Change Dinner and Lunch

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Participation is a fundamental right. Companies play a central role in this, as inclusion must also be a given in the workplace. However, reality shows that, according to the Inclusion Barometer Work 2025, the situation for people with visible and invisible disabilities in the labor market has continued to deteriorate. In small and medium-sized businesses in particular, many legally mandated jobs for people with disabilities remain unfilled. Yet active inclusion offers companies concrete opportunities: it taps into new pools of skilled talent, strengthens diversity, and creates a work culture that benefits all employees.

But why, despite these advantages and a wide range of support services, does inclusion still succeed so rarely? What does it take to turn good intentions into sustainable change?

Our Change Lunch addressed these questions in relation to the diversity topic of “inclusion.” The focus was on open discussion, concrete real-world experiences, and the question of how companies can successfully and sustainably embed inclusion into their daily work routines.

In their keynote presentation, Gisela Rohde and Florian Heymann from the Association of Caritas Foundations in the Diocese of Hildesheim gGmbH demonstrated how the transition from a sheltered workshop to the general labor market can be successful—and what conditions are necessary for this.

Sandra Gleue from the Hannover Region Employment Promotion Office provided insights into current developments and, among other things, presented the planned regional inclusion seal for companies.

A conversation with Ute Wrede highlighted what inclusion looks like in practice, the opportunities it creates, and the challenges that must be overcome. She offered participants at the Kulturcafé Anna Blume at the Stöcken City Cemetery.

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In times when populism and hate speech are gaining increasing influence, it is crucial to take a stand—for diversity, for an open society, and for democracy. What responsibility do companies bear in this context? How can they contribute not only to supporting these values but also to visibly living them out in their day-to-day work? 

To address these questions, nearly 60 representatives from small and large companies in the region gathered at the invitation of the Region Hannover Economic Development Agency. The evening centered on dialogue—talking with one another, learning from one another, and discovering new perspectives.

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At the third Change Lunch in the series “THE FUTURE NEEDS DIVERSITY,” the focus was on “neurodiversity,” an aspect of diversity that has often been underestimated until now. In her interactive presentation, Dr. Kathrin Rüschenschmidt, Director of Innovation Process & PMO at Emerson, shed light on what neurodiversity means and what opportunities arise for companies when neurodivergent talent is recognized, understood, and specifically supported. Whether ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or dyslexia—it became clear that different ways of thinking and unique strengths can foster innovation, precision, and new perspectives in the right environment.

Afterward, during a group lunch, participants took the opportunity to share their experiences, discuss existing challenges, and jointly develop ideas on how to better support neurodiverse employees in their day-to-day work and integrate them into the corporate culture.

At the Change Dinner, which took place this time in cooperation with the Unternehmerverbände Niedersachsen e.V. (UVN), we addressed the questions of how we can actively advocate for democracy in the context of diversity and how companies can take concrete steps to assume responsibility. The presentations by the Society for Civil Liberties and Project Together were both enlightening and thought-provoking; they forcefully highlighted current threats to our democracy and presented concrete and inspiring examples of how companies are already actively committed to democracy and diversity, taking responsibility and leading by example. 

A very brief conclusion: “Change is possible!”

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The keynote address by Prof. Dr. Annika Schach from Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts focused on how companies can harness the opportunities presented by employees’ diverse backgrounds, reduce discrimination, and create their own success stories. Afterward, over a delicious lunch provided by the event and catering team at Juniver—Jugenderufshilfe Diakonie Hannover gGmbH —the participants discussed experiences from their organizations and companies.

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The second event took place on February 7, 2024, in the form of a “Change Lunch.” This time, the focus was on the diversity dimension of “Ethnic Origin & Nationality.”

In a relaxed atmosphere and well catered for by Küfa – Küche für alle, companies engaged in conversation, exchanged experiences and challenges, and shared how the integration of employees from diverse backgrounds can be organized and embedded in corporate culture.

The discussion was enriched by a keynote presentation from the Welcome Center on the integration of foreign workers and the Skilled Worker Immigration Act.

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The “Change Dinner” kicked off this traditional networking event on March 9, 2023—a networking event with a unique twist: Each executive was accompanied by a young professional of the opposite gender.

The evening featured two keynote presentations. The approximately 40 participants had the opportunity to discuss the topics of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and to network in a relaxed atmosphere.

The seating arrangements were specifically designed to break down barriers and hierarchies and to highlight different perspectives. The event was sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH.