The EBRD, in collaboration with Google, organises a half-day conference on Thursday 5 December 2019 to discuss the future of equality and inclusion in the workplace and to share best practices from leading companies in Central and Eastern Europe.
The regional conference builds on the current business momentum to address emerging economic inclusion in Central and Eastern Europe and explore solutions driven by the private sector under equal opportunities-related policies and practices across operations, including recruitment, outreach, training, retention, safety, promotion, advancement, family leave, as well as skills development strategies.
The landscape around diversity and inclusion in the workplace has changed significantly given demographics change and the rising awareness on fairness in the workplace. Employers are beginning to understand the importance of creating an equal and diverse workplace for attracting and retaining talent. Education around diversity and inclusion is no longer a “check-the-box” item, but a vital aspect of company culture.
An increasing number of millennials believe that organizations have a moral obligation to give back to the society in ways that create an inclusive environment for everyone to participate and thrive, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity or disability. What does this mean for the future landscape of the workplace? What can companies do to meet the demand of the new workforce?
The session aims at building the understanding of the audience in the following topics:
- Acknowledging progress on gender equality-based equal opportunities policies and practices and taking stock of emerging challenges (childcare provision, women on boards);
- Recognising the importance of wider diversity and equality in the future workplace landscape, especially for LGBTI and people with disabilities;
- Discussing the key issues facing companies around equality and diversity and the relevant advice to address them;
- Demonstrating the value of creating a diverse and equal workplace to facilitate peer-learning through sharing case studies and training opportunities.
Programme
12.00-13.00 Registration and lunch
13.00-13.15 Opening session: Beata Javorcik, Chief Economist, EBRD
13:15-13:45 Reducing inequalities: an enabler of corporate productivity and economic growth - Michał Myck, Director and Member of the Board, Centre for Economic Analysis
13:45-14:00 EU Work-life Balance Directive as a new start towards more inclusive labour market - Marzena Strzelczak, General Director of the Responsible Business Forum
14.00-15.00 Panel discussion I: The future landscape of workplace equality and diversity
- Melinda Miklos, CEO, WeAreOpen
- Elżbieta Wojtczak, CEO, Communication Unlimited, Co-author of the PowerGeneration report
- Perry Zizzi, Romania Managing Partner, Dentons, and Founder, Romanian Diversity Chamber of Commerce
- Barbara Rambousek, Director for Gender and Inclusion, EBRD
- Clare Novak, President, Business Leadership Qualities
- Moderation by Anna Kalczyńska, Journalist, TV Presenter at TVN
15.00-15.15 Coffee break
15.15-16.15 Panel discussion II: Leading by example: promoting inclusion, equality and diversity in the workplace
- Przemek Gdański, CEO and President of Management Board, BNP Paribas
- Magda Dziewguc, Head in the Clouds, Google
- Ewa Łabno-Falęcka, Director of Corporate Communication and External Affairs, Daimler
- Carolina García Gómez, CEO & CSO, IKEA Poland
- Ewa Krakowiak Swiatnicka, HR Head for Poland in JPMorgan Chase &Co.
- Konrad Rychlewski, Google’s AdSense, member of the Come CloSeR to Disability Task Force
- Moderation by Kamila Buchalska, Journalist at Dziennik Gazeta Prawna
16:15-16:30 Concluding remarks: Grzegorz Zielinski, Regional Director, Central Europe and the Baltics, EBRD
16:30 Networking reception
Google Campus,
Plac Konesera 10, Warsaw,
Poland
Magda’s expertise focuses on new technologies and their impact on business processes within organisations. It helped her to lead number of digital transformations. She is an expert in the fields of innovation, restructuring and building the culture of engagement and partnership. On a daily basis, she is a mum of three: Adam, Franek and Sonia. She actively works on projects which develop the presence of women in the public sphere. Magda strongly believes that two factors change the world for the better: new technologies and more decisions taken by women.
Ewa Łabno-Falęcka, Daimler
Dr Ewa Łabno-Falęcka: graduated of the Jagiellonian University (German Philology), Ph.D. in comparative studies at the University of Tübingen. Worked at universities in Poland and Germany. In the years 1993-1999 she councelor for culture at the Polish Embassy in Bonn / Germany). From 2000, responsible for communication and external affairs in the Daimler AG Group in Poland (a. o. Mercedes-Benz Polska and Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Poland).
Winner of many marketing and industry awards, including "Golden Arrow", "PRotony", "Thinking Outside of the Box" (twice), twice nominated for the European Excellence Award; “Businesswoman of the Year" (2016). ). Member of the Council of Superbrands and the Program Council of the Congress of Women. Co-founder and first president of the Partnership for Road Safety Association (2006-2010) and Society of Friends of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw (2008-2012)
Awarded by the Minister of Infrastructure "For Merit for Transport of the Republic of Poland" (2014) and Cross of Merit on the Ribbon of the Federal Republic of Germany (2019).
Przemek Gdański, BNP Paribas
Przemek Gdański graduated from the University of Gdańsk (MSc. in Economics) and took a one-year program in international banking and finance at Loughborough University in the UK. He completed Advanced Management Program at IESE Business School and several professional and executive development programs at Harvard Business School, London Business School, University of California, Berkeley - Haas School of Business, Ashridge - Hult International Business School and HEC.
He has nearly 30 years of banking experience. From 1993 to 1995 he worked for IBP Bank SA, then for ABN AMRO Bank in Poland, Romania and in the headquarters in Amsterdam. From 2002 to 2006 he was managing director of Large Corporates Division in BPH Bank. From May to November 2006 - CEO and general director of Calyon Bank Polska and Calyon SA Branch in Poland. In November 2006 he was appointed the position of deputy CEO in BPH Bank, responsible for corporate banking and real estate financing. After the merger of part of BPH Bank and Pekao SA - deputy CEO of Pekao SA, responsible for Corporate Banking, Markets and Investment Banking in Division. Member and vice president of the Management Board of mBank (formerly BRE Bank) from November 19, 2008 to October 25, 2017, responsible for Corporate and Investment Banking.
Since November 2, 2017 he was a Territory Head for BNP Paribas, supervising BNP Paribas Group’s enterprises in Poland. He has a proven record of supporting diversity, gender equality and women’s entrepreneurship. In March 2018 he has been awarded Male Champion of Change accolade presented by Success Written with Lipstick Foundation in the recognition of his achievements in advocacy for women and his encouragement of their professional development.
Carolina Garcia Gomez, IKEA
Carolina Garcia Gomez, from October 1 2018 Retail Country Manager at IKEA Retail Poland, joined IKEA in 2005 as Deputy Sales Manager in Barakaldo store in Spain. A year later she became Sales Manager in the same store. In 2009 Carolina moved to Sweden into IKEA Retail Services, and took the position of Global Responsible for Competence Development for Sales. During this time she was part of the Game Changer project (Cost Performance Program) and representative for Sales in different projects. In 2011 she came back to Spain, as Deputy Store Manager in the Malaga store, and was later appointed Store Manager there. She also set up and run new store in Valencia as Store Manager. In 2015 Carolina became Deputy Retail Manager for IKEA Czech, Hungary and Slovakia and in 2017 moved to Tokyo as Deputy Country Manager for IKEA in Japan.
Carolina is an industrial engineer and has MBA degree from the IESE Business School. She started her career in the engineering company in 2002 in the logistics and operations consultancy area. After completing her MBA she worked in a distribution company owned by the Communication Group in Spain.
Starting from September 1 Carolina Garcia was appointed as a country Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) to lead IKEA Retail’s transformation in Poland to become more affordable, accessible and sustainable.
Clare Novak, AETS Associate, Gender Equality Practice. President Business Leadership Qualities
Ms. Novak is an award-winning international Trainer, Consultant, Speaker and Author. With over 25 years’ experience in training, gender equity, leadership development, organisational development and HR, Ms. Novak possesses considerable knowledge and skill in training and development as well as technical knowledge in multiple industries. She has successfully conducted training for clients as diverse as Fortune 500, not for profits, and government. Her international experience includes Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa as well as North America. Ms. Novak has presented at multiple international conferences as well as national, state and local conferences. She has presented for numerous ATD and SHRM chapters since 1994.
During her successful 25- year career, Ms. Novak has designed and delivered training sessions in leadership skills, supervisory skills, gender equity, customer service, ethics, finance for non-financial professionals and training of trainers. Clients engaging Ms. Novak’s training skills represent multiple business sectors including: energy, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, not for profit, service, telecommunications and transportation.
Ms. Novak is AETS’ Associate for their Gender equality practice. As such, she takes parts in many assignments as regards equal opportunities in male dominant industries.
Ms. Novak completed her M.A. Communication Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. She has also completed Ph.D. Studies, The University of Kansas, Lawrence KS in Communication Education, through to the level of oral and written exams but not dissertation. Her B.S. is in Secondary Education from Clarion University, Clarion, PA. In addition to her education, Ms. Novak is also StrengthsFinder® Coaching Certified, originally in 2014 renewed 2017 and 2019. She is Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Certified as well.
Marzena Strzelczak, Responsible Business Forum
General Director and Responsible Business Forum’s Board Member. CSR, sustainability and diversity management expert. Since 2016, Marzena Strzelczak is also responsible for the development of the Diversity Charter in Poland and cooperation with the Diversity Charters Platform at the European Commission. Jury member of many competitions like "Verba Veritatis", "LGBT+ Business Awards", "Quill of Responsibility", "People who change business". She was listed on the first “Women of Polish CSR” list.
Elżbieta Wojtczak, Communication Unlimited
Elżbieta Wojtczak is the co-owner and CEO of Communication Unlimited – the oldest independent communication and marketing agency in Poland.
Elzbieta Wojtczak has been in advertising since 1991. She has more than 25 years of experience with building brands images marketing communication and changing consumer behaviors. She run media department at Corporate Profile (DDB) since 1992, was a founder of first media house in Poland (Polskie Media). She created brand strategies for such brands as Galeria Mokotow , Ferrero, Super-Pharm, Złota 44, Blue City, Suzuki and the biggest social responsibility campaign “Drink milk! Be great!”
Graduated of Warsaw University of Technology and Warsaw University, Executive MBA at University of Ilinois and Advanced Menagement Program at IESE Business School.
Board member of IESE Poland Alumni Chapter and member of the board of Association of Advertising Council – organization that brings together media, advertisers and advertising agencies that promote highest standards of Code of Ethics in Advertising.
Author of research and publication Power Generation, which describes habits, conduct, values and motivation of generation 50-70, bringing down stereotypes.
