Meet Our Board: Chair Stephen Miranda on Leadership, Responsibility & the Road Ahead
“Community leadership is a responsibility, not a role.”
As we continue to celebrate a Decade of Impact, we’re proud to spotlight the leaders who help shape and guide the work of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.
Behind every milestone the Chamber celebrates are leaders who show up, lean in, and help move the work forward.
Stephen Miranda, our Board Chair, brings a unique blend of strategic insight, lived experience, and deep commitment to community. His leadership reflects not only where the Chamber has been, but where we are headed—grounded in purpose, driven by impact, and focused on building an economy where everyone belongs.
In this conversation, Stephen shares his journey, his perspective on leadership as a responsibility, and his vision for the road ahead as we step into our next decade.
Leadership Journey
You’ve been involved with the Chamber for some time. What originally drew you to this work, and what has kept you engaged over the years?
When I moved back to Houston in 2016 (ten years ago…can you believe it?), despite being a native Houstonian, I didn’t know anyone. I had gone off to college out of state and began to build my career on the other side of the country. But I had the good fortune of meeting Jack Berger, who invited me to a gathering at the home of Ken Ng and Charles McFerrin, where I met Gary Wood.
I mention these names because they are all connected to the Chamber, and remain close friends to this day. Gary invited me to my first Chamber event in 2017 at a Chamber member location, and I was so impressed by the people in the room and the mission of the organization.
My previous exposures to Chambers of Commerce were dry seminars on how to take better advertisement photos on the latest version of the iPhone. Or a pancake breakfast where people went around the table complaining about things that don’t matter. This was different.
This community of leaders was not only committed to economic growth for its members, but rather focused on how the Chamber could be a force for economic growth and prosperity for the broader community – I was hooked.
How has your professional background shaped the way you approach leadership and service within the Chamber?
One of the best decisions I made while in college (the University of Oklahoma – boomer sooner!) was pursuing a Minor in Nonprofit Organizational Studies. The academic track was in its infancy and was led by a local industry leader (retired Executive Director of the Oklahoma Women’s Commission and former Program Officer for the Sarkeys Foundation – someone who has worked on both sides of philanthropy), whom the university tapped to build the program.
With our instructor having no formal background in higher education or teaching, this was a true practicum, where our weekly classes were either hands-on case studies with her or lectures/Q&As with nonprofit leaders from around the state. This all culminated in a required internship, where I worked with the Oklahoma Women’s Commission as a consultant to help them develop a much-needed strategic plan. This experience propelled me in my early career, where I spent three seasons with the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, Minnesota, working as a part of their arts administration team.
Many years later, building on a career shift long ago, I now work with high & ultra-high net worth entrepreneurs, multi-generational families/family offices, large philanthropic institutions (universities, hospitals, museums, etc.), and closely held companies to develop and execute financial planning/wealth-building strategies. A different kind of strategic planning, if you will.
If there’s a through-line here, it’s that my academic and professional experiences, though varied, have given me a keen eye as I help sharpen the vision for this Chamber. My background in nonprofit management and my work in balance sheet growth and efficiency is the lens through which I advise Tammi and the team. It also helps me make hard decisions with confidence. I believe this leadership opportunity found me at the right time in my career, and in my personal life, so that I can truly be effective in propelling this organization into its second decade.
How has your understanding of “community leadership” evolved through your time with the Chamber?
Something that has always been front and center for me is community leadership as a responsibility, not a role. I grew up in this community. I am a gay man with gay parents, reared in a time when there were no visible gay families. Our existence was an experiment, and we were met with many seemingly insurmountable challenges – both big (i.e. single-parent adoptions not being legal in Texas until I was almost 18 years old) and small (for a long time, my parents couldn’t have a joint auto insurance policy).
This presented a real immediacy to me around activism and involvement.
I do not do this work to pad my resume or fill my calendar. I do this because I must.
Our community needs people who are willing to authentically and selflessly step up for the betterment of all of us and do what it takes – sacrifice.
A lot of my life has been put on hold, or on the line, to keep up with the demands of my “day job and gay job(s).” I lose time with family and loved ones – which sometimes means ultimately losing them altogether. I lose professional opportunities due to my visibility while working in a conservative industry in a conservative state. And I lose a lot of sleep – both from being busy, but also from the weight of the stories and injustices that propel me deeper into this movement.
But it’s worth it because it matters, and someone has to step up. And my share of this heavy load is so much smaller than the champions around me, like Tammi Wallace, so I feel it’s my duty to do everything I can.
Being a part of the Chamber leadership has shown me that there is power in this work. The rooms I have been in – from City Hall to the White House – representing not just our organization, but our community as a whole, have been both rewarding and challenging.
The reward is in being able to walk through doors that were locked to generations before me. The challenge is to build on the progress we’ve gained when negotiating with very powerful people – and the stakes are much higher, the higher up you go.
Often, when people hear the word “community,” it feels very local and lacking significance. This work in this organization has completely dispelled that for me. Tammi Wallace has built this Chamber into a formidable institution that is highly regarded and has elevated the way our “community” is received and respected.
Connection to the Chamber
When you reflect on your journey with the Chamber, what moments or milestones stand out most to you?
I was exceptionally proud when the Chamber won the Rising Star Affiliate Chamber of the Year award at the 2023 National LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of Commerce International Business & Leaders Conference.
So often we identify leaders in our movement from our most progressive corners of the country – but to be recognized for the work we are doing in one of the most conservative, anti-LGBTQ+ places as a national leader was very validating.
I am also keenly aware that this gives hope to so many groups and leaders in equally (if not more) conservative regions, that they, too, can have an impact. You don’t have to leave your home for things to get better. You can fight for your dignity and your equality right where you are - and win. And not just for yourself and your community today, but for generations to come. It’s powerful when you can be a part of the ripple effects of change, and I am really proud of what we are doing here in Texas – and it was very meaningful to be recognized on the national stage.
Why do you believe the Chamber’s role is especially critical in today’s economic, political, and social climate?
The greatest shield we have against injustice is economic empowerment.
Many of the ways we are seeing this presidential and gubernatorial administration attack our community are by limiting or revoking access to public funding or public resources pertaining to healthcare and basic support services.
We, as a community and network of business leaders, can solve that. We are a network of 500+ employers and leaders within 70+ major corporations. We have the ability to point our community members to employment opportunities and to work with these private companies to ensure their benefits fully cover the diverse and unique needs of our community.
And because of this connectivity, we often have the ability to exist in rooms with decision-makers and C-suite leadership to push our allies into advocacy, taking the economic argument for DEI to the highest halls of power. Our work provides safety and progress – often quietly, but always effectively.
As Board Chair, what responsibility do you feel in helping guide the organization during this moment?
Many people quote Harvey Milk’s famous line – “Hope will never be silent” but have never read or listened to the full Hope Speech. I highly recommend it.
On June 25, 1978, Milk delivered one of the most powerful and important speeches in our gay history on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall for Gay Freedom Day, commonly referred to as “The Hope Speech,” where he said:
“I can't forget the looks on faces of people who've lost hope…in San Francisco, three days before Gay Pride Day, a person was killed just because he was gay. And that night, I walked among the sad and the frustrated at City Hall in San Francisco and later that night as they lit candles on Castro Street and stood in silence, reaching out for some symbolic thing that would give them hope.
These were strong people, whose faces I knew from the shop, the streets, meetings and people who I never saw before but I knew. They were strong, but even they needed hope. And the young gay people in the Altoona, Pennsylvanias, and the Richmond, Minnesotas, who are coming out …The only thing they have to look forward to is hope.
And you have to give them hope. Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right...because if a gay person makes it, the doors are open to everyone.”
There are so many responsibilities in this role – but the greatest among them, to me, is to keep the light on when times grow dark.
I can’t forget the looks on faces of people in the Chamber who’d lost hope, whether it was the hollow faces that gathered at the November breakfast after the election results in 2024, just needing to be around each other in a space where common feelings could be shared. Or when we went to the State Capitol in Austin for our Chamber Advocacy Day, and were openly called disgusting by lawmakers and had our recognition on the House Floor stripped from us. Or when the Federal Reserve cancelled our Thrive Small Business Summit two days before the event, just because of who we are. I can go on and on.
While we may lose some traction on our climb, we can never lose hope that we will make it to the top.
And I am here to remind all of you that together, we can and we will.
Board Leadership & Stewardship
What perspective does long-term involvement give you as Board Chair that newer leaders may not yet have?
Relationships are your currency. The pressure of needing results can tempt you into improperly calibrating your triage as you navigate a constant flow of new introductions and connections, because you are always seeking to fuel your organization (whether that’s real dollars, memberships, sponsorships, or opportunities).
And quick wins are great! But the most meaningful (and often most significant and lasting) opportunities take time to foster – and they are worth the wait. No time spent meeting people who could potentially help your organization grow, or connecting with potential partners is a waste of time, even if the fruit of that labor will reveal itself years after you’ve gone. And the deeper your rolodex, the stronger your foundation.
The Moment We’re In
What issues or opportunities for the LGBTQ+ and Allied community feel most urgent right now?
In so many ways, the house is on fire – and it is imperative for people in our community to feel the urgency of the intersectional issues that are front and center for so many of us, rather than remaining blissfully unaware and siloed.
We are in an uncomfortably scary time, where the President of the United States is spewing transphobia and racism and xenophobia near daily, but a member of our demographic (certainly not our community) is one of his highest cabinet appointees. This is dangerous because it creates a precedent that there are “good gays” and everyone else –this not who we are as a community or as Chamber.
We must move forward in lock step as one community – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, immigrant, Black, White, Latino, AAPI, Indigenous, etc., because all of these communities comprise our community.
Our resistance must be unified, otherwise it will be futile.
How do you see the Board’s role in balancing legacy, growth, and innovation as the Chamber moves forward?
We have intentionally evolved into a Governing Board of Directors. I have been so fortunate to have served in leadership of the Chamber during a transitional period between a purely operational board, that served as the day-to-day “staff” of the organization, to the structure we have today – and learned many lessons from the institutional knowledge passed down by former fellow Board Members.
My goal has been to support Tammi in building infrastructure and systems for the Chamber to strategize its growth in this next decade. This organization has experienced explosive growth over the past 3 years, and to continue to scale at this level, we need the right individuals/roles to support the membership that we have, expand our programming intentionally, and provide the leadership with the operational support that can allow them to focus on the strategic initiatives and partnerships that will propel us even further.
When I joined the organization, we had 2 individuals contracted for our administrative support and Tammi Wallace serving as CEO & President. In my first year on the Board, we added the Director of Corporate Relations role. Today, the Chamber has a phenomenal team of seven individuals, and, with a few more additions to come, we will be able to meet this moment in an efficient and powerful way.
Celebrating 10 Years of Impact
The Chamber is celebrating its 10-Year Anniversary. What does this milestone represent to you personally as a leader who has helped shape its journey?
This anniversary is an affirmation that the work we do and the impact we are making is relevant and urgent for our community. We wouldn’t still be here, growing as fast as we are, if there wasn’t a need for the economic ecosystem we are building, and the powerful network that we are fostering.
Looking back over the past decade, what are you most proud of in terms of the Chamber’s accomplishments?
Like any successful business, we have been an organization that isn’t afraid to take risks. Pushing budgetary boundaries in this political climate, as a diverse and diversity-centered organization, can be scary – but we are committed to our obligation to our members, which requires us to lean in regardless of the headwinds.
Growing the organization’s team, including bringing Tammi Wallace on as a full-time paid President and CEO. Most people don’t realize that she worked effectively full-time on the Chamber for the first five years of the organization with no compensation. The budget has obviously grown and there have been many times that we had to uncomfortably say yes to budget decisions and then work very hard to meet the requirements of that decision. But we haven’t let fear hold us back.
Why is it important to pause and mark this moment—not just to celebrate, but to recommit to the work ahead?
In many ways, we are an organization that exists to put itself out of business. If we truly achieve the equality we seek, then there will not be a need for an LGBTQ+ chamber. Unfortunately, I am not sure that day will come anytime soon.
While our programs and events are filled with joy and hope, we cannot forget that the reason we come together is to create opportunities for one another in an economic landscape that discriminates against and excludes us.
And one of the most challenging characteristics of the times we are living in now is the regression and unwinding of decades of hard-fought victories that we assumed were a solid bedrock for our progress.
We are learning every day just how vulnerable our community is, and how tenuous our protections are.
But I am proud to be a part of an organization that provides a tangible way for people to “do something” and “fight back.” While our existence may be a form of resistance, our fortitude, self-reliance, and success will be our bulwark while fueling our ingenuity, innovation, and progress in this new era.
As we honor the first ten years, what must we intentionally protect, strengthen, or evolve to ensure the Chamber’s long-term impact?
The first ten years were about building the bones of the organization – strong programs, key relationships with fellow chambers locally and nationally, local/regional government partners, etc. – and getting the word out and holding the door open so that people could see who we are and what we do and come to participate.
This next chapter is going to feel different. Now that we have a strong base of members (almost 600 strong), we can clearly see both who is in the room, and who isn’t. We know who we need to bring into the organization from value-add/relational perspective, and we are going to be proactive in that development to bring in new cross-industrial members and partners to compliment and expand the existing membership.
We will continue to evaluate our programming with intentionality, targeting the needs of the members rather than offering more generic programming that can be universally suitable. This is our “strategic era,” and it is going to have a dramatic uplift in impact and ROI.
How can individuals and organizations support the Chamber in the decade ahead?
The most important thing you can do is spread the word. We are a big tent organization, and we have room for everybody. If you have friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, etc. that are looking for a place to build their network, sharpen their brand, make connections that turn into contracts, and be in community with likeminded individuals who celebrate and support one another – they should be a part of the Chamber.
Invite them to a 3rd Thursday Breakfast, or a First Friday Lunch, or even to have coffee with our Membership Manager and learn more about how to get involved. We want to meet them and be a part of their professional journey.
We also need your financial support. If we have helped you grow, please help us grow – whether that’s increasing your membership tier to the next level, sponsoring an event, or contributing to our pay-it-forward fund so that we can help emerging LGBTQ+ businesses participate in our programming, regardless of cost.
If you believe in the work of the Chamber, donate, whether to support our growth or to contribute to initiatives like the Pay It Forward Fund to underwrite memberships for businesses and nonprofits who do not have the means to join.
Lastly, we need you to succeed – because your success is our success, and we want to be an integral partner to you and your company. If there are ways we can support you, connections we can help facilitate, or even just setting time to help you strategize your next steps – let us be your guide.
Our value proposition is your prosperity and the impact you will be able to bring back to the community, and we are committed to helping you get there.
In one word, what should define the Chamber’s next decade?
Catalyze
Looking Ahead: Why Leadership Matters Now
Why is sustained leadership and engagement especially important at this moment in the Chamber’s history?
You can’t move forward with conviction unless you fully understand where you are, where you’ve been, and how you got here. But you also can’t be stuck in the rut of how things were done and shirk your responsibility to innovate for growth. This is why it’s so important to have a mix of new voices and longstanding members at the table so that their balanced perspective can help sharpen the vision for where we are headed.
Separately, we need leaders who are tough. There are plenty of good times to be had in this organization and in our community, but there are also many occasions where we are called upon to lead in dark times, tough rooms, and come face to face with our adversaries to advocate for our members, even when it seems futile.
We must keep showing up. That takes a bit of hardening, and you only get there after surviving a few battles – we need you to get in the fight, and we need you to stay in it with us. Your strength, and our collective courage is what this movement requires for survival.
In Closing…
Is there anything else you’d like to share as we mark this milestone year?
Simply, thank you. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of helping the Chamber reach its tenth anniversary. Thank you for believing in the mission and the leadership, for participating, and for showing up. We wouldn’t be here without you.
Thank You, Stephen
As we celebrate a Decade of Impact, we are deeply grateful for Stephen’s leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to this work.
He leads with purpose, conviction, and a deep sense of responsibility to community—setting the tone for what leadership looks like in this next chapter.
We are proud to have him guiding the Chamber into its second decade.
🔗 Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn.