Jade is an Account Manager for M&G plc, working with intermediaries in the UK market to deliver the firm's value proposition.

Jade is a trans woman and an active member of M&G's LGBT + network, Pride' and is working to expand it to the organisation's Scottish locations. Jade is passionate about inspiring others through her story and supporting everyone to be their true self. Although she joined the organisation in 2010, she has worked with UK intermediaries as an account manager since 2001 and she transitioned in 2003. While she recognises the positive impact that companies like M&G create with the evolution of policies to support colleagues in transitioning, Jade is aware that in many other companies, sectors and countries there is a long way to go, and she is proud and happy to be open and evident to support others on their journey to transitioning.

Jade comments: "Prior to joining M&G, I can remember returning to work after I had transitioned which was a stressful time for me. Many colleagues at the time were walking on eggshells' and did not know how to react around me. During this time of my life I suffered from acute anxieties about who I was and the conflicts and fear became so severe I considered taking my own life, perhaps because I grew up in a very traditional family in a small rural community. Before transitioning I struggled for years with childhood threats of rejection by my family, and as I was growing up I lost friends whenever I tried to be my true self. Thankfully I found the inner strength to persevere alongside finding a supportive network of friends and colleagues. These people lifted me up and helped me through, and from that part of my journey I learned the importance of being there to support anyone to overcome any barrier to being their true self.

Since joining M&G, I have taken an active role with the firm's LGBT+ network "Pride" which started in our London office and is now expanding to our other locations including here in Edinburgh. My focus is to use my story and the strength I have found from my journey to help and inspire others: I consistently lead conversations with our employee associations and affinity groups; I have helped evolve the workplace policy for people who want to transition and am also available to provide help to line managers when they need advice. My passion is to inspire others who may be thinking of transitioning or know someone else who is going through the progress by being visible and evident. The support and ambition from across M&G has been incredible and it shows how far an organisation like ours has come.

I am delighted to be selected as a Project 1000 Role Model because I know that without support my journey would have been even more daunting, and I want to show that when an employer helps and supports us all to be ourselves it is not only potentially life saving it also unlocks the very best in all of us.

Mark McLane is the Head Diversity, Inclusion and Wellness for M&G plc, an international savings and investments business with over 7 million customers across the UK, Europe, Asia and the Americas. Mr. McLane is responsible for architecting a firmwide diversity and inclusion strategy that will leverage organizational strengths, remain nimble in the every-changing global business climate and enable M&G plc to maintain their competitive advantage by driving innovation to its customers.

Prior to M&G plc, Mr. McLane was the Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion for Barclays PLC, a transatlantic consumer, corporate and investment bank. During his tenure at Barclays Mr. McLane implemented a global Diversity and Inclusion strategy, he delivered six consecutive years of improvement in the percentage of women in leadership, a mental health and wellness campaign that is UK wide good practice with 600+ companies participating and Dynamic Working which improved overall colleagues engagement by 5 percentage points

As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Booz Allen Hamilton, immediately preceding his role at Barclays, Mr. McLane developed and implemented a firm wide diversity strategy that leveraged the inherent differences within Booz Allen’s current and future workforce.

Mr. McLane also held the position of Chief Diversity Officer for Whirlpool Corporation, a Fortune 500 global consumer product company in Benton Harbor Michigan.

Mr. McLane has been a commissioner for the UK Equalities and Human Rights Commission, a member of the Lord Mayor of London’s Appeal fundraising Board, and a past Master of the Guild of Human Resource Professionals. In 2014, 15, 16 and 19 Mr. McLane was recognized on the UK LGBT power list, the Financial Times 100 LGBT business leaders and named to the top 50 global Diversity Executives by the Economist.

Mr. McLane holds a B.S in Business Management from the University of Scranton.

Matt is an experienced talent management, diversity and organisational development leader with extensive experience within the financial services industry. A proven track record in inspiring others, developing effective strategies, programme execution, managing diverse teams and building partnerships.

Matt was the first in his family to go to university, is part of the LGBT+ community and also from a lower-social economic background.

Matt is responsible for the development of LGBT Great’s programmes, the strategic direction of the organisation and advising organisations on DE&I issues. Matt is also a Board Member of the Diversity Project.