Latest news with #UnifiedBusinessProgramme
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish social enterprise Gorm launches Unified Business Programme
Irish social enterprise Gorm has launched its Unified Business Programme, with EY and PTSB signed up to pilot the scheme. The programme aims to support organisations to build inclusive, high-performing teams by equipping people with the skills to work effectively across cultures. Designed by social and cultural psychologists, the programme meets companies at every stage of their intercultural journey and offers tiered membership options from foundational awareness training to strategic transformation. EY and PTSB are early champions of the programme, demonstrating a commitment to inclusion as a strategic business priority. Their leadership offers a model for companies seeking to make a sustainable impact on workplace culture and community integration. 'At Gorm, our mission is to unify across cultural and social differences,' said Dr. Mamobo Ogoro, CEO and founder of Gorm. 'Businesses are not only economic engines; they are key pillars in building stronger, more inclusive communities. 'By embedding intercultural competence into their everyday practices, this programme equips organisations with the tools to recognise, value, and actively include the wide range of cultural perspectives within their teams. 'In doing so, we move from simply being diverse to truly harnessing the power of that diversity, to drive innovation, foster trust, and create cultures where everyone can belong.' The initiative marks a major step in advancing cultural diversity and intercultural competence in Irish organisations, not only aligning with national strategic efforts for migrant inclusion such as the National Action Plan Against Racism, but also positioning cultural diversity as a driver of innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth. Melissa Bosch, DEI lead in EY said: "As Ireland evolves into a more culturally diverse society and navigates a full employment market, the need for awareness, sensitivity, and intercultural competence has never been more critical. 'At EY Ireland, we are really proud to have over 100 different nationalities represented amongst our 5,200+ people on the island of Ireland. We know that diverse teams and an inclusive culture can lead to more innovation, better decision making and ultimately drive enhanced business outcomes for our clients and for society.'
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘DEI is not just a trend' – How organisations can reframe the push back against diversity
Today at 21:30 'When it comes to DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), it's important to recognise that it's not just a trend, it's not a habit. It can't just be a one-off initiative,' said Dr Mamobo Ogoro, a psychologist as well as CEO and founder of GORM. Ms Ogoro set up GORM, a consultancy and social media platform, in order to help educate organisations about diversity in the workplace. She says businesses need to respond now against the new sentiment against DEI policies, given that Ireland has an increasingly diverse workforce. 'Rather than push back, businesses need to counter the growing scepticism around DEI. The first step is to acknowledge that the scepticism exists, and that it comes with fear, misconception, and sometimes even fatigue,' she said. 'DEI affects all of us. It shapes how we relate to each other in the workplace. It's important to understand that DEI isn't about taking anything away. It's about ensuring everyone has a fair chance to participate, thrive, and engage meaningfully in their work.' Ms Ogoro believes that businesses need to learn about 'intercultural competence' in order to maintain their DEI policies, following the global backlash against it, which started in America around the re-election of president Donald Trump. 'Intercultural competence is the ability to engage confidently across cultural differences. It strengthens organisational leadership, builds trust, and promotes cohesion in diverse work environments,' she said. 'We have to acknowledge the historical inequities that certain communities have faced – that's why the focus often sits there. The way to do this is strategically, through internal and external communication within the company and by building cultural competence between communities and groups within the organisation.' GORM has worked with companies including PTSB and EY to launch a Unified Business Programme (UBP) which aims to train companies to promote DEI policies. The company said it designed UBP as a response to anti-immigration protests in Ireland, and says it wants to build a sense of unity into daily processes, teams, and workspaces. 'It's important to identify the push back, and to reframe it. Reframing means understanding that DEI is fundamentally about fairness, not just for one group, but for everyone,' said Ms Ogoro. 'It's about creating a workplace where each person has an equal opportunity to participate, contribute, and do their best work. 'When businesses get this right, the results speak for themselves. Countless studies show the positive impact of DEI, not just on internal culture, but on market performance too.'
