Event Summary: “Measuring Inclusion” Panel

The “Measuring Inclusion” panel included Caroline Casey, the entrepreneur and activist behind The Valuable 500, Martin Kocher, austria's minister for labour and economy and Erich Lehner the managing partner markets at EY Austria with moderation by Fides Raffel, myAbility Head of Solutions. The discussion was initiated with opening words from myAbility managing director Wolfgang Kowatsch, who brought attention to the concept of "Bold Europe." He highlighted the critical objective of striving not only for a Europe marked by peace, democracy, and diversity but also underscored the importance of nurturing an inclusive Europe.

Caroline Casey followed his words with the statement, "Inclusion means all for everyone, or not at all."

Her passion lies in creating a shared world that defines all of us, rather than one where we simply fit in. Drawing from personal experiences, she shed light on the psychological barriers that individuals face when revealing their true selves. She emphasized that openly discussing disabilities can cultivate awareness and encourage leaders to initiate change within their organization. For enduring transformation within the system, leaders must proactively step forward, as they are the ones who can effectively enhance their organizations.

Turning to the challenges and opportunities of measuring inclusion, Martin Kocher referred to a well-known principle from Peter Drucker: "What gets managed, gets done. ", or more plainly “What gets measured gets done.”

He directed the conversation towards implementation challenges, stressing the importance of investing time and seeking support from organizations experienced in addressing inclusion. Martin Kocher recommended exploring established approaches, such as Retirement Programs, that are already geared towards tackling disability and healthcare issues.

Based on insights from various businesses, Erich Lehner highlighted the positive effects of diversity on a company’s overall success.

He emphasized the significance of inclusion in a company's core values, expressing," Sustainability reporting should be more important than financial reporting.”

Addressing the barriers within people’s minds Erich Lehner encouraged viewing inclusion as a positive element and not as a burden, framing it as a success factor.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) established by The Valuable 500 offer a straightforward way to measure a company's success in terms of inclusion and provide a basis for comparing it to others. More information about the whitepaper of The Valuable 500

• Workforce Representation: What percentage of the company’s workforce identifies as disabled/living with a disability?
• Goals: Which goals has the company defines specific to disability inclusion and how are business leaders measured against these goals?
• Training: Does your company provide disability inclusion training for its managers and employees?
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Does your company have a disability-specific Employee Resource Group (ERG) in place with an executive sponsor?
• Digital Accessibility: Has your company undertaken a review of the accessibility of its digital platforms and content? If not does the company have a plan to undertake a review over the next calendar year?

In conclusion, the panel underscored the significance of inclusion within the framework of ESG, serving as a reminder that true progress requires both intellect and empathy. With Caroline Casey, Martin Kocher, and Erich Lehner providing valuable insights, the discussion emphasized the need proactive leadership, the implementation of key performance indicators, and the integration of inclusion into a company's core values and strategic vision. The panel and especially the workshop highlighted that everyone can play a role in working towards a more inclusive Europe.

The workshop afterwards aimed to turn the panel’s insights into practical strategies. Attendees engaged in brainstorming sessions to come up with innovative approaches to encourage diversity and inclusion within their specific domains. They formulated Action Plans that outlined concrete steps for putting these ideas into practice and shared their insights with fellow participants.

As part of the European Forum Alpbach, myAbility hosted a C-Level Lunch, offering board members a platform for open and confidential discussions on inclusion. This event provided an opportunity for leaders to openly engage with the topic: Pictures Leadersnet

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