ABB’s Executive Committee has nominated Maria Varsellona, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary, as ABB executive sponsor for the LGBTQ+ community.
“I am humbled to have the opportunity to lead the way as the LGBTQ+ executive sponsor,” says Varsellona. “We will do whatever it takes to be a genuinely inclusive company.”
As part of ABB’s commitment to the LGTBQ+ topic, on behalf of ABB, Varsellona has signed the Standards of Conduct for Business Tackling Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People, put forth by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Standards of Conduct provides five concrete steps that companies can take to align their policies and practices with international standards on human rights of LGBTI people.
ABB expects these standards to be followed by its suppliers to generate a real impact in the 100+ countries the company operates in.
ABB also recently signed a partnership with Stonewall, the U.K.-based LGTBQ rights organization, to support developing a roadmap on LGBTQ+ for the company.
“We are focusing on all key dimensions including the tone at the top, setup of employee resource groups and creating a solid framework of policies which will enhance the employee experience,” explains Varsellona.
Many passionate ABB employees are helping to drive this agenda, including Luca Condosta, VP GBS Finance and Project Lead for LGBTQ+. “We have a responsibility to make sure that we can tell all of our employees to come as they are, to be who they want to be,” explains Condosta. “By doing this we can really make ABB be the place to be for everyone.”
“Mutual respect and tolerance are fundamental to how we work and communicate with each other. Broadening the scope of our diversity aspects is key to driving our culture forward and ensuring that ABB is an employer where all employees feel welcomed, respected and heard. It is truly rewarding to see the engagement at all levels of the organization and across the globe. Together we can really make a sustainable difference,” says Heidi Robertson, ABB’s Head of Diversity and Inclusion.
