Change that starts from below: Barilla Employee Resource Groups
6 June 2018
At Barilla, 2018 is going to be the year of ERGs: groups organized, led and formed by Barilla people around a specific affinity, with the aim of bringing about cultural change within the company, from the theme of disability through to that of LGBTI rights. Today, Wednesday 6 June, the Barilla headquarters in Parma will host an event that underlines the important role of these groups and the projects currently ongoing.
Highlighting the results achieved by Barilla and its future challenges with regard to Diversity&Inclusion, a real must for the company. Today, Wednesday 6 June, at its Parma headquarters the Barilla Group has organized an event dedicated to its Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): interest groups formed by employees around specific diversities, with the aim of encouraging an even more inclusive corporate culture.
The event is structured in two parts. The first session will open with welcome speeches by Barilla CEO Claudio Colzani, and Chief Diversity Officer Kristen Anderson, followed by a brief presentation of the five ERGs in operation in Italy. Important inputs on key topics related to diversity and inclusion will then be provided by three outside speakers. The subjects covered by these speakers will be:
- “Hostile Words”, by Igor Suran, General Director of Parks Liberi e Uguali
- “What is your true identity?”, by Maria Cristina Bombelli, Founder and Chair of Wise Growth
- And an account of her own experience by Claudia Parzani, Capital Markets Partner and Europe Regional Managing Partner in LinkLaters
The second part of the event will focus on giving all Barilla People the opportunity to learn more about the ERGs' activities and find out how to register for and take part in them.
“The Barilla Employee Resource Groups," stated Claudio Colzani, Chief Executive Officer of the Barilla Group, "are a key component of our inclusion strategy. I am proud of our employees, who have always worked to promote positive changes within our organization. We want people to bring the wealth of diversity into our business. So we encourage all colleagues to join our ERGs.”
FROM VOCE TO BALANCE, AND FROM THISABILITY TO WELCHOME THROUGH TO YOUNG: LET'S EXPLORE THE ERGS
To develop an inclusive working environment for all workers, regardless of sexual orientation. To exchange ideas with other companies on policies and good practices to fully realize the business potentials arising from the complete integration and appreciation of all forms of diversity. VOCE is the largest Barilla ERG and operates in four countries (USA, Italy France and Germany) with regard to LGBTI issues. Its aim is to promote a more open, inclusive working environment with more mutual respect, encouraging cultural changes for LGBTI people.
The Balance Group, on the other hand, aims to put forward solutions for improving the work-private life and gender balance. This Group operates in the USA and Italy with the mission of also creating the conditions for correcting the gender balance.
The Welchome Group operates in Italy. This Group promotes an open, global corporate culture and an inclusive, welcoming working environment that recognizes and appreciates the multicultural identities and different interests of employees, partners and customers.
YOUNG, which stands for “Young, Original, Unique, Network, Generation”, is a Group that facilitates coordination between the generations and promotes employee inclusion to encourage community commitment, personal emancipation and career growth.
From disability to possibility: last but not least, the Thisability Group helps diversely able people to express their abilities and develop their potential to the full within Barilla, supporting the company's strategic aims.
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