The footprint of oOh!media across Australia is a massive network of more than 35,000 assets. But within the network of creative advertising, there is another network that is just as vital and cherished – the people network. And at the heart of fostering and nurturing diversity and inclusion within the network is Matt Knopp, the Senior GTM Lead in the Marketing Department.
As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a leader in bringing to life oOh!’s ongoing partnership with Mardi Gras, Matt’s own experiences of inclusion has inspired him to cultivate an environment where every individual can thrive and contribute their authentic selves in the workplace. Matt more recently embarked on a transformative personal journey -joyfully embracing the arrival of his first child with partner, Vince.
Thanks for sharing such a personal story Matt. Can you tell us a bit about your journey and what led you to the point where you felt it was the right time to engage in conversations at oOh! about surrogacy?
I have always wanted to be a father but knew that as a gay man, it would be a long and not so-straightforward journey. Officially, our parenting journey started around 5 years ago when a friend of ours offered to be our surrogate, and my cousin offered to donate her eggs. Many years and doctors’ appointments later, our family has grown, and earlier this year, our lives changed for the better when in April, my partner of 14 years and I welcomed a little baby boy through surrogacy here in Australia. Since then, I have had the absolute pleasure of spending the last few months taking care of him.
I always felt a little unsure about my plans on being a stay-at-home dad and how they would be received at work because of the flexibility I needed. Early in the process, I worked with oOh! to make sure they were aware of my journey so I could attend doctor appointments, support my surrogate and when the time was right, organise parental leave.
What kind of support did you receive from oOh! during this period, especially in terms of embracing and accommodating your personal journey?
oOh! understood the complexities of my situation and the flexibility that I needed. The support given by my managers and the wider business was truly touching. When I first joined oOh! several years ago I was surprised to find out they offered equal parental leave policies, enabling both men and women the same amount of time off as the primary carer. This was something that wasn’t available in the early days of my career. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, navigating my journey has been difficult at times, but oOh! has always made me feel supported in becoming a parent.
What steps have you taken to reflect the diverse communities in which oOh! operates?
Working within the marketing team provides me with the opportunity to work with a wide range of departments and people. I get to see the diverse communities that exist first-hand. Being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I have made a conscious effort to support long-lasting change in the business by advocating education, awareness, celebration and support of my community
Can you share some examples of initiatives that you’ve implemented or ways you work to foster diversity and inclusion?
Since joining oOh! it has been a privilege to hold a number of charity events to raise awareness and financial support for LGBTQIA+ groups within the business and I am proud of the way I have played a key role in establishing the partnership between oOh! and Sydney Mardi Gras and Sydney World Pride.
How has your own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community influenced your approach to helping to create a diverse and inclusive work environment?
It’s a common misconception that ‘coming out’ is a one-time event. For many people within the community, it can be a daily occurrence when engaging with new people, whether they are clients, managers, colleagues or services. We spend so much time of our lives at work, and as an environment it’s my belief that everyone has the right to be their authentic self. As a manager within the workplace, it’s my personal responsibility to help foster and create the environment that everyone deserves. A big part of that for me is being visible and loudly proud of who I am – in the hope that it will encourage others to do the same.
