically for the LGBTQIA+ community. She leads the company’s mission to deliver affirming and equitable healthcare across all fifty states. Previously, Douillet Guzmán served as chief marketing officer at Skillshare, where she played a pivotal role in the platform’s rapid growth. As chief operating officer of Blockchain, she oversaw the company’s user base expansion from four million to forty million in just two years. Douillet Guzmán brings passion and expertise to both her leadership and her advocacy for LGBTQIA+ healthcare access.
Ingrid Duran and Catherine Pino, D&P Creative Strategies
Ingrid Duran and Catherine Pino are cofounders of D&P Creative Strategies, a firm dedicated to advocating for communities of color, LGBTQ+ rights, and social justice. With extensive backgrounds in public service and nonprofit leadership, the couple has spearheaded impactful initiatives like the Familia es Familia campaign, which built bridges between the Latino and LGBTQ+ communities. Duran, a former Marine and skilled advocate, has been recognized as one of the most powerful Latinas in the country. Pino, a champion for philanthropy and equity, has guided D&P’s creative vision, making significant strides in advancing Latina representation in politics and social impact.
Read Ingrid Duran and Catherine Pino’s 2021 Visibility Feature
Adrianna Samaniego, VC
Adrianna Samaniego is a former partner at Female Founders Fund, where she invested in some of the fastest-growing female-led technology companies. With a background that includes leadership roles at JetBlue Ventures, Harlem Capital Partners, and New Media Ventures, Samaniego cofounded a startup within Google’s Area 120 incubator and built Google’s Global Supplier Diversity Program, creating over $2 billion in opportunities for diverse-owned businesses. Samaniego has been recognized on Fast Company’s Queer 50 List and as a Business Insider Rising Star in VC. She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and is a passionate advocate for diversity in VC and tech.
Jimena Almendares, Decathlon
Jimena Almendares is the chief digital officer at Decathlon and a board member at Stanford Medical and Lifetime, bringing a wealth of experience from her leadership roles in major tech companies. Most recently, she was the general manager of customer experience at Meta, overseeing support for nearly 3.7 billion users across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Almendares has also served as vice president of global expansion at Intuit and chief product officer at OkCupid, leading the company through its IPO. A three-time national ice-skating champion from Mexico, Almendares has worked in sixteen countries and speaks five languages, making her a globally influential leader and advocate for diversity in tech.
Read Jimena Almendares’s 2022 Feature
Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News
Janelle Rodriguez is the executive vice president of programming at NBC News, where she oversees NBC News NOW, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, and the News Specials team. Under her leadership, NBC News NOW has become the fastest-growing streaming news network in the US, while NBC Nightly News continues to rank among the top five TV programs weekly. Before joining NBC, Rodriguez was vice president of programming at CNN, where she led award-winning coverage of major news events. With multiple Emmy and Peabody Awards to her name, she is recognized for her impact on journalism and leadership in the media industry.
This article was written with the assistance of AI.
