Pride Leadership Day | San Francisco, CA
March 9, 2018
Since 2008, Facebook has officially recognized, embraced and celebrated Pride Leadership within the company. During their inaugural global Pride Leadership Day, LGBTQ employees were able to connect in person, share their experiences and come together as a community.
Set in the historical Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, this event was momentous for all who attended.
To help attendees connect before the main event, Facebook held a Fireside Chat and informal reception the night before. An engaging speaker, followed by live music, plentiful food and free-flowing bars encouraged a relaxed, but lively environment.
On the day of the event, guests were ushered into a colorful and large main hall. In the center, four separate “regions” – Latin America, North America, Africa and Asia Pacific – showcased personal photos, captions and stories from hundreds of Facebook employee events, submitted from dozens of Facebook offices. Oculus virtual reality stations allowed users to unwind and have some fun, and a private interview room facilitated testimonial filming in a comfortable setting.
On one side, an interactive memory station was both a focal point and fabulous backdrop for Instagram photos. The custom-built rainbow “chandelier” carried theme of the event into the space, by way of jelly-acrylic pendants suspended from the ceiling. On-demand printed photos were also available for sharing.
The meat of the day – the keynote session, which focused on both personal and professional development – featured dynamic and moving speakers with very personal messages. The theater and staging was designed to be intentionally intimate to encouraged frank discourse and a feeling of community. Sheryl Sandberg ended the event with a moving and inspirational presentation that had many swelling with pride to be a part of such a supportive company.
As attendees were leaving the event, many shared with us their feelings of empowerment and a new resolve to drive the Pride Leadership movement forward. Way to go, Facebook!
