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Award-winning Gender Diversity

Speaker, Writer and Consultant

Helping Create More Inclusive and Thriving Organisations at the Intersection of Human Rights, Sexuality, Gender, and Privilege.

Welcome to the intersection of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (D&I). While often perceived as separate endeavours, I firmly believe they are interconnected.

In my over two decades of corporate experience, I've witnessed the hurdles faced by marginalised groups. Committed to catalysing change, I empower organisations to cultivate truly inclusive cultures.

With a unique perspective as a leader navigating two genders, I unravel the intricacies of gender and its intersectionality with other identity markers. My goal is to guide organisations in building intentional cultures where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging.

Here are some key areas I specialize in:

Demystifying gender
The transformative power of language and gender
Navigating the impact of gender on women
Understanding the trans+ experience
Insights from the C-suite on diversity and corporate culture
Understand the impacts of gender-based privilege
Helping organisations cultivate intentional cultures
Cultivating Psychological Safety, especially for trans+ individuals
Providing insight on living Acceptance without Understanding ™
Skillfully facilitating diverse and inclusive events.

I firmly believe that every organisation holds the potential to become a more inclusive and thriving community. Let me partner with you to turn that potential into reality.

Contact me today, and let's embark on the journey of creating a workplace where everyone not only fits in but truly belongs.

My Vision:

Together, as a beacon of light and hope, we actively work to create a world where the LGBTQ+ community and individuals navigating self-acceptance challenges not only thrive but also contribute authentically to society. We unleash their inherent power through unwavering love and acceptance, fostering environments that allow their true colours to flourish. By championing human rights, driving psychological safety, and creating inclusive spaces globally, we inspire transformative change that resonates with dignity, respect, and genuine understanding.

“Cynthia shared her own experiences, the importance of allyship, key points about DEI. For days after, employees shared how Cynthia impacted them with her words. Strongly recommend Cynthia as a well-versed in DEI that can speak to a broad audience with an ability to connect with all listeners.”

- Lead Diversity Practioner, Mimecast, USA

Award-Winning

Cynthia Fortlage BDA shortlist 2024.jpeg

2016, 2017, 2018

My Story

One Leader, Two Genders

In my role as a business executive and board leader, I followed the conventional recipe for success that is commonly followed. However, unlike Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, I did not experience self-actualisation through this approach. Instead, I gained clarity on the disconnect in my life. Developing others had been my primary focus throughout my 30+ year career, but turning that focus inward proved to be transformative.

As a woman with a trans+ history with over three decades of experience in the corporate world, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by people of all genders in the workplace. My commitment is to create safe spaces that foster a sense of belonging for all genders.

Leveraging my unique perspective as a leader with experience across two genders, I work with organisations to cultivate more inclusive cultures. My belief is that every individual deserves to feel safe and respected in their professional environment.

My Mission:

We empower organisations globally to cultivate inclusive and safe spaces, fostering a sense of belonging for individuals of all genders. Drawing upon our unique perspective—one leader with two genders of experience—we guide businesses in navigating the complexities of diversity and inclusion. Through collaborative efforts, we strive to create workplaces where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered.

"Cynthia was our guest speaker at The King's Fund in honour of Trans Day of Visibility 2022 and our team is still talking about the session she led weeks later. In advance of the session, Cynthia took the time to get to know the team and understand how best she could tailor her message to make the session accessible and ensure it met our objectives and expectations. On the day itself, she was a true professional - gracious and open in the sharing of her personal story and in her invitation for questions, even staying longer to make sure that our questions were answered. Cynthia was able to open a conversation that had previously felt inaccessible and used the power of connection to stimulate learning, combat misinformation and promote acceptance. I could not be more pleased with the way the session unfolded and thoroughly recommend her services. If you're on the fence and thinking about it, don't hesitate - book her today.."

- Dana James-Edwards, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Specialist