Last week, our Young@Workplace Pride board hosted a powerful and inspiring book interview with journalist and author Pim Blom, who joined us online from Hanoi to talk about his new book Through the Rainbow Ceiling (“Door het regenboog plafond”).

In this interview, Pim explores why a “rainbow ceiling” still exists in many workplaces today. He interviewed fifteen LGBTIQ+ leaders across business and government, uncovering honest, sometimes vulnerable stories about authenticity, leadership, and navigating environments that aren’t always inclusive.

During our conversation, Pim shared what struck him most while writing the book: the gap between the 18% of LGBTIQ+ people in society and the fewer than 1% represented in top leadership roles — and what organizations stand to gain when more queer leaders can rise without barriers.
Our mentors and mentees reflected on the qualities LGBTIQ+ leaders bring to the table: empathy, resilience, perspective‑taking, and a deep understanding of inclusion.

A big thank you to Pim Blom for his openness, his storytelling, and for challenging us to think differently about representation and leadership.

Let’s keep breaking ceilings!