Laura Colwill: A Force for Pride

Laura Colwill, Head of EU Trade Operations and Global Metals Operations for TD Securities, has long known she was gay although she initially came out to her parents as bisexual. She calls it a stepping stone for telling them the truth. But it was harder for her to be as open in the workplace.

She joined TD Securities about sixteen and a half years ago and never talked about her sexuality. If people asked if Colwill had a boyfriend, she would say yes to avoid further discussion. "It's likely no one would have made a big deal out of it, but I just felt people would look at me differently," she recounts. "After five years, I got married to my first wife and we had a child. I was managing a lot of anxiety. At that point I was in a middle management role; I tried to hide away. I was helping my team succeed and progress, but I was not progressing myself."

The turning point came when Colwill got a new manager who headed the department. "I told her I deal with anxiety, that I am gay and was, by that time, divorced." Colwill has since remarried and added to her family. "I didn't even know this person and I was spilling everything to her. She told me to repeat what I'd said and assured me none of this would define my career, that having anxiety was more common than I thought and no one would even know I was dealing with it."

She notes, " From that point on, when people asked me about my partner I would say "my wife" and my career has really opened up."

In 2020, the European Employee Resource Group (ERG) Forever Proud was being built up, and as the group lead, Colwill has been a major contributor. She notes the LGBTQ community was small, but she was determined that no one should feel as hidden as she was because of their sexuality. "I understand people may not be comfortable being out in a work environment, but it would be helpful to understand why they feel that way." She acknowledges that often newcomers are young and she encourages allies to be visible, to have their own pronouns showing or display rainbow flag pins or stickers. "Making your support visible really helps create a more welcoming and supportive environment, and I've had feedback that it does make people more comfortable."

She has also been heavily involved in Interbank, a group of LGBTQ representatives from 40 financial services firms with two representatives each. The group has monthly meetings, and Colwill says that allies have attended in her stead if she can't make a meeting. "Education and awareness is really important and we are fortunate to have great allies on the executive team attending events as well."

Raising awareness is a work in progress. She explains, "The finance industry still has work to do to ensure an inclusive environment, and this can be most noticeable in client-facing or trading roles. We are constantly assessing new ways to interact with all colleagues to work together and ensure that no colleague feels uncomfortable or ostracized based on their gender expression or sexual orientation, and the goal is to help people feel more comfortable." To that end, the ERG has enlisted the help of LGBT Great. "We want to work with them to help people feel comfortable, so they feel safe to tell someone if anything happens and that leaders are equipped to know how to act."

Along with Lucy Izzard and Sarah Mahmood, Colwill has been recognized as LGBT Great Pride Role Models and Allies, recognition she was deeply honoured by – and maybe couldn't have seen happening 16 years ago.

She concludes, "If I had advice for those who are LGBTQ and starting their careers, it would be to find your support network. The ERG is always there, so try to find visible allies. We've made it obvious knowing who can support you. Be open, though it can feel easier to hide, but it holds you back. TD Securities is very supportive, so be as open as you want to be."