“If you can’t hire talent, you have a problem…and there’s this hidden pool called disability.”
The Valuable 500
The global movement putting disability on the business leadership agenda.
Two years ago, we launched the campaign to get 500 national and multinational, private sector corporations to be the tipping-point for change and help unlock the social and economic value of people living with disabilities across the world. Because the potential of 1.3 billion should not be ignored.
Today we celebrate a huge milestone. We are now, officially The Valuable 500.
We represent…
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Leaders can change lives
The Valuable 500 is a business to business initiative catalysing the influence of large private sector corporations (1000+ employees) in national and international markets.
By joining The Valuable 500, companies agree to:
Table disability on the board agenda.
Make ONE firm commitment to action.
Share their commitment to The Valuable 500 internally and externally.
In return, they have access to our Valuable resources and a community of like-minded peers.
Information on how to access each of these is available upon sign up.
Companies also need to validate their commitment to The Valuable 500 with the signature of the Chairperson or CEO.
The Iconic Leaders
Introducing our 13 Iconic Leaders.
These global CEOs will play a fundamental role in rebuilding the business system to be more inclusive of people with disabilities.
Find out more about the Iconic Leaders
Why this matters
Over 1.3 billion people across the world live with some form of disability.
Together with their friends and family, this group has a spending power of $8 trillion.
80% of disabilities are acquired between the ages of 18 and 64 – the workforce age.
Only 4% of businesses are focused on making offerings inclusive of disability.
There are more clothing lines for dogs than for disabled people.
CEO Quotes
Steve Ingham
CEO, Page Group
Carmine Di Sibio
Global Chairman and CEO, EY
“I have seen time and again the contribution our people – all of our people – can make when they feel trusted, supported and engaged.”
Hans Vestberg
Chairman and CEO, Verizon
“At Verizon, we create the networks that move the world forward, but we cannot fulfill our purpose if any member of society is left behind. Technology has the power to connect and enhance the lives of all people, including the one billion individuals living with disabilities.”
Julie Sweet
CEO, Accenture
“At Accenture, accelerating disability inclusion is key to our commitment to creating a culture of equality where everyone can advance and thrive, and core to our strategy of being an innovation-led company.”
Alan Jope
CEO, Unilever
“What organization doesn’t want to represent the people they are serving?”
Bill Winters CBE
Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered
“We all come into the workplace with biases…Awareness – building is good.”
Charles Trevail
CEO, Interbrand
“It’s hard to be an effective leader if you are not acknowledging 15 percent of your workforce.”
Cheryl Abel-Hodges
CEO, Calvin Klein, Inc.
“This pledge signifies our commitment to consider differently-abled people in our recruiting, marketing and product development efforts. We believe that collaboration is critical, and that together, this group has the opportunity to create significant and meaningful impact.”
Rich Lesser
CEO, BCG
“As part of our ongoing commitment to unlocking the potential of every employee at BCG and across our clients, including those with disabilities, we’re proud to join the Valuable 500. We look forward to learning from best in class organizations and leaders, contributing to the dialog, and to advancing opportunity, equality, and inclusion for all.”
Paul Polman
Former CEO, Unilever
“Choosing to hero one population over another is really exclusion; and up until this point, disabled people have been excluded to the cost of society, business and the economy.”
Valuable Leader Conversations
In this series of interviews, Valuable 500 Founder Caroline Casey speaks to some of our most valuable leaders about getting disability on the corporate diversity agenda.
In Conversation with Andrew Parsons: The Paralympics
Caroline Casey speaks to Andrew Parsons, President of the IPC
In Conversation with Mats Granryd: The Digital Divide
Caroline Casey speaks to Mats Granryd, the Director General of the GSMA
In Conversation with Steve Ingham: C-Suite Disability Representation
Caroline Casey speaks to PageGroup CEO Steve Ingham.
In Conversation with Peter Grauer: How Leaders drive the Diversity Agenda
Caroline Casey speaks to Bloomberg Chairman, Peter Grauer.
In Conversation With Paul Polman: Why Inclusive Businesses Perform Better
Caroline Casey speaks to Valuable 500 Chair and former Unilever CEO, Paul Polman.
In Conversation With Mark Carney: Bringing Diverse Opinions to the Table.
Caroline Casey speaks to the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney.
In Conversation with Senator Tom Harkin: The Disability Employment Gap
Ahead of the 2020 US Presidential Election, Caroline speaks to Former Iowa Senator and co-author of the ADA, Tom Harkin.
In conversation with Janet Riccio: The Personal Impact of Corporate Inclusion
Caroline spoke to EVP and Dean of Omnicom University, Janet Riccio.
In conversation with Nicola Mendelsohn: Adding Disability to the Corporate Diversity Agenda
At the Bloomberg Equality Summit, Caroline spoke to Nicola Mendelsohn, VP, EMEA at Facebook.
In Conversation With Dame Carolyn Fairbairn: Changing Perceptions of Difference
Caroline Casey speaks to Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, Director-General of the CBI.
In Conversation with Andrew Liveris: Unconscious Bias
At the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, Caroline Casey talks to Former Dow Chemicals Chairman and CEO, Andrew Liveris.
In Conversation with Rosaleen Blair: Building Inclusive Organisations
Caroline Casey speaks to Rosaleen Blair, Founder and Chair of Alexander Mann Solutions.
In Conversation with Judy Heumann: Past, Present & Future of Disability Inclusion
On the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, Caroline Casey speaks to International Disability Rights Activist, Judy Heumann.
Our Partners
