Out of Office Summit: Pride 2026
Out of Office: Pride 2026 🏳️🌈
A career and community summit for LGBTQIA+ students, early-career professionals, founders, creatives, and allies.
Whether you’re looking for your first opportunity, navigating your next career move, building your network, or exploring leadership, Out of Office is designed to connect ambitious people with the conversations, connections, and insights that help careers grow.
Join us for an afternoon of lightning talks, panels, workshops, and networking with professionals across LGBTQ+ business leadership, writing, entrepreneurship, holistic leadership, communications, finance, media, design, and community building.
🎟️ Early Bird tickets are now available. Ticket prices will increase as programming continues to be announced.
🎤 THE LINEUP
Featured voices include:
• Barton Lee Jackson II Executive Director, The National LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of Commerce New York
Barton expands economic opportunity, visibility, and strategic connectivity for LGBTQ+ and allied businesses across New York. He brings corporate, nonprofit, and public-sector stakeholders together to strengthen inclusive business ecosystems and pathways to market access.
• Terri Trespicio Award-winning Writer, Speaker, Brand Advisor & Author
Terri is an award-winning writer, speaker, brand advisor, and author of Unfollow Your Passion: How to Create a Life that Matters to You. Her TEDx talk “Stop Searching for Your Passion” has more than 8 million views. She will help open the room with a welcome workshop on clarity, confidence, and making things happen before everything feels perfectly figured out.
• Merrick Damon Williams Founder, President & CEO, MerrickDamon Family of Companies
Merrick is the Founder, President, and CEO of the MerrickDamon Family of Companies and one of the Southeast’s most successful real estate brokers. His work brings perspective on ownership, entrepreneurship, and building a business around service.
• Surya, MCC CEO & Director of Education, Radiant Health Institute
Surya is an ICF Master Certified Coach, Shamanic Healer, Reiki Grandmaster, and CEO of Radiant Health Institute, the first ICF Level 3 accredited holistic coaching school in the world. She speaks on holistic health, authentic leadership, and building authority without erasing your identity to do it.
• Douglas Cooper CoopedUP.co · Korn Ferry · IBM
Douglas is a communications and brand strategist behind CoopedUP.co. His work focuses on turning communications into connection and culture into a stronger brand asset, with experience spanning Korn Ferry and IBM.
• Tina Beauchamp Financial Representative, Forest Hills Financial Group
Tina Beauchamp, MBA, is a New York City-based financial professional, community builder, and advocate for financial empowerment. She makes conversations about money more accessible and inclusive for LGBTQ+ professionals, entrepreneurs, and first-generation wealth builders.
• Demetrius Moore Senior Media Strategist & Account Manager, SiriusXM
Demetrius is a Senior Media Strategist and Account Manager at SiriusXM with more than five years of experience across media, technology, and entertainment. He develops data-driven campaigns that strengthen audience engagement, brand growth, and meaningful connections.
• Nick Grant Content Designer, FanDuel
Nick is a content designer at FanDuel with more than four years of experience across account, responsible gaming, casino, and other product areas. With a background in political science and NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, he is passionate about the intersection of design and language.
📅 Schedule
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Arrival + Welcome
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Opening Remarks
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM Lightning Talks: Breaking Into the Room
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM Panel: Navigating Identity in Professional Spaces
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Lightning Talks: Building Outside the System
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Panel: The Future of LGBTQ+ Leadership
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM Closing Reflection
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Networking Reception
What You'll Leave With
🤝 Network Aligned peers
A room of LGBTQIA+ founders, professionals, operators, creatives, executives, and allies building with intention.
🚀 Career Practical frameworks
Ways to navigate identity, leadership, visibility, and growth without flattening who you are.
🎯 Access Leader perspective
Direct insight from speakers and operators who have built inside major companies, community organizations, creative work, business ownership, media, finance, and design.
⚡ Momentum Clear next steps
Conversation starters, playbooks, and introductions designed to keep moving long after the room clears.