The Valuable 500 celebrated its second birthday with 419 signed-up members to date; and a $5 million investment injection from The Nippon Foundation. It also welcomes two new strategic partners – the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the International Disability Alliance (IDA).
The announcement of the investment and partnerships come as a further 58 corporations announce membership, bringing the total to 419 companies that have joined The Valuable 500 to pledge their accountability for improving disability inclusion in their businesses. The new sign ups bring the combined revenue of The Valuable 500’s current members to over $5.4 trillion; encompassing 64 sectors, with over 14.8 million employees and reaching across 35 countries. With the many ongoing conversations, it is anticipated that the membership of The Valuable 500 will be completed by this Spring.
“We are delighted to have the World Economic Forum and IDA join as strategic partners, and continue to deliver the message of disability inclusion for all,” stated Caroline Casey, Founder of The Valuable 500. “I am honoured to see so many organisations and global voices step up and take a stand for disability inclusion. However, we are not there yet. Millions of people globally are still being forgotten and left out due to a difference. We are thrilled The Nippon Foundation have joined as a key investor, and can ensure our work for global disability inclusion can continue going forwards.”
NIPPON FOUNDATION INVESTMENT
The Nippon Foundation – Japan’s biggest private foundation – has joined as a Global Impact Partner and has invested into the largest network of global CEOs committed to disability inclusion in business. This is the “largest ever single investment into disability business inclusion”, confirmed Valuable 500.
Commenting on the investment, Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation stated: “It is truly a special day as we officially announce our partnership with The Valuable 500. The Nippon Foundation has been in constant pursuit of supporting persons with disabilities around the world since our establishment in 1962; and we have invested more than $1.3 billion in education and social welfare since then.”
“Having spent a major part of my life supporting marginalised people left behind the mainstream of society, I am fully convinced that supporting minority disability groups just by reaching out to public institutions, such as governments and the United Nations, will not bring about effective social change. Unless the majority of society changes, the world will never change. The Valuable 500 initiative brings disability business inclusion commitment into the global CEO community for the first time; not simply based on the concept of social welfare,” continued Sasakawa.
GAME-CHANGING GOALS
“Social participation for persons with disabilities means to be able to work and to become taxpayers. Work promotes talents leading the way to self-confidence, pride and happiness. A new work environment is created when diverse groups of people, with or without disabilities interact freely and take action. The initiative of The Valuable 500 coincides with my conviction,” added Sasakawa. “I am very happy that we, The Nippon Foundation, can cooperate with The Valuable 500 as its Global Impact Partner. I sincerely hope that we will be able to be a ‘game-changer’ in order to realise a better world, an inclusive society, together by using this new initiative of The Valuable 500 to its full capacity.”
The funding will allow The Valuable 500 to launch Phase 2 of its global campaign shortly. This is designed to activate the community of 500 CEOs and brands for global change. Phase 2 will focus on six pillars; three internally in organisations namely Leadership, Culture and Brand, and three externally, Research, Reporting and Representation. These programmes and services will be developed and delivered in partnership with a number of CEO partners and companies from among those already signed up. They represent some of the largest brands in the world which will invest in helping to create and road test products and services; which will then be rolled out across the 500 business community to drive change to materially improve disability inclusion within business.
RADICAL BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
Launched at Davos in January 2019 by Caroline Casey and Paul Polman with the WEF, The Valuable 500 remains the only global CEO community dedicated to radically transforming the business system across the whole supply chain for the benefit of all those with a disability.
“In the two years since the Valuable 500 launched at Davos, over 400 major corporations have committed to improving disability inclusion in the workplace,” pointed out Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director at the WEF. “This remarkable progress highlights that through thoughtful collective action we can drive meaningful change not just in our workplaces but in our economies and societies.”
Adding to Zahidi’s comments, Vladimir Cuk, Executive Director of IAD said: “It is a great pleasure and honour to serve as a strategic partner to The Valuable 500, together with The Nippon Foundation and the World Economic Forum. For the International Disability Alliance inclusion of persons with disabilities in business is one of the key priorities of our work. The world has advanced significantly in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities over the last several years, especially since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, but discrimination in employment and business remains one of the areas where there is still a lot to be done. That is why the innovative partnership with The Valuable 500 is so important and we are excited to shape the future of the business world together.”
NEW MEMBERS
The new companies that have joined the Valuable 500 include: AESC, Akbank, Alstom, Axel Springer, Baker Mckenzie, Bayer AG, Bristol Myers Squibb, BUPA Global, Burberry, Canada Post, Close Brothers Group, The Coca-Cola Company, Credit Suisse, DMM.com, DTE Energy, Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc, Expo 2020 Dubai, Fast Retailing, owner of casual apparel brand UNIQLO, Hempel A/S, Intertek, KBZ Bank, Kidzania, Lidl Ireland, Logitech, Maxon Group, Mazars, Mazda Motor Corporation, Michelin, Mintel Group, Micron Technology, Monex Group, Nestlé, News UK, Norsk Rikskringkasting, Old National Bank, OMRON, Onest Mexico, Partner Communications, Prada Group, Raiffeisen Bank International AG, Santen, Seiko Holdings Corporation, Serco Group, Shimizu Corporation, Siemens AG, Sompo Group, Sony Life Insurance, Springer Nature, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC Group), Suntory Holdings Limited, United States Steel Corporation and Vontier.
These latest global companies to join the movement are from all around the world. They include including Australia, USA, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Turkey, Germany, United Arab Emirates and UK.
VALUING DIVERSITY
Commenting on joining the Valuable 500, on its second anniversary, Giovanni Caforio, Board Chair and CEO, Bristol Myers Squibb, stated: “At Bristol Myers Squibb, we recognise and value the different abilities, perspectives and experiences of each member of our workforce. We are proud to be part of The Valuable 500 and commit to fostering a workplace where everyone is included. Disability inclusion is among the many facets of diversity that shape our company culture and support our mission of helping patients.”
Erica Bourne, Chief People Officer, Burberry, also believes that “disability inclusion has to be a priority for business”. “We are accelerating our own progress by implementing a global disability audit framework to highlight where we can have the most impact,” said Bourne. This work is part of our broader commitment to foster a truly open and inclusive environment, and we look forward to partnering with other signatories to drive meaningful change across the agenda. We are proud to join the Valuable 500.”
Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens AG, believes corporations have a special responsibility to be a role model of diversity and inclusion. “In times of populism, nationalism and deep societal divides, inclusion is more important than ever,” stated Kaser. “Too often we neglect that society benefits from the diversity of human experience and ethnical origin. I believe corporations have a special responsibility to be a role model of diversity and inclusion. That’s why Siemens is proud to join the Valuable 500 Initiative.”
FOSTERING INCLUSIVE CULTURES
“The Coca-Cola Company seeks to foster an inclusive culture that reflects the diversity of the markets that we serve,” added James Quincey, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, The Coca-Cola Company. “I am proud to stand alongside other business leaders in The Valuable 500, which seeks to put disability inclusion on the business leadership agenda inside our company and globally”.
Thomas Gottstein, Chief Executive Officer of Credit Suisse Group, shares a similar perspective: “We are committed to advancing our culture of inclusion, partnership and a deep sense of belonging for all our colleagues. We are delighted to join the efforts of The Valuable 500, reinforcing our commitment to maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment where people with disabilities can thrive and grow.”
Sanjay Mehrotra, President and CEO at Micron, believes that a “diversity of viewpoints” is essential to technology innovation. “We’re committed to fostering an environment where all team members can share their ideas and contribute regardless of race, background or disability,” stated Mehrotra. “We’re proud to join The Valuable 500’s global movement to create true inclusion in the workplace.”
INSPIRING DISABILITY INCLUSION
“As experts in what consumers want and why, unbiased analysis and understanding of the behaviours of diverse consumer groups is critical to our research and the recommendations we make to our clients,” added Peter Haigh, CEO of Mintel. “At Mintel, we’re passionate about our commitment to The Valuable 500; and to ensuring that disability inclusion is central to how we foster and inspire diversity within our company culture, as well as with our partners and clients – helping both people and businesses grow.”
To join The Valuable 500, a company needs the CEO to table disability inclusion at their board agenda, and make one commitment to change the inclusion agenda. Inclusion of persons with disabilities – referenced in five of the SDGs – and therefore The Valuable 500’s mission – will be integral to meeting the UN’s 2030 agenda in time over the next decade. Currently, 15% of the global population are persons with disabilities. This number increases to 53% when you include the families of persons with disabilities. Businesses cannot afford to exclude such a significant pool of talent, diversity of thought and customers with a spending power of $8 trillion per annum.
However, disability inclusion “is still not firmly embedded in the diversity and inclusion agenda”, according to The Valuable 500. Read more here.
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