Authentic Leaders inspires LGBTQ+ professionals to lead with pride.
Authentic Leaders provides programs and platforms to queer people in a lovingly inclusive environment, with a professionally challenging voice. We help these individuals feel at home and be fiercely courageous — anytime, anyplace, anywhere.
Partner with us as we nurture, empower and unleash the brilliant LGBTQ+ leaders within your organisation. Discover what they can achieve for your brand, their teams, and themselves.
Our Purpose
To enable and empower queer people to access their full potential.
Our Mission
To support LGBTQ+ individuals in inclusive organizations by providing programs & platforms for their development.
Our Vision
A caring world connected by pride both in ourselves and each other.
OUR TEAM
Ian Goh (He/Him)
Co-Founder & Coach
I knew I was good. I just didn’t know I was good enough.
I grew up a smart and sensitive kid who was creative and kind, and I learned to be good at everything I needed to do (ie. good at being a son, a brother, a friend, a student). What I did not know growing up was how I had unconsciously learned to work for the approval and acceptance of others.
As a gay man in Singapore, being queer was and is difficult. While I worked through my own understanding and acceptance of how I was different from other people in the way I loved, I started unknowingly hiding aspects of myself that could potentially out me to others.
I hid my heart. I hid my sensitivity. I hid my voice. I hid my ideas, my creativity, my ability to innovate and influence and lead. I hid the most precious parts of myself.
And this carried on long into my corporate career. I remember clearly in each and every role how I would push myself to go beyond what others could and would do. I felt like I needed to prove myself; and if my performance had anything to say about who I am as a person and what I was worth, I would make sure I gave my 200%.
I was a competent consultant and facilitator for leadership and organization development and worked with teams across the healthcare, public, and nonprofit sectors. I was invited to be a director on a few charity boards by age 28, and an influential voice for people-centric change. It seemed that I was on the pathway to greatness and making a big difference.
What people saw on the outside was a determined executive and a high-potential leader. What they didn’t see was how on the inside I was scared and insecure and empty.
Through a major reckoning in my life between 2018-2019, I found myself fired twice. Serendipitously, both with the same underlying message: we love your work contribution but you are not who we want in the team. Add in the pressure and stress of being heavily in debt, declaring bankruptcy, and not knowing where money was going to come next.
And it gave me the fuel and wreckage to stop: I knew that if I were to make it out, and if I were to survive and thrive from this, I had to face everything that I was running from for over 20 years.To face myself and get to know who I truly am on an intimate level.
To know deeply that I never needed to prove my worth to belong - my worthiness is innate, even if I am gay and queer and different.
Now I am on a renewed journey of living, loving, and leading authentically, contributing to the world as myself: with nothing to prove and everything to experience and offer. And the vision and mission of authenticLEADERS glow brightly and guides me forward… for a new generation of LGBTIQ leaders in our world.
Ansis Sy (He/Him)
Executive Administrative Manager
It's all in the name.
Born Ansis Sy, I was destined to be a sissy. (Thanks, Mom and Dad!)
Reclaiming and loving this part of myself has been a journey. I've transitioned from praying to change myself, pretending with a girlfriend, and concealing significant parts of my identity from my family, to now being able to laugh at myself and owning my story on stage as a stand-up comedian.
I'm witnessing the profound impact of reconnecting with the authentic self through the Authentic Leaders program, and I'm sincerely grateful to be a part of it as their administrative fairy. In my role, I ensure the program operates smoothly and efficiently, providing crucial backend support to Ian and the team.
With over six fabulous years of experience as a virtual assistant, I've dedicated myself to assisting leaders and business owners in various capacities. And it feels like fate or the will of a higher being (Thanks, Beyoncé!) that brought Ian and me together. Just as I decided to focus on supporting more LGBTQ+ businesses, Ian posted a job ad seeking a new team member for the Authentic Leaders Program. I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
As an improv and stand-up comedian, I aim to contribute my unique perspective and creativity to the program and its participants. I'm here to "yes, and" everyone, creating an environment where we can all play and create freely and safely.
Additionally, I'm currently undergoing training to become a coach, a full-circle moment where I can now assist others in unlocking their full potential.
And I know my journey doesn't end here. I eagerly anticipate what else I can create and discover with the Authentic Leaders program. Best believe, wherever this journey takes me, I will sissy my way to more authenticity, more play, and more love.
Patrick Shea (He/Him)
Communications Manager
I’ll hold the spotlight and bring the microphone. You deserve them both.
I bring over 15 years of content strategy and communications experience to the Authentic Leaders team. Through experiences at global media organisations, boutique marketing agencies and startup consulting, I’ve learned that clear, honest communication is the unifying force that drives all positive change.
The mission, vision and purpose of Authentic Leaders resonate deeply with how I see the world today. I believe the pathway to true social equality is through equal platforms, equal outreach, and equal time holding the microphone.
It’s a goal of mine to offer the stage — and that microphone — to anyone in the global LGBTQ+ leadership community that wants it.
Because you desperately deserve it.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Our commitment to nurturing, loving and empowering the LGBTQ+ community extends beyond the Authentic Leaders Program. We seek to be a strong voice and source of inspiration for queer people our allies throughout the world.