Todd Sears is the Founder and CEO of Out Leadership, the first company in history whose sole product is LGBTQ+ equality. Out Leadership connects leaders from its 98 member companies and the world’s most influential industries to foster business growth, cultivate talent, and drive equality. In a career of over 20 years at the intersection of finance and equality, Todd led the first team of financial advisers on Wall Street to focus on the LGBTQ+ community, bringing in over $2B in new assets to Merrill Lynch. He pioneered award-winning initiatives as Head of Diversity Strategy at Merrill Lynch and later at Credit Suisse as Head of Diversity and Inclusion. He serves on various nonprofit boards, including the Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, and the North Carolina Community Foundation. Sears is driven by his confidence that businesses have the power to advance LGBTQ+ rightsand generate a Return on Equality™.