GLAAD’s National Board of Directors met earlier this summer to elect new Board Members and discuss GLAAD’s current work to accelerate LGBTQ acceptance. The Board also visited the annual Out in the Vineyard event during their meeting.
GLAAD is proud to announce the newest members joining our National Board of Directors. The three dedicated activists include CCO of Livent Corporation Juan Carlos Cruz, CEO of FOLX Health Liana Douillet Guzmán, and writer and activist Zeke Smith.
Juan Carlos Cruz, born and raised in Santiago, Chile, is a respected figure in both the corporate and humanitarian world; he has expertise in strategic communications, brand management, sustainability, and global public affairs.
As a Journalism and Communications graduate, Cruz began his professional career as a journalist in his home country before relocating to the United States, where he has spent the past 20 years.
Cruz currently works at Livent Corporation, one of the world’s leading lithium producers, serving as the current Chief Communications Officer as well as the Global Head of Public Affairs and Sustainability. Over the course of his career, he has held key executive positions in prominent global companies like DuPont, Manpower Group, Banco Popular, and United Airlines.
Beyond his corporate commitments, Cruz is a noted author and humanitarian. He has authored two influential books: “El Fin de la Inocencia” and “Abuso y Poder.” His impactful writings and contributions to society have earned him the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor for humanitarian work in 2015.
Cruz’s commitment to helping others extends beyond his written work. In 2010, he co-founded the Fundación para la Confianza, a foundation dedicated to supporting survivors and preventing abuse through safeguarding. Additionally, in 2018, he played a pivotal role in establishing Centro CUIDA, the first research center in the world dedicated to studying and investigating societal abuse at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
As a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Vatican, Juan Carlos works tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. He works closely with Pope Francis to denounce the criminalization of LGBTQ people around the globe, showcasing his commitment to creating a safer and more equitable world.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Juan Carlos has also been deeply involved in humanitarian efforts in Ukraine to help women, children, and wounded soldiers and civilians find safety and receive necessary medical care in other countries. His contribution in facilitating humanitarian corridors has been vital in bringing those in need to hospitals where they can receive treatment. He has received two medals from the Ukrainian government and Border Guards for his contributions.
Juan Carlos resides in Washington D.C., where he continues his work in advocating for a safer, sustainable, and equitable world for the LGBTQ community and society’s most vulnerable.
Liana Douillet Guzmán is the CEO of FOLX Health, the first digital healthcare service provider designed by and for the medical needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. In this role, she oversees strategy and day-to-day operations of the company as it works to bring its affirming and equitable healthcare for the LGBTQIA+ community to all 50 states. Guzmán’s role at FOLX Health has further increased diversity in the company’s C-Suite, and she works to empower other queer women across the nation.
Guzmán most recently served as the Chief Marketing Officer of Skillshare, the leading online learning community for creatives. As CMO, she played a key role in the company’s explosive growth, responsible for brand marketing, acquisition, communications, partnerships, and sales.
Prior to joining Skillshare, Liana served as COO of Blockchain. Under her leadership at Blockchain, the company’s usership grew from 4 million to 40 million within two years. Her work has been recognized by Fast Company, Time, and Forbes, among others.
Guzmán split her childhood split between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Guilford, CT.
Zeke Smith is a writer, comedian, and speaker based in Los Angeles.
Smith is best known for competing on two seasons of CBS’s Survivor. Smith became a role model to millions around the world after graciously and skillfully responding to his public outing as a transgender man by one of his competitors on national television.
When “Survivor: Game Changers” went on to win the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Series in 2018, Smith accepted the honor on behalf of the show at the GLAAD Rising Stars Luncheon. GLAAD worked closely with CBS and Smith to make sure that when the episode aired, Smith would have the opportunity to speak about his identity and his experience for himself.
When accepting the award, Smith spoke about how being on the show changed his life. “My grand public outing made global headlines. Together, we changed millions of people’s perceptions of transgender people,” he said. “We shattered stereotypes. We created a worldwide conversation about privacy and respect.” He said that, “Over the past year, I’ve met a lot of trans kids. Transitioning in middle and high school is hard. I see these kids struggling to retain hope that they’ll have an equal shot in the world. LGBTQ visibility on television matters because for many it is the only chance to glimpse their future. And to see that it is very bright.”
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis made a statement on why “Survivor: Game Changers” and Smith were so deserving of this honor. “Reality television has long been at the forefront of LGBTQ inclusion on the small screen, and Survivor: Game Changers continued that legacy with its thoughtful and responsible handling of Zeke Smith’s story,” she said. “By ensuring that Zeke would have the opportunity to share his story in his own words, the show sparked a national conversation about the trans community.”
Smith now works as an advocate for the LGBTQ community with his fiancé Nico Santos, who he proposed to on stage at the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in LA.
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Smith’s screenplay WASPS! was recently featured in GLAAD and The Black List’s The GLAAD List. Smith also worked as a creative consultant and contributor on the Netflix documentary Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen.
Smith also travels the United States delivering keynote speeches on the necessity of “blazing one’s own trail and the vital importance of allyship.”
Read more about our board of directors here.