Today, we’re speaking with Ciara Mallon about the highly anticipated Caring in Business – Where Technology Meets Humanity conference, set to take place on Thursday, 10th October 2024 at the Conrad Hotel in Dublin. This one-day B2B event brings together global technology giants and innovative Irish firms to explore the intersection of technology and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Attendees will engage in discussions around key themes such as Purposeful Leadership, Employee Engagement, Responsible AI, and Sustainable Practices. The conference promises to provide invaluable insights and strategies for fostering a more responsible, inclusive, and sustainable business environment.
- Lets begin with the basics; When and where is the Caring in Business conference taking place?
Caring In Business – ‘Where Technology Meets Humanity’ is a one-day B2B conference being held on Thursday 10th October 2024, Conrad Hotel, Dublin. The event will welcome executives from the world’s largest Technology companies to Ireland’s growing firms along with pioneers and supporters of the Caring in Business ethos.
The audience will discuss and debate pertinent issues and themes around Corporate Social Responsibility, Purposeful Leadership, Employee Engagement, Powerful Partnerships, Performance & Key Metrics and Responsible AI.
It provides a platform to highlight how Caring in Business is not only good for business, but essential for business. The main themes revolve around best practice in the three main areas of: Caring in the Workplace, Caring in the Community and Caring in the Environment.
Attendees will network, attend keynote presentations and panel discussions to ensure they walk away with expert advice and practical strategies to embrace CSR strategies and initiatives, keep up to date with mandatory reporting and new regulations and along with new ideas to achieve excellence, overcome industry challenges and achieve best practice within their organisations.
- Who are some of the notable speakers featured at the Caring in Business conference?
Speakers include leaders from tech firms such as HP, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, Genesys, Logicalis, GoTo, TikTok, NetApp and NTT Data.
Other companies represented include Great Place To Work Ireland, RepTrak, Irish Cancer Society, Concern Worldwide, GlobalGiving and we have proudly partnered with EY.
- What key themes and topics will be addressed during the Caring in Business conference?
The three main areas of focus are Caring in the workplace, Caring in the community and Caring in the environment with the themes running through all of these areas being purposeful leadership, powerful partnerships, employee engagement, performance and metrics, and responsible AI.
- How many attendees are expected at the event, and beyond networking, what are the primary reasons to attend?
We anticipate welcoming approximately 100 attendees to the event. While the networking opportunities are undoubtedly a key attraction, the event offers much more. Attendees will benefit from a world-class lineup of speakers and an agenda that addresses highly relevant and timely topics.
The issues being discussed are not confined to leadership or a single department; they encompass initiatives that require collaboration across multiple teams and are relevant to everyone in the organisation. For larger tech firms, the event provides a valuable opportunity to benchmark their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), social impact, sustainability, and CSR initiatives against those of their peers. Additionally, smaller companies will find the event particularly beneficial as they embark on or seek to enhance their own DEI, social impact, and CSR efforts.
In essence, the event is designed to provide actionable insights and strategies that are applicable across organisations of all sizes, making it a must-attend for anyone involved in these critical areas.
- What have been some significant insights and takeaways for attendees from previous Caring in Business conferences?
Previous Caring in Business conferences have left attendees with significant insights and valuable takeaways. Participants have praised the high calibre of speakers, the breadth of topics addressed, and the seamless organisation of the event. One of the key insights from past conferences is the recognition that many of the issues discussed, while thoroughly explored, still require ongoing dialogue and the development of actionable solutions.
Based on feedback from the last conference, this year’s event will feature a dedicated section on the role of nonprofits, offering their unique perspective on how technology companies can maximise social impact. This addition promises to provide attendees with enlightening and practical strategies that they can implement within their organisations.
6. What specific challenges related to corporate social responsibility will be discussed at the event?
The event will delve into several critical challenges related to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Key discussions will focus on addressing persistent gaps in the tech workforce, particularly in areas such as gender parity, minority representation, and disability inclusion.
One major topic will be how companies can achieve their ambitious sustainability goals, including navigating the complex landscape of sustainability reporting and regulatory requirements.
Participants will also explore strategies for maximising social impact, with insights drawn from case studies in both the technology sector and the nonprofit world.
The event will further examine the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on the workplace, community, and environment. In particular, it will address the challenges of digital skilling necessary to bridge the gap created by AI advancements.
As Generation Alpha prepares to enter the workforce in the next five years, there will also be discussions on how tech firms can create a culture and environment that not only attracts this new generation but also demonstrates genuine social values—steering clear of greenwashing and tokenism.
7. How does the conference incorporate discussions on areas such as female, people with disabilities, race or LGBT empowerment in the workplace?
The conference places a significant emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), underscoring that DEI is far more than a simple checklist or a set of statistics to be compiled into reports. It must be deeply embedded at every level of an organisation. Throughout the event, speakers will provide actionable insights on how to achieve this integration, sharing their own experiences and successes. They will also explore strategies that have proven effective and identify areas that still require attention.
Prominent industry leaders, such as Lynsey Monaghan, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Director EMEA & APAC at NetApp; Clare Stephens, VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at NTT Data; and Lynda Connolly, Inclusion Program Manager for Greater Europe at Intel, will lead these discussions.
The session will commence with an exploration of the evolution of DEI, from a focus on diversity metrics to a more inclusion-driven approach. It will also examine the significant changes and trends in the DEI function over the past five years, highlighting how DEI has become a key business differentiator and demonstrating the business benefits of fostering a diverse and inclusive environment.
The session will address LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace, the challenges faced by underrepresented minorities, and the complexities associated with cross-dimensional assumptions. The session will offer insights drawn from successful organisational diversity action plans.
In addition, speakers will share their companies’ achievements in reaching Gender Pay Equity and discuss ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities.
Another critical topic of discussion will be strategies for closing the gaps in the tech workforce, focusing on building a robust pipeline and enhancing workplace culture and well-being. Given that the conference coincides with World Mental Health Day, mental health will also be a key focus, emphasising its importance in creating a truly inclusive workplace.
- How does the conference assist businesses in understanding and complying with mandatory reporting and new regulations?
Our esteemed partner EY will lead the conference on the ever-changing landscape of reporting and will be sharing their expertise to the audience on what that looks like today and what needs to be done and will provide insights on how to do this.
- Would you recommend any other events in the area of CSR or DEI that are promoting people, companies or programmes?
There are numerous outstanding events and programmes dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion throughout the year, reflecting the growing importance of these areas in the corporate world. While it’s difficult to single out just one, I highly recommend attending the “Caring In Business – Where Technology Meets Humanity” event.
This event is an exceptional opportunity to bring together the tech ecosystem to engage in meaningful discussions on the intersection of technology and social responsibility. It offers a unique platform for networking with like-minded professionals and leaders in the field.
An added perk, the event features on-site therapists from Mindwell.ie, providing attendees with the chance to relax and recharge with a chair massage!
For those interested, there’s a special 20% discount available for followers of FocusonDiversity.ie. You can access the discount through this link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/733312516477/?discount=focusondiversity
For more information, visit: www.caringinbusiness.com