In the evolving world of business, the term “inclusiveness” has transcended the concept of a mere value to become a structured imperative. This fundamental shift reflects the awareness that embracing diversity is not just a courtesy, but a strategic necessity.
A Glimpse into INNOVAMEY’s Vision: A Conversation with ONIRO Agency
As part of a Journey to discover new values to inspire businesses, ONIRO founder Francesco Arighetti interviewed our founder, Aram Mbow, in November 2023, in a compelling interview to delve deeper into the essence of our vision for a more inclusive world.
Understanding inclusion
“What exactly does it mean to be inclusive?”
Inclusivity, at its core, goes beyond mere acceptance; it is the genuine promotion of the participation of individuals from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and characteristics. Its essence lies in respecting and valuing differences, transforming them into resources that enrich the fabric of our reality. The beauty of inclusion lies not only in the representation of diversity, but in the collective power to overcome the most significant challenges of our generation.
Despite its importance, inclusivity remains elusive. The numbers paint a stark picture, especially for women, who continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles, reflecting cultural challenges and deeply rooted stereotypes. Only 3% of women hold CEO positions, making up just 20% of all executives in Italy. The gender pay gap persists, with women earning nearly €8,000 less, reflecting a 9.6% discrepancy. However, the fight for inclusivity goes beyond gender, encompassing ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, ability, and social class. Often, these dimensions intersect, creating a web of challenges that particularly impact minority groups.
But why does inclusivity prove so difficult?
Fundamentally, it requires effort on the part of those who are currently unaffected by existing norms. Inclusivity requires acknowledging privilege. Those who enjoy certain privileges may not find an immediate incentive to advocate for change. Furthermore, addressing inclusivity requires confronting our own biases, a task that requires introspection and a willingness to challenge our ingrained preferences.
To effectively manage these challenges, investments in structured responses are essential. Inclusion requires authenticity, going beyond simple symbolic gestures and performative actions. As with any aspect of sustainability, what is communicated—or, more importantly, what is not communicated—plays a critical role. While many companies have made efforts to be considered inclusive, the true test lies in the consistency of these values within the organizational culture.
Inclusion for business growth
What are the benefits of an inclusive culture in a company?
Inclusion isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s a strategic advantage for companies. Fostering a work environment that celebrates diversity of thought and experience helps solve problems more effectively, enhances corporate reputation, and attracts high-quality talent. This awareness has yet to reach its full potential in Italy, with only half the population believing that diversity and inclusion have a direct impact on business, highlighting a significant awareness gap.
The benefits of embracing inclusion go beyond business metrics. Improved mental health, increased innovation, and a sense of belonging are among the profound social benefits companies can contribute to by prioritizing diversity and inclusion.
The road for Italian companies
Although many Italian companies are gradually recognizing the importance of inclusion, there is still considerable room for improvement. Only six out of ten companies have developed an Inclusion & Diversity plan, while two out of ten consider it unimportant. A clear divide persists between large and small businesses, which impacts biases, training initiatives, cultural changes, and opportunities.
A unique perspective
In the face of every challenge, embracing diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is crucial. It is through these unique perspectives that we gain a profound understanding of the world, a perspective essential to addressing the challenges of our generation. Each individual, armed with their own distinctive background, contributes to the diverse mosaic—our only key to solving the complexities of our time.
Innovamey is the organisation that turns sustainability into a real engine of growth, supporting companies in designing sustainable strategies, transforming business models, and communicating with impact.
We innovate products and services by placing sustainability at the center, developing solutions that combine progress, responsibility, and competitiveness. We don’t just imagine the future — we build it.
We collaborate with prestigious academic institutions such as Bocconi University, Università Cattolica, and the Glion Institute of Higher Education, training the leaders of tomorrow and developing innovative business strategies through real-world cases and direct engagement with the new generations.
For us, sustainability is not just a goal — it is an evolutionary process, a dynamic balance between innovation, responsibility, and long-term value creation.
We have supported major organisations in rethinking their processes through the lens of positive impact and business-driven results — from evolving products and services for a market increasingly attentive to sustainability, to creating operations designed to attract and empower talent who understand the importance of people, the planet, and profitability.
We help organisations build a sustainable culture through training and conscious leadership, supporting them in authentically communicating their transformation, so that sustainability becomes not just an objective, but a lived and shared reality.
We have played a leading role in major events such as IKN’s Climate Tech, Team Different’s Ethical HR, and Il Sole 24 Ore’s Global Inclusion, contributing to the development of strategies that combine economic progress with social and environmental responsibility.
Innovamey stands for action, impact, and transformation: we work with companies to build a future in which sustainability means innovation, value, and conscious growth.
Because change isn’t something you talk about. You make it happen.