Intentional Acceptance: Elevating and Embracing LGBTQ+ Voices with Lisa Foti, CEO of Captain Creative Group
Lisa Foti is the CEO and founder of Captain Creative Group, a full-service experiential agency with a focus on elevating brands and creating experiences that audiences love. Through world class design, innovative strategy and event production her team creates world class engagements across the globe. Lisa has been working in the creative industry for over 25 years, and has found purpose and acceptance from her work. Her time at various agencies working under inspiring managers has underscored the importance of DEI in her life, but has also shown her how important days like International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia are for every generation.
How has your identity shaped the work that you do?
Being my authentic self is so important in the work that I do and the work that I bring to my clients, but it’s equally important in my life. I can’t show up everyday as a leader, as a friend or as a member of Titanium without being authentic.
Have you ever had to juggle your personality and who you are as a person with expectations in a professional setting?
Through my career, so much has changed. When I started working in the early 90’s everything was very corporate. There were so many expectations about saying the right thing, being educated and fitting into the mold rather than standing out. Now things feel more relaxed, and people are encouraged to be who they are in their career. That’s been a huge shift in perception. The agency side always felt more welcoming and open, and it made me feel more okay to be who I am instead of trying to be something that I’m not.
Was there ever time you struggled with your identity?
I grew up in a time where being part of the LGBTQ community wasn’t celebrated. I was part of a traditional Italian-American family. I struggled in my 20s and my 30s to be my authentic self. I always felt like I lived in my two different worlds - the secret gay bars with the closeted friends and then my family life. The struggle early on was really difficult.
My first gay boss really made me feel more accepted in the professional world but also in my personal life. For the first time I saw a future for myself in this business, and thought I could be successful. That was really key for me.
How did you come to that place where you finally felt accepted?
Working for Jack Morton under a gay boss where there was an inclusive culture – before inclusive was the thing to be – was eyeopening. We were truly ahead of our time. There were women in leadership roles and gay management which fostered this great sense of community. Everyone was very accepting and open. It really truly felt like home there, and for the first time in my young adult life I felt accepted.
What advice would you give your younger self who was struggling?
Don’t be afraid. You’re lucky you’re here today and not 30 years ago. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not worth it because you are. What’s on the inside is way more important than what’s on the outside.
What does International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia mean to you?
It means recognizing all the powerful members of the community around us. There’s no more room for fear or hate in this world. We all need to learn to accept each other and embrace our differences or we’ll never make progress. I look around today and see all the growth for the LGBTQ community, and it’s overwhelming in the best way possible. There are so many amazing, inspirational figures of the community to look up to, and I think International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is about focusing on all good around us until there’s no room left for negativity.
I have a passion for the underserved in our community. That place really calls to my heart, especially with children who are struggling. I’ve watched a lot of friends lose family members and children because they couldn’t accept themselves. I will say, I think it’s important for us to remember the generations that are coming next are just as fragile. We need to take the time to mentor them and make them feel like it’s ok to be who we are. There’s so much more work to do.
How can we raise awareness and do more within our own industry?
I think brands showing diversity at the forefront is really important, but it’s about so much more than ticking the box. Brands and companies need to truly want to be diverse and have equality. It’s not just about pride month, it’s about helping the people who need it most. We have to keep pushing brands to be bold. They can’t be afraid they’re going to lose a sale because they have two girls kissing on a cereal box. This is the work we’re passionate about at Titanium, but I want to see even more agencies push this envelope.
I also think we also need to be more intentional about segmenting demographics in our campaigns. Lesbian women always get lost in translation under the broader women category, but we’re different and shouldn’t be treated the same. There’s a lot of studies done on women that I don’t think are representative of the lesbian voice. I think we could get in better touch with who these separate demographics are as people. We need to be more intentional about how we segment the research that informs our campaigns in order to make them better.
Do you have any final words of wisdom?
I wish I was 20 today. You have a better shot today at living an authentic life today than you did when I was growing up. I’m hopeful for the future for the LGBTQ community.