ISS joins inclusion programme to foster management talent

17th of January 2023
ISS joins inclusion programme to foster management talent

Global facility management specialist ISS has joined the new ‘Generation Valuable' training and mentorship programme, initiated by non-profit organisation Valuable 500.

Through matching a C-suite (high-ranking executive titles in an organisation) mentor with a talented employee with a disability, the purpose is to foster an inclusive leadership culture and a diverse management talent pool.

Research shows that marginalised talents often face systemic barriers to promotion, leading to a low number of disabled people in leadership positions - particularly within the executive level and C-suite.

Generation Valuable is a new programme that seeks to address this challenge. This is done by creating an opportunity for a rising leader with a disability to receive training provided by some of the world's leading disability inclusion and leadership development experts. Furthermore, a mentorship between the rising leader and a member of the participating company's executive management team is established.

The mentee in ISS's programme is 38-year-old Julie Nicholson, key account manager at ISS Ireland. Julie is a person with dyslexia but was only diagnosed as an adult in 2020. She explained: "When I received my diagnosis, it was as if a room of darkness was suddenly filled with light. It all made sense. This new awareness, combined with great support from ISS, has given me a fresh perspective on my life and career.

"I am now undertaking a master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) while continuing my ISS journey. I'm so excited to have this opportunity to learn from a great female executive role model and gain insights on navigating a huge organisation like ISS."

Corinna Refsgaard, group head of people and culture, and member of ISS's executive group management, will be the mentor in ISS's programme. She said: "ISS has a clear ambition to become the Company of Belonging. This means that everyone should feel safe, be who they are and become what they want.

"Successful companies and leaders acknowledge people's abilities rather than disabilities. It is every person's unique contribution that makes us diverse and strong - this goes for all levels across the organisation, not least the management."

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