As a signatory to the UN LGBTI Charter for Business, Infosys is committed to an inclusive workplace for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. But that is not the only reason why we foster a culture of equality. We believe in allowing people to realize their full potential—regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
There have been decades of progress in equality and recognition for the LGBTQIA+ community and the Pride movement is another celebration of LGBTQIA+ awareness and integration. But with years of progress, equality remains a work in progress. It’s still illegal to be gay in 64 countries. And even in tolerant societies, hatred and discrimination still exist.
With #InclusionInProgress, Infosys set out to highlight the in-progress nature of LGBTQ+ acceptance, especially in workplaces and to educate and engage the audience. We sought to shine a light on the fact that being truly authentic in the workplace is still a struggle for some and that progress will remain to made until we don’t need a special day to celebrate with our LGBTQIA+ community.
Infosys decided to help draw attention to the idea that 100% acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community is still a work in progress by featuring a spinning rainbow wheel. We used this “inclusion in progress” wheel as a metaphor to highlight how a truly equal world with 100% integration and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community is still not here. And for an inclusive world to become a reality, the wheels must be kept in motion. This “progress wheel” was designed based on the LGBTQIA+ flag, as a symbol that both celebrates the progress made toward societal equality and acknowledges the progress still to come.
The idea was to unite voices from within Infosys and beyond, weaving an emotional narrative of personal stories and shared experiences. In this regard, it was important to mobilize employees to come forth and speak to their employers about the challenges they face within an organization, without the fear of facing consequences. Furthermore, while some parts of the world are more inclusive and community members do not face much discrimination, there are still people in the world who have not revealed their identities for fear of being judged or not accepted. Thereby, with more than 315,000 employees across the globe, it became necessary for us to build a narrative that captured the meaning of inclusivity for all.
Over the course of the Pride month, a series of 30+ posts representing queer people from all around the world was shared on our social media handles, capturing the “spectrum” of progress around LGBTQ+ acceptance and also the challenges that remain. Infosys ignited a spark of change with #InclusionInProgress. By weaving together personal stories, data-driven insights, and an interactive learning experience, we transformed a 25-day long observance into a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
We released a film capturing the idea that being 100% authentic is still a struggle for many. To help people discover their empathy quotient and to test their knowledge about how aware they are about the Pride movement, a GenAI-powered LGBTQIA+ quiz was released. Other social media quizzes also helped generate awareness and conversations around the topic. Infosys also partnered with top global LGBTQIA+ influencers. They shared their personal stories, which fostered a sense of belonging, while highlighting the commitment to DEI by Infosys.
Over 35+ employees from within the organization volunteered to share their stories and many of them also talked about how Infosys has played a role in creating a safe and inclusive environment for them to bring their true selves at work.
In just 25 days, #InclusionInProgress reached 41.3 million people, of which 95% (39.5 million) was organic. This also included nearly 420,000 of earned media reach. There was total engagement of 270,000+ from across 70 nationalities. The success of #InclusionInProgress was a product of its powerful message and hopes about the future.
With the help of Influencers, we reached 89,000 people with 437,000+ views in less than 24 hours. Instagram's focus on visuals aligned perfectly with the campaign's storytelling approach, contributing to a reach exceeding 387,000. Many users engaged in positive conversations around Pride month, celebrating its progress towards inclusion and continuing the ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive space for all identities. Our campaign evoked a spectrum of emotions, from celebration and approval to strength and appreciation. #InclusionInProgress was a testament to the power of human connection.
