Together for tolerance

One member of this network is Ram Krishnasamy, agile Organizational Developer and Business Agility Coach at Bosch SoftTec. “I am part of the transformation,” he says. For him, the participation of the Bosch employee network in CSD sends a clear signal “for open-mindedness, progress, and support.” This goes hand in hand with Bosch’s corporate culture. “Many things are in motion here, and people are open to change,” he adds. For him, diversity can spring to life when all employees are integrated into the company without bias or value judgements. He himself is part of the LGBT*IQ community b:proud at Bosch and helps to create awareness and visibility – both inside and outside the company – both inside and outside the company.

Founded in 2012, the LGBT*IQ employee network at Bosch has undergone continuous growth and has a worldwide membership. Its members work in concert from different sites and different cultures. They want to make the LGBT*IQ community more visible at the company, and take a more active stand for greater tolerance in connection with sexual orientation. The annual gay pride event participation with a float at Stuttgart's CSD is one of the highlights of their efforts. But aside from the colorful parade, they also focus on increasing mutual understanding among employees with different sexual identities. Under the motto “We are as different as everyone else”, the network uses an online forum and shared activities to promote communication and contact within Bosch. But the network also seeks contact outside the company – thanks to events organized jointly with communities at other organizations. The network serves as an organizer, promoter, ambassador, and representative.

Caroline Besson works as a digital and social business consultant for Bosch in Brazil. She is also an enthusiastic member of the LGBT*IQ community at Bosch. For her, the network means one thing above all: being able to connect with colleagues worldwide. “I can feel free to be myself regardless of sexual orientation and do not have to worry that it would have an effect on my career,” she says. The solidarity within the community extends beyond borders, even though most of the members have not met in person. To Caroline Besson, the network is very important as it gives her the opportunity to share personal experiences, ideas, and knowledge with likeminded people. The higher profile of the LGBT*IQ community also has an effect on how she works. Respect for her as a person reinforces a sense of self-worth: “I feel that I am part of something bigger that will facilitate the lives of those that will come and the ones that are already here.”