The Glass Closet: Why Coming Out Is Good Business – A Former BP CEO's Inspirational Memoir on LGBT Professional Authenticity

Part memoir and part social criticism, The Glass Closet addresses the issue of homophobia that still pervades corporations around the world and underscores the immense challenges faced by LGBT employees.

In The Glass Closet, Lord John Browne, former CEO of BP, seeks to unsettle business leaders by exposing the culture of homophobia that remains rampant in corporations around the world, and which prevents employees from showing their authentic selves.

Drawing on his own experiences, and those of prominent members of the LGBT community around the world, as well as insights from well-known business leaders and celebrities, Lord Browne illustrates why, despite the risks involved, self-disclosure is best for employees—and for the businesses that support them. Above all, The Glass Closet offers inspiration and support for those who too often worry that coming out will hinder their chances of professional success.

This landmark work on LGBTQ+ leadership and workplace equality delivers:

• A CEO’s Perspective: The unflinching story of former BP CEO Lord John Browne, who exposes the personal and professional cost of hiding his identity at the highest levels of corporate power.
• Diversity as a Strategy: A clear-eyed analysis of why fostering an inclusive environment is not just a moral imperative, but a competitive advantage that attracts top talent and drives innovation.
• Coming Out at Work: Practical guidance and powerful stories from dozens of interviews with LGBT employees, business leaders, and public figures who navigated the complex decision to live authentically in their careers.
• Actionable Steps for Leaders: A clear roadmap for executives and managers to dismantle corporate homophobia, build a culture of trust, and champion the immense value of authentic leadership.

John Browne was the CEO of BP from 1995 to 2007, which he transformed into one of the world's largest companies. He was the president of the Royal Academy of Engineering and is a fellow of the Royal Society, a foreign member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the chairman of the trustees of the Tate galleries. He holds degrees from Cambridge and Stanford Universities, was knighted in 1998, and made a life peer in 2001. He is now a partner at Riverstone Holdings, and is the author of the memoir Beyond Business and of Seven Elements That Changed the World.