HBLF Participating in EU Diversity Month for 6th Time

The initiative this year has been joined by a number of major national companies and organizations, including Tesco, Telekom, Shell, Diageo, KPMG, Jobsgarden, Jysk, Schneider, Kyndryl, Yettel, Cetin, Praktiker, and many others.

A number of events, workshops and discussions during HBLF EU Diversity Month are available to attend and follow online.

Andrea Istenesné Solti, president of HBLF, was invited to the opening ceremony of the European Union Diversity Month in Brussels. In her presentation, she spoke about the steps HBLF has taken and is taking to promote diversity in Hungary as the exclusive official Hungarian representative of the European Union's Diversity Charter. She also spoke about the concrete programs that HBLF has launched in Hungary and the steps that businesses need to take to move towards more gender-balanced management.

"We are excited to hear from our members and all companies committed to Diversity & Inclusion & Equity about their planned programs for May. We look forward to seeing and promoting many more interesting, useful, and colorful programs this year on our charter website (www.sokszinusegikarta.hu) and in our newsletters and social media pages. Let's celebrate diversity and inclusion together again, sharing our good practices as widely as possible, especially with organizations and individuals who want to learn and grow in this field", shared Zsuzsa Gárdus, HBLF board member, who also attended the opening ceremony in Brussels, representing the HBLF Diversity Charter.

The HBLF delegation also included Borbála Czakó, honorary president of the HBLF.

"In 2023, we will organize several joint programs with the Diversity Charter and HBLF member companies in the framework of the Hungarian Business Leaders Forum (HBLF). These are usually open events and programs and their main aim is to provide good practice examples and ideas for companies who care about this topic and want to join the Diversity Charter community. It is a special pleasure for us when the youngest charter members activate themselves with their own company programs, or when a 'newcomer' charter member invites an older charter member company, which is already an expert and specialist in a given diversity topic, to help them implement diversity programs for their employees," HBLF executive director Hajnalka Kovács-Czövek said.

Empowering People

The #IamRemarkable workshop, a Google initiative, is a global movement to empower everyone, including underrepresented people, to celebrate their professional and personal achievements.

The series of programs for Tesco employees is organized around three main themes: women and families, youth and generations, and people with disabilities.

The Business Association of Hungarian CEOs - MVÜK is joining Diversity Month with several programs. It will organize a conference on Women, Innovation in the Digital World, a game-based workshop on leadership decision-making, and a factory visit to Grundfos in Tatabánya.

Legrand Zrt. considers it an important mission to support its female employees and will organize a workshop for women in May.

In the spirit of cultural diversity, the Dutch-Hungarian Trade Association will hold a presentation entitled "Diverse and inclusive companies are more successful, if so, why?".

The Green Business Academy will host a business breakfast on natural biodiversity and social diversity.

Praktiker will also join the series of events with several activities. Its open event will focus on the climate crisis, childhood anxiety, children's rights, a workshop on cardiovascular diseases and their prevention, and an online event on mental resilience.

Műtárgy.com is hosting a Night of Art Festival, with a special focus on women in the arts, and several of their programs target people with disabilities.

Yettel Hungary invited high school girls to an inspiring day of "Girls' Day at Yettel", where they could learn how the internet was put on their mobile phones and get a behind-the-scenes look at one of Hungary's most modern, environmentally conscious office buildings.

And Ringier Hungary also presented its international "Equal Voice" program in Hungary, which we will surely be hearing more about in the near future.

The HBLF Diversity Charter Hungary is also organizing events throughout the month, raising awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion with a number of events, including a presentation by menopause activist Orsolya Iványi on menopause-friendly workplaces, challenges, and how to approach the topic of menopause.