Infobip Virtual Leadership Summit: ‘Social Impact of ICDO’s Social Development Projects Worldwide’ Panel Discussion
On the 7th of July 2020, as part of the Infobip Virtual Leadership Summit ICDO President Ms. Josipa Palac hosted a virtual panel discussion ‘Social Impact of ICDO’s Social Development Projects Worldwide’. Ms. Palac presented ICDO’s projects and discussed the social impact ICDO’s social development projects are having worldwide. She hosted two guest speakers Dr. Maria Helena Botero-Ospina, representative of the Colombian Embassy in Vienna, Austria, and Professor at Universidad del Rosario, Colombia, and Mag. Prof. David Euologio Tamayo Torres, professor at the Maya Intercultural University of Quintana Roo (UIMQRoo).
Mr. Dragan Maga, Infobip Regional Manager announced cooperation with ICDO and opened the panel discussion saying Infobip’s goal is to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture with the support of specially tailored activities created and organized by ICDO.
“The ICDO is privileged to cooperate with Infobip, a global omnichannel communication company whose mission aligns with ICDO’s. We are excited to support Corporate Social Responsibility of Infobip and work closely with management to create conditions where we can implement training, workshops, symposiums, certifications on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, ethics, etc. We are also excited to provide volunteer opportunities for Infobip employees worldwide on our projects so that Infobip can experience first hand the work and change ICDO does worldwide.”, said Ms. Josipa Palac at the beginning of panel discussion.
At the ICDO panel ‘Social Impact of ICDO’s Social Development Projects Worldwide’, moderated by Ms. Palac, we were able to stress out the importance of ICDO’s global social development projects with marginalized, underrepresented and discriminated communities on, how crucial is work on the field with communities, and the urgent need for change in all fields, professions, sectors, and levels with the aim of the long-term betterment.
The panel discussion centered around the importance of ICDO’s social development projects in protecting indigenous cultural heritage and being their support system in fighting gender and racial discrimination, in order to overcome challenges faced by indigenous peoples in Mexico, Colombia, and worldwide.
As was said at the panel, those communities worldwide are often deprived of decision-making and inclusion within policies and facing stigma and discrimination which leads to a lack of opportunity to climb the corporate ladder and gain leadership experience. Ms. Palac, Ms. Botero, and Mr. Tamayo emphasized how important is the work on the field through a hands-on community organization-focused approach.
“The intervention of institutions and organizations like ICDO could be a determining factor for the development of those communities. The intervention of local, national, or international organizations can be an incentive, a platform for giving voices to the Maya communities, a way to express their feelings, desires, aspirations, challenges, and needs.”, said Mr. Tamayo, professor at the Maya Intercultural University of Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Ms. Botero focused on presenting challenges and solutions in relation to indigenous women and youth in Colombia and the discrimination and gender inequality that is still very present.
“As for the gap in access to participation, organizations like ICDO can reduce it by making everyone – men and women – participate in the training spaces in an equitable way. This will strengthen advocacy actions, analysis, by also making use of successful and intercultural communication from gender and ethnic perspective, and from the perspective of women, family and youth approach.”, concluded Dr. Maria Helena Botero-Ospina, representative of the Colombian Embassy in Vienna, Austria, and Professor at Universidad del Rosario.
We at ICDO would like to thank Infobip for inviting us to be part of the panel and our guest speakers Dr. Maria Helena Botero-Ospina, representative of the Colombian Embassy in Vienna, Austria and Professor at Universidad del Rosario, Colombia and Professor David Euologio Tamayo Torres, professor at the Maya Intercultural University of Quintana Roo, Mexico for participating in the panel discussion and sharing their knowledge and expertise in the field.