SM Pride was formed in December of 2019, and in line with the brand’s vision of embracing individuality and authenticity, our mission as an ERG is to create a more equitable workplace for LGBTQ employees and engage the broader community in a meaningful way.

We aim to accomplish this through strategic and organized efforts by a group of dedicated LGBTQ staff and allies (including but not limited to: educational opportunities, community-building events, volunteering, and addressing HR policies/procedures in recruiting, onboarding, and healthcare) 

  • Launch Event Mixer

    SM Pride’s first event was held in December of 2019 at The Phluid Project store in NYC. We all participated in a group activity to discuss what the company is already doing to support the LGBTQ Community in and out of the workplace, and where there’s room for growth.

  • Joint ERG Happy Hour

    Black Sole, an ERG focused on supporting Black employees and the broader community, was formed in 2020, and we worked together on a joint Happy Hour as an official launch for the group, and to talk about ways that our goals overlap and how we can support each other.

RECENT INITIATIVES

  • Pride 2021 Initiatives

    Working alongside CSR and the Marketing and Creative departments, we were successful in launching and facilitating several initiatives that supported not only the employees at Steve Madden, but the broader community as well.

    Pride 2021 Overview Deck

  • Learning Sessions

    In partnership with the Corporate Social Responsibility team, we launched our first sponsored learning session in August 2021 with Callen-Lorde, an LGBTQ+ community health leader in NYC.

  • Callen-Lorde's Community Health Awards

    This year, Steve Madden is a Silver Sponsor of Callen-Lorde’s annual Community Health Awards, an important opportunity for the organization to raise much-needed funds. SM Pride membership will be volunteering at the event, as well as providing silent auction items including curated product assortments, “Shoes for a Year,” and unique experiences like an opportunity to design your own shoe in our NYC factory!