Conversations with Vincent McNeeley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vincent McNeeley.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up as a once-closeted gay kid in Kansas, moving constantly because of my dad’s work in media production. By the time I graduated high school, I had attended more schools than I could count. It was a childhood shaped by constant change, carrying my sense of belonging in a backpack, and learning to adapt to new places, cultures, and people on the fly. At the time, it often felt isolating, but looking back, it gave me a gift: a deep curiosity about the world, a respect for its diversity, and a belief that every community deserves to feel seen, valued, and respected.
That curiosity became my compass. As soon as I could, I sought out experiences that let me explore not only different places, but different ways of thinking and living. Travel for me has never been just about destinations, it’s about connection. Whether trekking through the Rockies, working remotely from a jungle in Southeast Asia, or navigating new cities as a digital nomad, each journey has been an opportunity to listen, learn, and build bridges across cultures.

Professionally, that same adventurous spirit has shaped my career. I’ve worked within, around, and outside of systems to make them more inclusive, from scaling one of the fastest growing and numerous award-winning LGBTQ+ employee groups in tech and embedding inclusive language standards into global product suites, to producing globally recognized LGBTQ+ storytelling and building ethical technology platforms like EMPWRD AI. My work has touched the lives of people all over the world in one way or another, sometimes through technology, sometimes through partnerships that reach across borders, and always with the goal of making the world a little more just and connected.

Today, my life is an intersection of travel, technology, human rights and social change. I’ve learned that adventure isn’t just about where you go, it’s about what you bring back, the relationships you form, and the ways you use those experiences to create impact. I may have started as a kid in Kansas dreaming of a bigger world, but I’ve been fortunate to build a life where that bigger world is my daily reality, and where every journey, literal or figurative, is a chance to help shape a future rooted in dignity, possibility, and belonging for all.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all, but I’ve learned that the bumps and detours have shaped me just as much as the victories. Growing up, moving constantly, and hiding parts of myself to feel safe created a deep sense of uncertainty. I learned early on how to adapt, but I also carried the weight of never feeling fully at home anywhere.
In my career, I’ve navigated challenges that ranged from being underestimated because of my identity to working within systems that weren’t designed for people like me. There have been times I’ve poured myself into projects I believed in, only to face resistance from leaders unwilling to change or to have funding disappear overnight.

Living a life of travel and adventure has its own struggles too, it sounds romantic, but working from the road can be isolating, and not having a “home base” means you’re constantly rebuilding your support system. I’ve had moments of intense loneliness and times where the uncertainty of where I’d land next felt overwhelming.

But those struggles have also been my greatest teachers. They’ve taught me how to work within, around, and outside of systems to create change. They’ve made me more empathetic, more resourceful, and more committed to building spaces, whether in tech, community, or storytelling — where belonging isn’t an afterthought, but the starting point

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At my core, I’m a connector, of people, ideas, and systems. I’ve built my career at the crossroads of human rights, technology, and social change, and I love creating solutions that are as empathetic as they are innovative.
Today, I lead fundraising, partnerships, and product design for several mission-aligned ventures. That includes The GenderCool Project, where I’ve helped grow partnerships and earned media that reached over 10 million people globally, collaborating with Netflix, Pixar, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and The Advocate. I also work with Free Lion Productions as Executive Producer on a PBS-bound LGBTQ+ docu-series, support Perfectly Here, a nonprofit teaching mindfulness and trauma healing in underserved communities, and help guide product and partnership strategy for EMPWRD AI, a community-trained platform built with and by underrepresented communities to counter bias and center dignity.

Through EMPWRD, I’ve forged partnerships with organizations like TONL, whose inclusive image-generation technology reflects the diversity of our world; Queerly, which amplifies LGBTQ+ voices; and Black Women in AI, which champions representation and leadership in artificial intelligence.

Beyond my work with established organizations, I also lead my own ventures. Adventures With Vincent is my personal strategy company and storytelling brand, where I help purpose-driven organizations harness the power of narrative, foresight, and innovation to inspire change. And with my former PRIDE@VMware co-lead Natasha Zike, I co-founded Adventures in Belonging, a community-strengthening initiative that brings together thought leaders and everyday changemakers to tackle loneliness, build resilience, and create spaces where everyone can truly be.

Before this chapter, I spent eight years at VMware leading global programs and strengthening partnerships with Apple, the U.S. government, and education systems. One of the projects I’m proudest of was leadership on the Apple Education initiative, which brought the shared-iPad experience to millions of students worldwide. I also co-led PRIDE@VMware, scaling one of the fastest growing LGBTQ+ employee groups in tech, and helped pilot inclusive naming standards now used globally across product suites and codebases. Along the way, I’ve helped drive more than 1,500 patents through innovation programs and lead teams honored with multiple international diversity awards.

I’ve spoken on stages from Stanford’s Planet Positive 2030 to the Out & Equal Workplace Summit, and whether I’m in a boardroom, a film studio, or trekking through the Rockies, my goal is the same: to build ecosystems where people feel they belong and ensure the systems we create today are worthy of the future we all deserve.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without an incredible network of mentors, collaborators, friends, and family who have shaped my journey and supported me through every high and low.
At Create Labs Ventures, I’ve had the privilege of working with Abran Maldonado, who has been both a mentor and an inspiration in my work with EMPWRD AI. His vision for ethical, community-driven technology has pushed me to think bigger and lead with even more intention.

Fiona Dawson, whom I first met at the Out and Equal Workplace Summit, has become a trusted collaborator and steadfast supporter. Our shared passion for storytelling and advocacy has led to projects I’m deeply proud of.

Natasha Zike, my global co-lead at PRIDE@VMware, inspired me to push for changes I might not have been brave enough to take on alone. Her partnership reminded me how much courage can grow in community.

At The GenderCool Project, John Grosshandler has shown me the true power of stories to shape our world and shift hearts and minds.

During my time at VMware, Naveen Pitchandi on the R&D team was an incredible ally and champion for our inclusive naming pilot. His leadership and openness set a powerful example for what inclusive leadership looks like in action.

From Perfectly Here, Dr. Manijeh Motaghy has taught me the power of mindfulness as a foundation for a fulfilling and joyful life.

And of course, my family — my mom, dad, and brother — have always been in my corner, supporting me in all my ventures. My cousin Alexandra Martinez has been there from day one of my coming-out journey and in some of my most vulnerable moments.

Outside of work, my adventure partner Usha Kamath has joined me in exploring several national parks, reminding me of the joy in curiosity and nature. And my best friend and favorite historian KeVon’te Hall has shaped how I see the world through a more informed, grounded, and historically rich lens than ever before.

Each of these people has played a role in not just my professional success, but in making me the kind of person and leader I strive to be every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://adventureswithvincent.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/adventureswithvincent/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentmcneeley/
• Other: https://empwrd.ai and https://gendercool.org