The COVID-19 pandemic brought plenty of new challenges for all of us. Things that seemed so dystopian and distant just a few months ago, now are part of our everyday reality. How can we imagine a post-COVID world and how should we adapt to a whole new realm of work and life?

 

In these challenging times fostering inclusion and diversity at the workplace can easily be deprioritized, but inclusion and allyship has never been more in the focus of attention.

 

This pandemic not only introduced a new dynamic into the workplace but it also highlighted already existing inequalities among women, racial and sexual minorities etc. issues that we tend not to talk about that much.

 

It is time to reflect on where we want to be once this is all behind us. Are we rebuilding the old world, or are we using this critical experience as a chance for transformation?

This crisis can be a moment to increase our awareness about diversity and inclusion, and companies have an important role in this. Some people expect organizations to step up, raise their voice, use their influence, and take their part in the struggle for positive change.

 

This year at OPEN Conference our goal is to reflect on what has happened, what effect this pandemic has on disadvantaged groups and our general way of work and life. Furthermore, we would like to show why companies should keep D&I on their agenda, what they can do to foster inclusion and diversity in a crisis and how diverse teams with multiple perspectives can strengthen businesses in these hard times.