MUNICH - Following the success of the myAbility networking event in September of last year, the European Patent Office (EPO) hosted a live matching event for myAbility in Munich, further strengthening the EPO’s ongoing collaborations focused on diversity and inclusion. Around 30 talents with disabilities and seven myAbility partners (Google, Allianz, BNP Paribas, ProSieben, Sat1, Generali and Penguin Random House) joined the live matching event, which provided a forum for exchange regarding future inclusive job shadowing assignments as part of the myAbility Talent® Program, according to the official website of EPO. 

The two-day event offered a rich program and included an opening statement from the EPO which highlighted the organization’s commitment to fostering innovation, equal opportunities and the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion. Attendees also learned about how the EPO supports talents with a disability and the importance of employee resource groups.

Day one included a session on tips and tricks for matching interviews with Google, ProSieben and the EPO as well as impulse sessions by EPO staff from the Special Needs Network and Occupational Health and Safety about how diversity and inclusion are supported at the EPO. The day was rounded off with awareness sessions and networking.
Day two commenced with an inspirational keynote speech from 23-year-old Louis Kleemayer, founder of Unique United, a startup which offers a platform that connects people with disabilities and companies. The remainder of the day focused on matching talents with the different myAbility partner employers in view of the upcoming job shadowing assignments. 

The event fostered valuable dialogue on the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in the workplace, which forms an important part of the EPO’s D&I initiatives.

Participants found the experience enriching and empowering, sharing observations such as:  

“I really felt the warmth and the lovely atmosphere across the entirety of the event. Everyone is so open; the impulse sessions were so inspiring, and I got to meet lovely people.”

As part of the EPO’s D&I activities as an inclusive employer, in the coming months job shadowing assignments will be organized with myAbility and the talents matched with the EPO during the June event. The talents will shadow EPO staff across different areas of the organization to gain insights into the EPO's mission, vision and work. People with disabilities are a driving force for change, offering unique perspectives and skills that are valuable in any organization.