You’d struggle to find someone that embodies the idea of bringing their whole self to work more than Keyserling. He aims to be open, honest and vulnerable about his life every day. “Earlier in my career, and before I was out, I was blown away to see senior executives exhibiting pride about who they are. I carry that with me today,” he says. “This is what allows me to do my best work, but hopefully also opens the door for others on the team to feel comfortable also being themselves.” That work over the last year has included strategic carriage renewals with Hallmark Media and the signing of Philo’s first original programming deal with Kin. He’s also established partnerships with Revry for LGBTQ+ content and is a leader among MVPDs in the amount of content it offers that is Black-owned.
What is the state of LGBTQ+ representation in media? Representation has come a long way in a very short period of time, which fills me with optimism. We have gone from very few (and generally token) LGBTQ+ characters on television – to more representation across the board including shows focused on the broader spectrum of the gay experience that have gay characters as leads. There is also progress where gay characters are being played by gay actors which not long ago was not usually the case. We have to acknowledge that forward progress. That being said, there is of course more work to do. Most representation today still falls into the trap of representing a fairly limited, stereotypical view into gay culture, and where the queerness is what primarily defines the character. With every new slate of shows we see this also changing and it is tremendously exciting to see.
How does your company encourage employees to bring their true selves to work? Creating a culture where our team feels comfortable to be their true self is absolutely paramount to the success of Philo. To do that we want to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive, so everyone feels comfortable asserting their ideas and creativity. One of the key tenants on my team is to lead with empathy – so we can establish relationships built on trust and understanding. Earlier in my career, and before I was out, I was blown away to see senior executives exhibiting pride about who they are. I carry that with me today. People feel like they can be their true self when they see that behavior in others. I think leading by example is critical, especially as a senior member of the team. I try to be open, honest, and vulnerable about my life. This is what allows me to do my best work, but hopefully also opens the door for others on the team to feel comfortable also being themselves.
