LGBTI+ BUSINESS FORUM 2026
Dear friends, this year, we have prepared the 14th annual LGBTI+ Business Forum for you. It took place on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the House of the European Union in Bratislava.
What is the topic of the forum?
The theme of this year’s forum was Queer at Work: Why Generation Z Won’t Play by the Old Rules. Together with our speakers, we reflected on how young people are changing the rules of the labor market and how the acceptance of LGBTI+ people defines social cohesion and economic growth. We demonstrated how to turn the inclusion of transgender individuals from mere catchphrases into real HR processes, and how to face rapidly growing online hate using AI and community design. The official program concluded with informal networking over refreshments.
Who is the Forum for?
We welcome anyone interested in and/or with the means to influence company policies on diversity, equity and inclusion. The topic of this year’s forum was primarily focused on business leaders, professionals from HR, people managers, DEI champions and ESG/CSR specialists.
The Forum was primarily held in Slovak but translation into English was provided.
Who organizes the Forum?
The LGBTI+ Business Forum is organized by Diversity Pro. The partners of the event are the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia, the Office of the European Parliament in Slovakia and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
The event is held under the auspices of the Public Defender of Rights, Róbert Dobrovodský.
The event is held under the auspices of the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia.
How to participate?
Forum attendance is free of charge, but registration was required. Due to capacity limits, attendance was restricted to a maximum of two representatives per company. For participants who could not attend the forum in person (or did not manage to register in time), we offered the opportunity to watch the program via live stream.
Your opinion matters! If you have any suggestions, ideas, or questions regarding the Forum or our work, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to connecting with you!
>> Watch a recording of the event here. <<
SPEAKERS
Zuzana Kostiviarová
Human Capital Director / Workforce Transformation Leader | Deloitte
Zuzana Kostiviarová leads Human Resources consulting in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. She helps her clients apply HR trends and best practices in practice and prepare for the future of work. She works on projects that primarily focus on implementing modern management elements in organizations, helping companies build an adaptable organization, strengthen the strategic role of HR, improve and digitize the employee experience, develop talent and leadership within organizations, and other areas.
Daniel Dvořák
McKinsey Senior Business Analyst | McKinsey & Company
Daniel Dvořák is a consultant at McKinsey & Company’s Prague office, where he locally leads Equal (the firm’s global network for LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies). Prior to McKinsey, he held a leadership role in the oldest pre-professional LGBTQ+ organization in the United States – Wharton Alliance, and he remains passionate about building inclusive workplaces and supporting the next generation entering the workforce.
Assoc. Prof. Michal Vašečka, PhD
Sociologist and expert on diversity, ethnicity, and social inequalities | Bratislava Policy Institute
He is one of Slovakia’s leading experts on ethnicity, migration, extremism, and social inequalities. His work bridges academic research and practice, and he has long drawn attention to how prejudice, polarisation, and structural discrimination shape both the workplace and public life. As Programme Director of the Bratislava Policy Institute and a member of the Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), he focuses on combating racism, hate speech, and systemic intolerance. He is the founder of the Centre for the Research of Ethnicity and Culture (CVEK), which has made a significant contribution to the development of inclusive policies in Slovakia. He has held academic positions at universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Central Europe, focusing on social cohesion, minority integration, populism, and civic resilience. His analytical work helps companies, public institutions, and non-profit organisations better understand how to create safe, respectful, and culturally sensitive environments.
Ivana Tilešová
Sustainability leader | IKEA
Ivana serves as Sustainability Leader at IKEA Bratislava, where she focuses on developing and implementing sustainability initiatives. She links environmental and social topics with the daily operations of the company, fosters partnerships with non-governmental organizations, and coordinates community projects—including product donations—aimed at delivering a positive impact on both people and the planet.
Monika Zuzana Ruščáková
HR Training Specialist | Deutsche Telekom Services Europe Slovakia
Monika studied psychology in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Finland. In her current professional practice, she specializes in organizing and coordinating learning and development activities for employees. She has long been involved in volunteer work for children and youth with health disadvantages—experiences that deepened her interest in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) topics. In her master’s thesis, she focused on workplace DEI for people with disabilities from the perspective of both employees and managers. She also completed a course at Charles University focused on the specifics of LGBTQ+ psychology.
Anna Podlesná
CSR Manager | Alma Career Slovakia
Anna is the CSR Manager at Alma Career Slovakia and has been researching attitudes toward diversity and workplace discrimination since 2018. She tracks labor market trends in this area not only through data but also by examining practical solutions developed with colleagues—often in collaboration with non-profit organizations. She is currently completing her PhD at Michigan State University, focusing on the transition from education to the labor market for young people with disabilities. The survey she will present offers the latest data from the eight countries where Alma Career operates.
Jakub Skaličan
EMEA Talent Acquisition Partner | Lenovo
Jakub Skaličan holds a degree in organizational and educational psychology from Comenius University in Bratislava. As a Talent Acquisition Partner at Lenovo, he oversees student and graduate recruitment while also supporting employer branding initiatives aimed at young talent. He is actively involved in a project that fosters inclusion, a sense of belonging, and meaningful relationships among employees at all stages of their careers.
Tomáš Halász
Co-founder & CEO | TrollWall.ai
Tomáš Halász is the co-founder and CEO of TrollWall AI, a Slovak startup developing AI-powered tools for detecting and moderating hateful, abusive, and toxic content on social media. Drawing on his experience as a social media manager, community moderator, and civic activist, he co-founded TrollWall in 2022 to help organizations, brands, media outlets, NGOs, and public figures create safer and more constructive online communities. Under his leadership, TrollWall AI has expanded internationally and received multiple awards for ethical AI application and innovation in combating online hate speech.
Ľubomír Šimášek
CEO | Mediaboard
Ľubomír Šimášek is the CEO of Mediaboard Slovakia, with more than 20 years of experience in sales, leadership, and strategy. He has played a key role in transforming Mediaboard Slovakia from a traditional media monitoring service into a modern Media Intelligence platform. A strong advocate for the digitalisation of PR, Ľubomír champions data-driven communication and the smarter use of AI in the daily work of communications professionals. At Mediaboard, he focuses on innovation, strategic client relationships, and bringing new technologies into practice.
Teo Lachkovič
Head of Community | The Spot
Teo Lachkovič is a community strategist and expert in the Community Architecture framework, serving as Head of Community at The Spot. He has long been dedicated to building and developing communities that connect startups, entrepreneurs, experts, and innovators. In his work, he focuses on creating an environment that fosters collaboration, experience sharing, and new opportunities, helping both organizations and individuals build strong, sustainable communities.
PROGRAM
Registration will open at 8:30, and the program will begin at 9:00.
Block 1 | 9:00 – 10:15
- Welcome notes from organizers and event partners
In the first block, insights and experiences on why Generation Z won’t play by the old rules will be shared by our speakers:
- Zuzana Kostiviarová, Human Capital Director / Workforce Transformation Leader | Deloitte
- Daniel Dvořák, McKinsey Senior Business Analyst | McKinsey & Company
- Michal Vašečka, Sociologist and expert on diversity, ethnicity, and social inequalities | Bratislava Policy Institute
Coffee break | 10:15 – 10:30
Time for small refreshments and networking with the speakers.
Block 2 | 10:30 – 11:30
In the second block, following the coffee break, expert knowledge and insights on the topic A Rainbow Isn’t a Strategy: What Really Works (and What Falls Flat) will be shared by industry professionals:
- Ivana Tilešová, Sustainability leader | IKEA
- Monika Zuzana Ruščáková, HR Training Specialist | Deutsche Telekom Services Europe Slovakia
- Martin Szabo, Labour Market Analyst | Alma Career Slovakia
- Jakub Skaličan, EMEA Talent Acquisition Partner | Lenovo
Coffee break | 11:30 – 11:45
A second round of light refreshments and time for networking with the speakers.
Block 3 | 11:45 – 12:15
In the third block, expert knowledge and insights on the topic Hate Scales Fast — So Must Protection: What Works (and What Doesn’t) will be shared by our speakers:
- Tomáš Halász, co-founder & CEO | TrollWall.ai
- Ľubomír Šimášek, CEO | Mediaboard
- Teo Lachkovič, Head of Community | The Spot
Obed | od 12:15
After the program, refreshments and a space for informal networking will be available for all participants.
Photographs and video footage will be taken during the event. By participating you give your consent to their creation and their use for the needs of the event organizer.
Event partners:
