Be BOLD Be YOURSELF Be ALLIES
Be BOLD Be YOURSELF Be ALLIES
As Belfast Pride celebrates its 35th anniversary, we’re proud to celebrate the importance of visibility, allyship and creating spaces where everyone can be their authentic selves.
To mark Pride, Assistant Manager, Kirsten Doran, has shared her reflections on her experiences and how our firm supports her to be her true self.
What first attracted you to joining BDO?
Coming from big 4, I was initially attracted to BDO because it offered the same high professional standards and expertise I was used to but within a more personable team environment. I wanted to work somewhere where the culture felt genuinely people centred, where leadership was accessible and you can visibly make a difference.
I was also really motivated by the role BDO plays in supporting the Northern Ireland economy. The opportunity to contribute to a firm that is deeply invested in local businesses, and regional growth was a real selling point for me.
What does Be Yourself mean to you and how does this impact your experience at work?
To me, “Be Yourself” means having the confidence and freedom to show up every day as the real version of who I am, not a filtered version that fits what I think a workplace expects. It’s about being able to speak openly about my life, my partner, and my interests without feeling like I need to hold anything back.
The impact this has on my experience at work is significant. When I feel comfortable being myself, I’m more relaxed, more engaged, and more able to build genuine relationships with the people around me. It removes that layer of self‑monitoring that can make work feel formal or distant. Instead, it creates an environment where I can focus fully on my role within Advisory, contribute confidently to discussions, and feel part of a team that values people for who they are. That sense of authenticity makes work more enjoyable and makes me feel more connected to the culture at BDO.
I feel genuinely privileged to work in an organisation that encourages me to put myself forward for opportunities and events, knowing I can show up as my true self and celebrated for that.
How is BDO supporting our LGBTQ+ community?
BDO supports the LGBTQ+ community by creating an environment where people feel safe, respected, and able to be open about who they are. Recently, BDO achieved the Diversity Mark Silver Award which recognises the intentional work been done to make the workplace inclusive and make sure people feel safe and supported.
BDO operate an open-door policy which means conversations with leadership are easy and informal, which makes it much simpler to raise questions, share experiences, or seek support without feeling like you’re crossing a boundary. That accessibility reinforces the message that everyone’s identity and perspective matters.
Now working alongside our established lived experience programme, we are curating a Pride and Ally Network, creating a dedicated space for LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies to connect, feel visible, and access support.
All of these steps together create an environment where people feel safe, respected, and empowered to bring their full selves to work.
How can allies support our LGBTQ+ colleagues?
Allies can support LGBTQ+ colleagues by challenging assumptions, using inclusive language, and stepping in when they see behaviour that doesn’t reflect our values. Effective allyship also means being willing to champion initiatives that may not directly benefit them but make a meaningful difference to others, such as adopting inclusive practices like pronouns in email signatures or actively participating in networks such as a Pride Network to show visible support for colleagues.
To mark Pride, Assistant Manager, Kirsten Doran, has shared her reflections on her experiences and how our firm supports her to be her true self.
What first attracted you to joining BDO?
Coming from big 4, I was initially attracted to BDO because it offered the same high professional standards and expertise I was used to but within a more personable team environment. I wanted to work somewhere where the culture felt genuinely people centred, where leadership was accessible and you can visibly make a difference.
I was also really motivated by the role BDO plays in supporting the Northern Ireland economy. The opportunity to contribute to a firm that is deeply invested in local businesses, and regional growth was a real selling point for me.
What does Be Yourself mean to you and how does this impact your experience at work?
To me, “Be Yourself” means having the confidence and freedom to show up every day as the real version of who I am, not a filtered version that fits what I think a workplace expects. It’s about being able to speak openly about my life, my partner, and my interests without feeling like I need to hold anything back.
The impact this has on my experience at work is significant. When I feel comfortable being myself, I’m more relaxed, more engaged, and more able to build genuine relationships with the people around me. It removes that layer of self‑monitoring that can make work feel formal or distant. Instead, it creates an environment where I can focus fully on my role within Advisory, contribute confidently to discussions, and feel part of a team that values people for who they are. That sense of authenticity makes work more enjoyable and makes me feel more connected to the culture at BDO.
I feel genuinely privileged to work in an organisation that encourages me to put myself forward for opportunities and events, knowing I can show up as my true self and celebrated for that.
How is BDO supporting our LGBTQ+ community?
BDO supports the LGBTQ+ community by creating an environment where people feel safe, respected, and able to be open about who they are. Recently, BDO achieved the Diversity Mark Silver Award which recognises the intentional work been done to make the workplace inclusive and make sure people feel safe and supported.
BDO operate an open-door policy which means conversations with leadership are easy and informal, which makes it much simpler to raise questions, share experiences, or seek support without feeling like you’re crossing a boundary. That accessibility reinforces the message that everyone’s identity and perspective matters.
Now working alongside our established lived experience programme, we are curating a Pride and Ally Network, creating a dedicated space for LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies to connect, feel visible, and access support.
All of these steps together create an environment where people feel safe, respected, and empowered to bring their full selves to work.
How can allies support our LGBTQ+ colleagues?
Allies can support LGBTQ+ colleagues by challenging assumptions, using inclusive language, and stepping in when they see behaviour that doesn’t reflect our values. Effective allyship also means being willing to champion initiatives that may not directly benefit them but make a meaningful difference to others, such as adopting inclusive practices like pronouns in email signatures or actively participating in networks such as a Pride Network to show visible support for colleagues.