1st Hahn & Loewe Holistic Thinkers Salon: engaged in discussion, appreciative and controversial

We wanted to burst some bubbles, rethink, sharpen and over through some ingrained arguments — face-to-face and live — that was the motivation for our first Hahn & Loewe Holistic Thinkers Salon in Munich.

And we did. We met up to create new impulses for what is needed for a sustainable economy and society, this time round focusing on diversity and inclusion. A colorful mix of people populated our salon from company bosses to executives, employees to solo self-employed people.

Food for thought

Jeanne Rubner, as our moderator for the evening, set the trail for the discussion with our three thought leaders. Hans Fahr, independent management consultant, for example, with his appeal to challenge the silver surfers and build bridges between the generations. Julia Kusterer, Managing Director and Technology Sustainability Lead at Accenture, emphasized that sustainability and diversity can only grow and blossom in a company if they are carefully planned and tied to concrete goals; simply more of this or that is not enough. And Daniela Porr, EMEA Human Capital Management and Diversity & Inclusion Specialist at Workday, punctuated the discussion with the latest figures from a recent study on the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Europe. Daniela supported Julia with the thesis that only a solid data basis would show whether existing hiring practices in the company are really unbalanced, whether the promotion process is inclusive or whether higher turnover only affects a certain group of employees.

With all the online chatter and twittering, do we still need a salon?

A definite YES -> There are enough digital opinion platforms. On the Internet, every opinion is available to everyone at any time; depending on taste, it may be expressed rather awkwardly or carefully formulated by the most distinguished heads of one position or another. But as a rule, digital exchange is short-winded — if it takes place at all. How often does the exchange via the comment functions and reply buttons degenerate into a simple thumbs-up/thumbs-down click or polemical rumblings — before one of the combatants leaves the chat after two or three half-sentences and turns to new virtual adventures behind the mask of anonymity?

Face-to-face conversation creates a much weightier commitment. Politeness dictates restraint in evaluations, curiosity about the unfamiliar counterparts fuels the conversation, the topic of the evening helped to navigate through the many other current topics of conversation and stay on topic. Added to this was a culinary treat as a further balm to a conversation that was wonderfully lively, multi-faceted, naturally controversial, never offensive, and always open, authentic, and connecting. This gave rise to thought-provoking impulses that will continue to accompany us in our everyday lives:

- Courage and action, instead of paralysis and fear.

- Together it works better

- Clear communication is important

- Planet — People — Profit

- Challenge the “old”

- Now or never: Diversity, inclusion and sustainability are out of the niche

- Strategize Up: Acting with plan and reason, instead of sometimes here and there

- Flexibility creates innovation

- Self-responsibility and self-activation are needed.

Finally, the participants pointed out that diversity requires a good dose of tolerance, the willingness to listen to the other person and to be able to accept their differences. The evening was an active and fun exercise in this. Many thanks to all participants. And see you next time!