Ergin Özdemir
Ergin Özdemir is a social entrepreneur, diversity advocate, and one of Sweden's foremost public speakers. His approach to increasing diversity literacy is two-pronged. By working with leaders, employers, and institutions, he increases their diversity IQ so they can build, preserve, and harness the power of diverse teams. At the same, Ergin helps individuals learn how to use their diversity to their advantage when entering the workforce.
Since moving to Sweden from Turkey in 1993, Ergin, a self-described "love immigrant", has been consumed by questions of diversity and integration. His own experience with a system that makes it unintentionally "almost impossible for an immigrant with or without an education to integrate into Swedish society" compelled him to begin sharing the "perspective from our side". Ergin re-trained in IT and finally got his first break in a Swedish workplace where he quickly worked up to management roles. This convinced him of the importance of enabling others to get a chance to show what they can do as well.
As luck would have it, Ergin's definition of diversity was stretched further when his son Håkan was diagnosed with autism 18 years ago. Since then, Ergin has worked tirelessly towards creating dignified opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to not only become part of, but also fundamentally transform workplaces. So far he has initiated around 50 internships in Sweden, made it possible for a number of students in Turkey to pursue tertiary education through scholarships, and founded the Diversity Achievement of the year.
Through his presentations and workshops, Ergin shows how having a son with autism has enabled him to become a calmer, more focused, better planned, and paradoxically more spontaneous person, with those benefits expanding far beyond his personal life. Backed by countless real-life examples and some serious research, Ergin has been able to show that rather than a burden, diversity in all its senses offers a competitive edge for every organization. All that is required is that we widen our view of where our society's superpowers reside.
Ergin Özdemir is a social entrepreneur, diversity advocate, and one of Sweden's foremost public speakers. His approach to increasing diversity literacy is two-pronged. By working with leaders, employers, and institutions, he increases their diversity IQ so they can build, preserve, and harness the power of diverse teams. At the same, Ergin helps individuals learn how to use their diversity to their advantage when entering the workforce.
Since moving to Sweden from Turkey in 1993, Ergin, a self-described "love immigrant", has been consumed by questions of diversity and integration. His own experience with a system that makes it unintentionally "almost impossible for an immigrant with or without an education to integrate into Swedish society" compelled him to begin sharing the "perspective from our side". Ergin re-trained in IT and finally got his first break in a Swedish workplace where he quickly worked up to management roles. This convinced him of the importance of enabling others to get a chance to show what they can do as well.
As luck would have it, Ergin's definition of diversity was stretched further when his son Håkan was diagnosed with autism 18 years ago. Since then, Ergin has worked tirelessly towards creating dignified opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to not only become part of, but also fundamentally transform workplaces. So far he has initiated around 50 internships in Sweden, made it possible for a number of students in Turkey to pursue tertiary education through scholarships, and founded the Diversity Achievement of the year.
Through his presentations and workshops, Ergin shows how having a son with autism has enabled him to become a calmer, more focused, better planned, and paradoxically more spontaneous person, with those benefits expanding far beyond his personal life. Backed by countless real-life examples and some serious research, Ergin has been able to show that rather than a burden, diversity in all its senses offers a competitive edge for every organization. All that is required is that we widen our view of where our society's superpowers reside.
Diveristy as competitive advantage
Research shows that companies and organisations that are inclusive and have the skills to harness their employees' differences gain a competitive advantage over their competitors.
The "Diversity as a competitive advantage" session condenses Ergin's more than 20 years of experience helping hundreds of companies and organisations do just that and will show you how you too...
Tuning into the hidden superpowers around us (TEDx)
Becoming a sought-after candidate
According to the latest figures, a person born abroad is four times more likely to be unemployed than one born in Sweden. The road to a fulfilling job and integration into Swedish society can be a long and arduous one. Ergin is no stranger to this reality. After applying for more than 600 jobs in the space of six months and being turned down time and time again,...
Attracting and harvesing diversity
In an increasingly globalised world, it is crucial to attract candidates with diverse backgrounds. As you establish yourself as a company that strives for diversity, more candidates may submit their application materials.
This will give you a larger hiring pool while increasing the overall diversity of your company. This diversity will strengthen your work force by providing experience and background knowledge...
Leading for Diversity Awareness workshop
Do you feel ready to embrace diversity and maximise potential?
Do you need assistance to turn your ideas into actions?
ADA-workshop is designed to provide you with the necessary toolset for taking concrete steps towards a more inclusive organisation. Upon completing this workshop, you...
Never Trust Good Advice (TEDx)
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