Davos 2019 - Press Conference: How can business improve inclusion of people with disabilities?

TL;DR

Leaders at the World Economic Forum discuss how businesses can improve inclusion of people with disabilities.

Transcript

ladies and gentlemen good afternoon and welcome to this press conference from the fourth day of the 49th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum here in Davos thank you for joining us here in the room thank you for joining us on the live stream whether you're watching on Facebook Twitter or our website we were definitely very happy for you to tu... Read More

Key Insights

• 😫 The valuable 500 initiative aims to drive disability inclusion in businesses by setting targets for board commitments and advocacy.
• ❓ Companies like Accenture and Fujitsu prioritize disability inclusion to harness talent, innovation, and social impact.
• 🌐 Efforts by leaders like Paul Polman emphasize the need for a global mindset and human willpower to address disability inclusion challenges.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the valuable 500 initiative and how does it aim to promote disability inclusion in businesses?

The valuable 500 initiative challenges 500 companies worldwide to prioritize disability inclusion by putting it on their board agenda, making commitments for change, and promoting it internally and externally.

Q: How are businesses like Accenture and Fujitsu incorporating disability inclusion in their operations?

Companies like Accenture and Fujitsu are implementing programs for talent acquisition, accessibility, and mental health support, emphasizing the business benefits of diversity and inclusion.

Q: Why is it challenging to prioritize disability inclusion in businesses, according to the panel?

The panel highlights unconscious biases, lack of leadership commitment, and prioritization issues in diversity and inclusion agendas as factors hindering the focus on disability inclusion in businesses.

Q: How can global companies like Unilever support disability inclusion in regions with additional challenges?

Unilever's commitment to hiring 8,000 people with disabilities sets an example for global companies to support disability inclusion worldwide by fostering a culture of diff-ability and human empowerment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Caroline Casey introduces the valuable 500 initiative to promote disability inclusion in businesses worldwide.

• Julie Sweet from Accenture shares insights on the business benefits of disability inclusion.

• Paul Polman of Unilever emphasizes the importance of diff-ability and global collaboration in addressing disability inclusion.