Essential tools for EDI Leadership in challenging times

Leading Inclusively Through Change: Practical Tools for LGBTQ+ Leaders

Hosted by: Claire Ebrey, Co-Founder, Pride in Leadership

Speaker: Steve Salee, Founder & CEO, Wildfire Strategies

In a rapidly shifting world, leading on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) takes resilience, adaptability and clarity. In this interactive workshop, leadership expert Steve Salee shared practical tools to help LGBTQ+ leaders and allies navigate uncertainty and lead authentically through change, using Wildfire Strategies’ Readiness for Change™ framework.

Understanding the Challenges

Steve began by exploring the five common “wounds” that can block productive, inclusive leadership:

• Taking things personally – turning professional disagreements into personal conflicts.

• Fixed state thinking – “we’ve always done it this way.”

• Scapegoating – placing blame on a single person rather than addressing systemic issues.

• Abdicating – stepping back instead of taking ownership.

• Fracturing – teams splintering into silos under weak or revolving leadership.

Participants reflected on where they and their teams tend to get stuck, with “taking things personally” emerging as a major challenge.

Strengths of LGBTQ+ Leaders

Steve highlighted the unique strengths LGBTQ+ leaders bring to change, backed by research from institutions like the University of Bath and NIH. These include:

• Resilience and adaptability developed through navigating personal and systemic challenges.

• Authenticity, advocacy, and a commitment to justice.

• Collaboration and a strong community orientation.

These strengths are essential for building cultures of belonging and leading teams through uncertainty.

The Readiness for Change™ Framework

Steve introduced five dimensions that determine whether individuals and teams are ready to navigate change successfully:

1. Awareness – clarity about the change, its purpose, and its impact.

2. Skills – leadership, communication, and technical capabilities to enact change.

3. Excitement – emotional readiness; feeling motivated rather than fearful.

4. Endorsement – support from leadership, peers, and teams.

5. Alignment – how well teams work together, with trust and psychological safety.

Participants were guided through a personal “Readiness Snapshot”, identifying where they are now and what they need to lead change authentically and effectively in their own contexts.

Practical Takeaways for LGBTQ+ Leaders

• Slow down to reflect on personal readiness before driving change.

• Leverage your unique leadership strengths—resilience, authenticity, and advocacy—especially during turbulent times.

• Name and reframe interpersonal dynamics to move from personal conflict back to shared goals.

• Intentionally build alignment and endorsement across your team to sustain change.

• Prioritise self-care: inclusive leadership involves emotional labour, and recharging is essential to stay effective.