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Mary Ann Horton - Transgender Activist, Computer Systems Architect, Internet Pioneer & Entrepreneur; Author of "Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Equality in Corporate America

Mary Ann Horton

Profile updated April 29, 2026
LocationTravels from Poway, CA, USA
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$5,000 - $10,000
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About Mary Ann Horton

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The event with Mary Ann went incredibly! That was a very special talk that I know we and the other ~50 attendees really appreciated.

Kara Morrison, Hudson River Trading LLC

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Can One Person Change the World?

In the 1990s, the "industry standard" for a transgender professional was to pass, quit, move, and start over. That expectation ended in 1997, when Dr. Mary Ann Horton persuaded Lucent Technologies to become the first Fortune 500 company in history to add transgender-inclusive language to its corporate nondiscrimination policy.

In this powerful keynote, Dr. Horton shares the inside story of how that change happened—the strategy, the data, the resistance, and the moment Lucent said "yes." Tracing the ripple effect from Lucent to Apple, Avaya, and eventually 95% of the Fortune 500, Dr. Horton connects this history directly to the challenges HR professionals and ERG leaders face in 2026. She opens with a provocative question and ends with an empowering challenge: "Can one person change the world? Yes. And you can too."

Key Takeaways:

  • The "Business Case" for Inclusion: Learn how to leverage data and strategic policy to move DEI initiatives from "nice to have" to a business imperative.
  • Mastering Institutional Change: Gain a masterclass on how to navigate internal resistance and build consensus at the executive level.
  • Empowered Leadership: Understand how to connect your daily actions to long-term institutional change, regardless of your role or title.

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Books by Mary Ann Horton

Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Equality in Corporate America - Book by Mary Ann Horton

Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Equality in Corporate America” (2022)

Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Equality in Corporate America

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