As a founding member of Carlson Compass, an organization that supports the professional development of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students, Justin Tidmarsh firmly believes that listening to -- and understanding -- different viewpoints is essential to a complete business education.

"I really enjoy interacting with students who bring a wide range of experiences to class," Justin says. "People with families and full-time careers often have different perspectives."

Justin feels that diversity is a value that can help companies advance. "In my admissions essay," he says, "I talked about establishing a GLBT group at Carlson because today's students are tomorrow's business leaders."

In addition to providing a network for GLBT students and their allies, Compass educates the workplace and the university on diversity issues and focuses on topics ranging from hiring practices to dealing effectively with situations at work.

"We can all learn from each other," says Justin. "We need to understand that a diverse workforce improves the bottom line, no matter what business you’re in. It's not just a feel-good thing. Bringing in diverse perspectives makes a better company."

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