PRESTIGE is part of LEAD Network Bulgaria Chapter, and we are proud to contribute to a community working for real change in the FMCG and retail sectors. The organisation’s first in-person event in Bulgaria took place at the end of April. It was dedicated to inclusion of people with disabilities.
The event was opened by the co-chairs of the LEAD Network Bulgaria Chapter, Darina Stoyanova (CEO of PRESTIGE) and Milena Dragijska (CEO of Lidl Bulgaria).
‘Only six months after the establishment of LEAD Network Bulgaria Chapter, we are hosting an event on such an important topic. This is a clear sign that, when leaders and companies unite around values such as inclusion, action is not delayed. Leadership today means commitment, transparency, and the courage to change the environment around us’, said Milena Dragijska in her address to the guests.
‘We need to take steps to foster inclusive environment and become true champions of inclusion. Today, more than ever, companies have the opportunity to attract people with disabilities as consumers, customers, employees and managers. I believe that the active participation of disabled people in the labour market and public life benefits everyone,“ said Darina Stoyanova.
Catarina Oliveira Fernandes was the special guest of the forum. She is Director of Learning, Development and Inclusion at MC (part of the Sonae Group)
She shared the company’s experience of creating an inclusive corporate culture for people with different abilities. „Start small and don’t underestimate the power of training the entire team — it’s essential for the successful inclusion of people with disabilities. Work proactively with professionals and organisations that understand their specific needs, and prove that inclusion is important and possible,“ she added.
A short survey among the participants of the forum explored the barriers that employers may face when hiring people with disabilities. The most frequently cited barrier was the inadequate infrastructure of workspaces and environment. Encouragingly, the second most popular response was that there were no barriers at all. Other common concerns were related to the emotional strain experienced by other team members due to a lack of knowledge about how to communicate with disabled people, a perceived lack of flexibility to take on other professional commitments and the higher legal protections for employees with disabilities.
Transformation is already evident in workplaces, retail outlets and in the people’s mindset
This was the general message of the panel discussion at the forum, which was moderated by Darina Stoyanova and dedicated to sharing best practices for achieving an inclusive work environment. Representatives of companies that are members of the LEAD Network Bulgaria Chapter took part in the panel discussion the event: Valentina Bozheva, Vice President of Fantastico Group, Verginia Vassileva, Senior People Development Specialist at IKEA Bulgaria, Gergana Borisova, Senior Expert, Human Resources Partner at Yettel Bulgaria and Ioana Koleva, Founder of JAMBA.
The participants discussed ways to overcome barriers and reached some key conclusions
One of these was that by removing stereotypes and focusing on the skills of people with disabilities, untapped talent can be discovered. Furthermore, customers and consumers of goods and services in the FMCG and retail sectors recognise and value companies commitment to true inclusion. Other conclusions of the discussion included the need for further work to overcome stereotypes, and the importance of focusing on the specific skills of people with disabilities and their potential.
Inclusion is much more than compliance with regulations, emphasising that it is a much broader concept. It is a strategic opportunity that will help businesses to grow and ensure their long-term sustainability in society.
The event concluded with a moving musical performance by Christian Grigorov, JAMBA’s project manager, who sang Stevie Wonder’s iconic song, ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’. This musical surprise brought a fittingly emotional end to a day dedicated to inclusion and the importance of understanding and supporting differences.
