Washington, December 1, 2022: Celebrating International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) the Valuable 500 announces reaching the goal of securing 75 mentees and mentors as the inaugural cohort for its innovative leadership ‘Generation Valuable’ programme from companies in every continent. This follows the launch of the search for the leaders of tomorrow at WEF in May this year.

Research shows that marginalised talent often faces systemic barriers to promotion, leading to a shockingly low number of disabled people in leadership positions – particularly within the executive level and C-Suite. Generation Valuable seeks to address the gap in disability talent, at all levels, by creating an opportunity for one rising leader from each member company to receive training provided by some of the world’s leading disability inclusion and leadership development experts, as well as an internal executive mentor. This will chart new pathways to C-Suite level for aspiring disabled leaders and caregivers as well as provide opportunities to strengthen disability inclusion throughout participating businesses.

Over the course of 12 months, the mentors will be championing the development of their mentees by sharing industry insights, encouraging growth mindsets, and equipping them with the strategic tools necessary to flourish in business. The programme will strengthen participants’ personal leadership identities to cultivate environments that execute business strategies with an ESG and equity lens. The Mentors and Mentees will devise a “Blueprint for Action” which will serve as a tangible roadmap that will advise their companies on how they can build upon their existing disability inclusion practices. Both will build skill sets that align equity-by-design practices into the core of the business, with a lens to accessibility and inclusion as a profit centre.

Generation Valuable participants will lead conversations within their own C-Suite and take part in a series of modules including Creative Leadership, Leadership Identity, Strategic Thinking, Business for Good/ESG, and Disability Advocacy driving change within their own organisations, as well as connecting with a global peer network.

Verizon remains committed to being an employer deeply rooted in ensuring equal access to opportunity for all. As a lead partner for Generation Valuable, we are proud of the progress that’s been made and dedicated to continuing to lead this critical work.

Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO, Verizon

Undeniably, disability-inclusive business is good business. As a global movement, the Valuable 500, can transform the way in which we do business if we all work in unison toward a more inclusive and accessible future. Generation Valuable will amplify real talent and pave the way for eliminating outdated biases that prevent aspiring leaders from attaining the C-Suite rung on their career ladders. I am truly excited for our next steps and look forward, as a Collective, to building better faster together.

Caroline Casey, Founder, of the Valuable 500

Generation Valuable is an exciting program that will bring our future leaders together with Executive Leaders within the Valuable 500 to unleash their potential to ensure Access, Inclusion and Diversity are part of the teams they lead today, and the Leaders they are developing for tomorrow.

Fred Moltz, Head of Accessibility & Co-Chair Generation Valuable, Verizon

Generation Valuable will be co-chaired by powerhouses in DEI Fred Moltz, Head of Accessibility, Verizon, Sam Latif, Company Accessibility Leader, P&G, and KR Liu, Head of Brand Accessibility, Google.

Generation Valuable participating members include:

Allianz, Alstom, AMS, ATOS, Aviation, Aviva, AXA, Boston Consulting Group (BSG), BBC, bp, Centrica, Channel 4, Citigroup Inc, Clifford Chance, Coles Group, Costain Group, Cummins Inc, Deloitte, DSM, Enel, Eversheds Sutherland, EY, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Fidelity International, Freshfields, Generali S.P.A., Grant Thornton UK, Hachette UK, Hitachi Group, HSBC UK, ISS/AS, ITV, KPMG, L’Oréal, Lloyd’s of London, Lloyds Banking Group, LSEG, Mahindra Group, Macquarie Group, MSD, National Australia Bank, Nestlé, Nielsen, Nissan GB, Norsk Rikskringkasting, Omnicom Group, Ottobock, P&G, PVH Corporation, PwC, Quadient, Reach Plc, Sanofi, Santander, Santen, Sekisui House, Ltd., Sony Music UK, Springer Nature, Stephenson Harwood, TD Bank, Telefonica, The Coca-Cola Company, UBS, Verizon, Westpac and Zain Group.

Media Contacts:

For interviews and further information, please contact:

Charlane Robinson, Head of Communications, the Valuable 500.

Notes to Editors

About the Valuable 500

The Valuable 500 was launched at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January 2019. Today the Valuable 500 is the largest community of Global CEOs committed to disability inclusion in business.

Since its creation, the Valuable 500 has achieved its initial goal of getting 500 multinational organisations to make a public commitment to disability inclusion in their organisation, igniting a historic global movement for a new age of diversity in business. The Valuable 500 and their global impact partner The Nippon Foundation, will be working closely with the World Economic Forum and International Disability Alliance – bringing together a leading philanthropic organisation with the most prestigious global business network and the voice of the global disability community.

By engaging with the world’s most influential business leaders and brands, the network now has a market cap of over $23 trillion, combined revenues of over $8 trillion and employs a staggering 22 million people worldwide. Its members include 15 global CEOs and companies who will be spearheading the programmes and services to be offered under Phase 2 of the transformation programme.

The Valuable 500 is determined to create a community that supports and empowers its 500 members to systematically transform their businesses, so they include the 1.3 billion people living with disabilities worldwide, thereby unlocking their business, social and economic potential.

We believe that if business takes a lead, society and government will follow. Truly inclusive businesses can build truly inclusive societies.