The story of Elton Ilirjani and his impact on the employment industry and LGTBQ rights
Elton Ilirjani is a well-known influential advocate for the LGBTQ community rights and the founder of one of the greatest HR organizations, known by the name of The Headhunter.
With offices in 20 different countries around the world, Elton Ilirjani embarked on his journey to building an all-inclusive, non-discriminative system of employment and fight against workplace discrimination.
His story was shared and broadcasted in NHK WORLD JAPAN, the international broadcast service of NHK, Japan’s sole and one of the biggest public broadcasters in the world.
Elton began this mission in the year of 2009, as he shared his own negative experience with employment and being part of the LGBTQ community in his homeland, Albania. He expresses his understanding towards both his countryʼs past and struggles with being under the communist oppression, and the struggles of the LGBTQ community with being accepted, respected and employed in equal terms as everyone else.
His negative experience pushed him to found an organization that would later on change the game of employment and provide better working conditions for the LGBTQ community and everyone else. At the age of 29, Elton founded The Headhunter, and entered a new phase in his journey that would later on reach renowned success and transform the industry into what it claims to be today; fair, inclusive and diverse.
Eltonʼs appreciation towards diversity and his own experience with discrimination, urged him to create a tool known as LGBTQ Employment Equality Index. This index was designed to measure inclusivity and evaluate businesses based on the working conditions, policies and terms they offered their employees. This index brought to light the issues of many businesses, organizations and companies that had practiced discrimination on members of the LGBTQ community during their employment procedures.
The LGBTQ Employment Equality Index attracted the attention of many, including the UN Women Council, who deeply appreciated this movement and its positive effect on the employment market.
Elton expressed how he had always been differentiated from the rest of his friends, and how him being considered as more feminine had affected his perspective in understanding the discrimination of women and their value in society, so this index was a powerful tool that positively served women and their evolvement in the employment industry as well.
However, The LGBTQ Employment Equality Index was not his only movement.
Understanding the discrimination practiced upon the transgender community, Elton started a new movement known as The Lipstick Movement. Knowing he wanted to make an impact through setting an example, he decided to wear lipstick of different, bright colors to highlight the importance of diversity and show his support to transgender people and raise awareness.
Through this impactful movement, Elton made his debut into the fashion industry, where he is today known for promoting genderless fashion and inspiring his followers with his fearless, expressive and influential character.
Elton Ilirjani serves as a powerful example of fearless action, as he states that love kills all fears. His impact on raising awareness regarding inclusivity and the importance of it in the employment market has marked a significant and positive
change in the employment industry. Now and 15 years later, his movement, The Headhunter and his contribution to the LGBTQ Community are deeply appreciated by people all over the world.
