How further training opens up real prospects
In this testimonial, Elena reports on how the Future Jobs Class for Diversity & Inclusion Managers deepened her strategic view of inclusion and helped her to establish measures for a fairer working world in her organization.
"For me, diversity, inclusion and belonging are all about making employees feel good."
Elena Scheppan
HR Specialist Employer Branding & Candidate Experience at grenke AG
Elena Scheppan
Diversity & Inclusion Manager:in
35 years
March 2024
HR Specialist Employer Branding & Candidate Experience at grenke AG
"The Master Class has given me the tools to actively contribute to a more inclusive and equal working environment."
"I've always had a great sense of justice and an interest in people," says Elena Scheppan, "The topic of equal rights and equal treatment has simply always been in me."
"Especially in recent years, through platforms such as LinkedIn, I have become increasingly aware of the topic - and have found myself in it."
Her professional career began in marketing, but she quickly realized that her heart beats for something else. "In my first job, I used methodological skills from the fields of marketing and communication, but I realized that I would much rather deal with organizational development and the people in an organization."
"I actively approached my employer, grenke AG," reports Elena Scheppan. "I was already responsible for establishing concepts and strategic approaches in the area of diversity and inclusion. When I saw the Master Class, I knew it was a perfect fit for what we were planning as a company."
"I don't want to stand still. I want change, I want movement. I definitely don't want to stand still."
With the Master Class, she took the opportunity to take her commitment to a new level: "I wanted to get to grips with the topic more intensively and not just implement individual measures, but work systematically and strategically on a more inclusive corporate culture."
The training not only sharpened her perspective, but also changed her approach to professional challenges: "Personally, I have definitely become more confident and more reflective. It is now easier for me to initiate difficult conversations or change processes because I feel more informed and better prepared."
"The training was allowed to take place during my working hours, which I thought was great and appreciated by my employer," says Elena Scheppan. "Of course, it was still a more intensive time. I used my lunch breaks, for example, to go through the content."
But that didn't put her off: "I'm happy to put up with it for voluntary training on a topic that is really important to me."
Flexibility was a decisive factor: "I sometimes worked on the content during working hours, but sometimes also in the evening or at the weekend - just as it suited me best."
"What really helped me was the exchange with the others. We were a small group that worked together very openly, transparently and critically."
She was also impressed by the practical approach of the Master Class: "The combination of theory, practical exercises and self-study phases suited my learning style perfectly."
"The Master Class helped me to broaden my view of how important the various dimensions of diversity and inclusion are. The different perspectives of the participants in the learning group were particularly enriching," she says.
Elena Scheppan has applied this knowledge directly at grenke AG. "Since the training, for example, we have been able to establish our Parents Connect program, a format for employees on parental leave. We have also promoted topics such as mental health, launched a health day and created new formats for exchange."
A key insight for her was how important it is to embed measures strategically in order to enable long-term change: "I learned to adapt measures to the maturity level of the organization. It's no good putting a hat on a company that doesn't fit properly."
"I have learned to initiate difficult conversations and change processes. This is crucial to achieving real progress in the area of diversity and inclusion."
She concludes: "The Master Class not only strengthened my commitment to a more inclusive corporate culture, but also gave it more depth. It has had a lasting impact on my professional and personal path."
"Just have the courage to try things out." For Elena Scheppan, it's important not to be put off by high expectations or insecurities: "You shouldn't be too hard on your own expectations, but should simply dare to do things."
"If you have a willingness to change and the motivation to deal with new topics, then that's the perfect basis for this kind of further training."
Elena Scheppan advises people to see the Master Class as an opportunity to gain new perspectives: "Especially with voluntary further training, you can always ask yourself: What do I have to lose? It is always a gain to gain knowledge and to deal with a change of perspective."
Setting up a strategically diverse corporate culture
The aim of diversity management is to improve the performance of the company and is therefore an important component for the future direction of the organization. Learn how to deal with the challenges of diversity, avoid discrimination and create successful diversity management in your company.
