The impact of visible leadership: What five years of recognition can teach us about inclusion

BMO is proud to recognize John McNain, Head of North American Retail & Small Business Payments, for being named to the Outstanding Executives Role Model List. This marks his fifth consecutive year on the list, which recognizes leaders advancing 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion in business. 

For John, the recognition reflects an approach to leadership he has demonstrated consistently throughout his career. Representation and visibility have long shaped how he leads, informed in part by the encouragement and support he received earlier in his own journey. Today, he carries that forward by mentoring colleagues, making space for different perspectives, recognizing others’ contributions and speaking up against discrimination. 

These behaviours reflect the kind of inclusive leadership we strive to foster at BMO: creating the conditions for people to contribute, grow and succeed, while strengthening teams through different perspectives and experiences. They also demonstrate that inclusive leadership is built through consistency, in the everyday choices leaders make about whose voices they seek out, whose contributions they recognize and where they create opportunities for others. 

“The support we give others can have a ripple effect far beyond what we realize. A conversation, an introduction, a mentor or simply seeing someone like you succeed can change what you believe is possible. I benefited from those moments in my own journey, and I feel both a responsibility and a privilege to create them for others.” 

- John McNain, Head, North American Retail & Small Business Payments 

That commitment extends into the community. John has spearheaded BMO’s Rainbow Deposits initiative, which has raised $200,000 for Rainbow Railroad since 2022, served as a Director of Rainbow Railroad and is currently on the board of Kids Help Phone. 

Together, these efforts show how leadership and advocacy can extend beyond the workplace, using visibility and influence to create a sense of belonging, open opportunities and turn support into meaningful action. 

For established and aspiring leaders alike, there’s a lesson worth carrying forward: visible leadership can have its greatest impact when it creates space for others. Whether that means inviting a perspective that might otherwise go unheard, recognizing someone’s contribution or opening a door for another person to grow, leadership is also about helping others see what’s possible for themselves.