Roy Sexton

A Hoosier kid’s journey from self-doubt to LGBTQ+ leadership in the workplace | Davich nwitimes.com/opinion/column… via @nwi

Thank you, Jerry Davich and The Times of Northwest Indiana! You are such a beautiful and essential voice in our community. I'm unbelievably grateful for the way you've told my story, so authentically and so inclusively. I've never really been able to share this perspective in such an honest way.

nwitimes.com/opinion/column…

I hope readers - whether LGBTQIA+ or not - find hope and inspiration in this to be their most authentic selves in every aspect of living. I grew up in Indiana, and I now find myself in a full circle moment living in Indiana again (just 30+ miles from downtown Chicago). I don't know that I would have ever envisioned a future where all of my worlds converged in such a lovely and elegant way.

Thank you again, Suki Sandhu OBE and INvolve People, for the recognition and the platform that is allowing these stories to be told. And my forever gratitude to the Legal Marketing Association - LMA International for all that community has brought to my life and career: friends, opportunities, visibility, joy, affirmation.

EXCERPT: "As an only child growing up in the Hoosier heartland, he was afraid to discuss what he was thinking or feeling, worried he would be misunderstood or rejected. It’s a sadly common obstacle in the LGBTQ+ community, at any age. But especially for youths struggling to find their true identity.

"So Sexton immersed himself in academics, extracurricular activities and student government. He measured his worth through straight A’s — pun unintended, he joked — and being well-liked by everyone around him.

"Looking back, he recognizes that constantly trying to prove himself wasn’t necessarily the healthiest approach. But it also helped shape the ambitious, accomplished working professional he eventually became."

nwitimes.com/opinion/column…

@nwi @jdavich

“It signals to the wider business community the real power of authenticity, and of people brave enough to bring their whole selves to work and speak openly about it.” Yours truly named to INvolve's Outstanding LGBTQ+ Executive Role Models list for FOURTH (!) consecutive year
… reelroyreviews.com/2026/11/10/it-…

@INvolvePeople

Roy Sexton Named to INvolve’s Outstanding #LGBTQ+ Executives List for Fourth Consecutive Year

thesuntimesnews.com/vedder-cmo-roy…

@INvolvePeople

My deepest thanks to Suki Sandhu OBE and INvolve People for this remarkable recognition - FOUR years in a row! I may faint! MORE importantly thank you, Suki and team, for all you do to celebrate all diverse communities, elevate leaders, and champion the power of inclusion in the workplace and in society.

Roy Sexton, Chief Marketing Officer of Vedder and 2023 International President of the Legal Marketing Association (LMA), has been named to INvolve Outstanding 100 LGBTQ+ Executives Role Model List for 2026, supported by YouTube. It is the fourth consecutive year Sexton has been recognized, making him one of the most consistently honored leaders on the list from the legal industry.

The recognition arrives as visibility at the very top of business remains thin. INvolve's 2025 analysis found that just 2% of FTSE 100 CEOs and 5% of Fortune 100 CEOs are publicly out as LGBTQ+, compared with estimates that 6–10% of the population identifies as LGBTQ+. INvolve warned that the gains made since 2015 are fragile as companies scale back inclusion programs.

"As a young gay man growing up in Indiana in the '80s and '90s, seeing a list like this would have meant the world to me," said Sexton. "It would have shown me that there is a place for people like me — that we belong. Visibility and representation aren't nice-to-haves; they're essential. Recognition like this goes far beyond personal buzz. It signals to the wider business community the real power of authenticity, and of people brave enough to bring their whole selves to work and speak openly about it.“

INvolve described Sexton's appointment as CMO of Vedder as "a significant milestone in his career and in LGBTQ+ leadership visibility within the legal marketing industry."

INvolve highlighted that he:

Models visibility at the top. As an openly gay executive, he leads a diverse marketing team and builds belonging through mentorship and everyday authenticity, helping younger LGBTQ+ professionals see themselves in senior roles.

Drives measurable culture change. As co-chair of LMA's DEI Shared Interest Group, he has doubled engagement in the association's inclusion-focused town halls.

Set the tone for an industry. His 2023 LMA presidency established a standard of safety and belonging at that year's annual conference, reflecting his belief that visibility is a leadership responsibility.

Amplifies inclusive leadership. Through interviews, panels and his digital series, he positions inclusion as a strategic business priority.

INvolve's lists span sectors and continents. The top-ranked 2025 Outstanding Executives were David Furnish, CEO of Rocket Entertainment Group; Travis Torrence, U.S. Head of Legal at Shell; Jen Carter, Global Head of Technology at Google.org; Kit Morey, VP and Commissioning Editor, Unscripted Original Content at Paramount | Channel 5; and Shamina Singh, Founder and President of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and Executive Vice President, Sustainability at Mastercard. The 2025 Outstanding Advocates list was led by Kenton Jarvis, CEO of easyJet, and Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Founder & CEO of INvolve, Suki Sandhu OBE, says, “I’m so thrilled to be celebrating this global group of trailblazing Executives, Future Leaders and Advocates who are working to ensure LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace can thrive. All the individuals featured in our Outstanding Role Model Lists supported by YouTube are championing inclusion and leveraging their expertise and knowledge to drive impactful initiatives and strategic change within their organizations. It’s vital that LGBTQ+ employees across global organizations can succeed and achieve career success, and these Role Models are essential drivers of change who are smashing barriers to progress. We could not effect change without them leading the way.”

@INvolvePeople @VedderLaw @LMAintl