Todd Sears

Todd Sears is the Founder and CEO of Out Leadership, an organization he established in 2010 to leverage business as a force for advancing LGBTQ+ equality. Sears has a notable background in finance, having started his career in investment banking. He made history as the first openly gay financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, where he created the first national team of financial advisors dedicated to serving the LGBTQ+ community. He later held significant roles in diversity strategy at both Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse from 2007 to 2010.

Under his leadership, Out Leadership has expanded into a global network comprising over 30,000 business leaders, including 1,200 CEOs. The organization has hosted 140 CEO-led Global Summits across five continents. Sears has been instrumental in mobilizing businesses to support LGBTQ+ rights, notably leading initiatives that encouraged over 300 companies to sign amicus briefs for marriage equality in the U.S. He has also advocated for LGBTQ+ rights internationally, participating in discussions on same-sex marriage in Australia, Ireland, and Thailand.

Sears serves on several nonprofit boards, including Lambda Legal and the Williams Institute at UCLA. He is recognized for his contributions to LGBTQ+ equality through various accolades, such as the Lambda Liberty Award and recognition as a Crain’s Notable LGBTQ+ Leader. In addition to founding Out Leadership, he launched programs like OutNEXT for emerging LGBTQ+ leaders and OutQUORUM to increase LGBTQ+ representation on corporate boards.

His work emphasizes that inclusion is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic business advantage. Sears has authored numerous research reports on topics such as board diversity and transgender equality, contributing significantly to the dialogue around corporate social responsibility and LGBTQ+ inclusion in business practices.123