{"id":11493,"date":"2025-10-08T13:10:15","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T11:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diversityhub.pl\/a-decade-of-dei-in-practice-the-shared-story-of-diversity-hub-and-ams\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T08:43:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T06:43:26","slug":"a-decade-of-dei-in-practice-the-shared-story-of-diversity-hub-and-ams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diversityhub.pl\/en\/a-decade-of-dei-in-practice-the-shared-story-of-diversity-hub-and-ams\/","title":{"rendered":"A Decade of DEI in Practice: The Shared Story of Diversity Hub and AMS"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are the most vivid memories from our ten years of collaboration?<\/h2><\/div>

Jola Gantkowska,<\/span> AMS: <\/b>Above all \u2013 the beginnings and the opportunity to co-create the DEI stage together with Diversity Hub.<\/p>\n

We particularly remember the very first meetings (on a boat!) and workshops. Back then, nobody really knew where the DEI topic was heading, but we all had the intuition and passion to develop it together. <\/p>\n

From there, it was a real \u201csnowball effect\u201d \u2013 each meeting attracted more participants, we explored more and more diverse topics\u2026 and finally reached something like global domination over the past few years.<\/p>\n

Above all, Diversity Hub will always be associated for us with professionalism \u2013 but also with lots of fun!<\/p>\n

Thank you for being here!<\/p>\n

Tomek D\u0105browski, Diversity Hub: <\/b>Pami\u0119tam nasze pierwsze spotkanie na krakowiskiej Barce \u2013 to by\u0142 zupe\u0142nie pierwszy hubowy meet-up. At that time, we were still thinking about whom to invite \u2014 the idea for Diversity Hub was only just taking shap Naturally, representatives of institutions that were already involved in supporting disadvantaged groups appeared \u2014 among them, for instance\u2026 \u2026the Regional Labour Office, universities, organizations dealing with employment issues, and several NGOs. These were people who had been genuinely interested in the topic of diversity from the very beginning.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s when Jola Gantkowska from AMS appeared \u2013 the first business manager who not only came, but also said: \u201cthis is important for our company, we want to talk about it.\u201d That was a breakthrough moment for us. Truly. That\u2019s when we realized how important this was for business. In fact \u2013 that experience pushed us towards supporting inclusive workplaces specifically in the business sector. AMS became the first company that genuinely believed in our work and immediately got involved. Since then, we have collaborated with over 400 corporations, but indeed our story began on the boat. Together with AMS. <\/p>\n

By the way \u2013 since then, Jola Gantkowska and other colleagues from AMS have frequently spoken at our conferences, and AMS has been present at almost all of our events \u2013 meet-ups, breakfasts, conferences. Yet the strongest memory is still the moment someone believed in us. <\/p>\n

Tomek D\u0105browski, Diversity Hub:<\/b><\/span> <\/b>For us, these memories mark above all the beginning of a journey \u2014 a moment when we were trying together to name something that did not yet have a framework or a language. I remember how we delved into this topic and felt that we were touching on something important, even if not everyone understood at the time where it would lead. Those first meetings \u2014 full of passion, openness, but also uncertainty \u2014 were priceless to us. From the very beginning \u2014 with the involvement of AMS, who always supported and motivated us.<\/p>\n

Those first meetings \u2013 full of passion, openness, but also uncertainty \u2013 were invaluable. From the very beginning, with AMS supporting and motivating us. Then came the \u201csnowball effect\u201d \u2013 more people, broader and deeper topics, and an increasing sense that we were not only part of change but also its driving force.
And that\u2019s what we want to remember most strongly: that building DEI from scratch was only possible because we did it together \u2013 with you and with the whole community that joined us step by step.<\/p>\n<\/div>

We celebrate 10 years together as a DEI community. What does this mean to you?<\/h2><\/div>

Jola Gantkowska, AMS:<\/b><\/span> <\/b>First of all \u2013 access to the best DEI practices.<\/p>\n

Thanks to our cooperation with Diversity Hub, we gained a deeper understanding of the subject, the opportunity to explore truly important issues, and tools we could never have developed on our own.<\/p>\n

Tomek D\u0105browski, Diversity Hub: <\/b>The community that has formed around Diversity Hub gives us the sense that our work truly matters. What we started as a somewhat niche, \u201cidealistic\u201d project has today become a real movement \u2013 present in companies\u2019 language, strategies, and employees\u2019 awareness.
These 10 years are proof for us that change happens not only in reports or at conferences, but in people\u2019s everyday experience. <\/span><\/p>\n

For us, it also confirmed that from the very beginning we were right to bet on community rather than a classic consultancy or training model. We never wanted to be just another company selling services, but a place that connects people \u2013 experts, managers, institutions, and NGOs \u2013 around shared values. <\/p>\n

This community consists of people who share knowledge with us, write reports, speak at conferences, lead meetings, and support us with their energy and ideas. Thanks to them, we\u2019ve built a space based on trust and the belief that together we can achieve more. <\/p>\n

For us, it is the sense that our shared work truly matters. What we once started as a somewhat niche, \u201cidealistic\u201d project has today become a real movement \u2013 present in the language of companies, in strategies, and in employees\u2019 awareness. These 10 years are proof for us that change happens not only in reports or at conferences, but in people\u2019s everyday experiences. <\/span><\/p>\n

…that we have managed to create a space where different organizations can meet, exchange ideas, and learn from each other \u2013 without competition, but with a genuine sense of community.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Where are you after 10 years? What are you most proud of?<\/h2><\/div>

Gosia Le\u015bniak, <\/span>AMS: <\/b>Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are growing dynamically and gaining increasing representation in Poland as well. Their goal is not only to provide mutual support and build a sense of belonging, but also to actively promote diversity and collaborate with the company to create a more inclusive work environment. <\/p>\n

Today, we can clearly see that both our employees\u2019 awareness and management\u2019s engagement in DEI issues have significantly increased \u2013 which makes us proud. Employees appreciate our initiatives, such as recruitment campaigns focused on neurodiversity and events dedicated to various employee groups, including those organized through the Women\u2019s Network. <\/p>\n

Tomek D\u0105browski, Diversity Hub:<\/b><\/span> <\/b>After 10 years, we are proud that from a small, somewhat niche project, we have become a leading organization in Poland that genuinely drives change in the DEI field. Today, we talk about collaborating with over 400 corporations, supporting them on their journey toward creating open, welcoming, and inclusive workplaces. <\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, we have preserved something that has been key for us from the beginning \u2013 authenticity and mission. What we do is meant to be valuable, but also simply human and joyful. We work long-term \u2013 accompanying companies for years, such as AMS, as well as those that joined later \u2013 and we can see how their organizations evolve. <\/p>\n

Looking at the market today and comparing it to ten years ago, it is clear that tremendous progress has been made. Topics that were once marginal \u2013 such as mental health, age-related issues, or gender equality \u2013 are now embedded in strategies and everyday conversations. This gives us the greatest satisfaction: knowing that we have a real impact \u2013 not only on organizations, but, most importantly, on the lives of many people. <\/p>\n

Looking at your journey, we feel immense pride that we could be part of it. For us, AMS is an example of how DEI ideas can be translated into concrete actions \u2013 initiatives that genuinely transform an organization. <\/span><\/p>\n

From our perspective, we are proud that over these 10 years we have managed to maintain our independence and authenticity. That we have stayed true to the values that have guided us from the very beginning, and that despite pressures or moments of doubt, we can still say: we do this in a way we believe in.<\/p>\n<\/div>

What have we learned from each other over the past 10 years?<\/div><\/h2><\/div>

Gosia Le\u015bniak, AMS:<\/span> <\/b>Thanks to regularly sharing knowledge during meetings, we had the opportunity to observe how to authentically build an inclusive organizational culture \u2013 one adapted to our local realities. This experience also allowed us to adopt a more strategic approach to inclusion, drawing on the best practices and experiences of other teams. <\/p>\n

Tomek D\u0105browski, Diversity Hub:<\/span> <\/b>We have learned that true change comes from collaboration. It is not enough to create a report, a tool, or a workshop \u2013 they must be given meaning together, tested in practice, and adjusted where needed. <\/span><\/p>\n

But we also learned something else: how important relationships are. Not just from project to project or from one internal initiative to the next, but everything that happens around them \u2013 getting to know each other, conversations, mutual support. Sometimes we carry out specific actions; sometimes we are simply present \u2013 as a partner who accompanies, listens, and invites dialogue. <\/p>\n

And I think that is the foundation of our success: Diversity Hub does not impose itself on organizations, but continuously accompanies them. We are present when they need us, while constantly building connection and trust. We give a lot of ourselves \u2013 organizing meet-ups, writing reports, preparing publications, providing valuable inspiration, and connecting people with one another.
That is why we value partnerships like the one we have with AMS \u2013 because it is reciprocal. They support our initiatives just as we support theirs. This makes us not only partners, but also good friends.
It is thanks to partnerships like ours that we have understood that DEI is not a one-off action, but a process that continuously requires attention, patience, and courage.<\/p>\n<\/div>

What do we wish for the next decade, and what did we not wish for 10 years ago?<\/h3><\/div>

Gosia Le\u015bniak, AMS:<\/span><\/b> We feel that social awareness around diversity and inclusion has increased significantly over the past ten years. Inclusion is increasingly reflected not only in language, but also in its widespread recognition as one of the key priorities for modern employers. <\/p>\n

However, we still have important goals ahead of us. We wish for:<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>

  • <\/i><\/span>
    More authenticity \u2013 we want inclusion to be a genuine, lived value, not just a marketing slogan.<\/div><\/li>
  • <\/i><\/span>
    Broader access to the labor market for everyone \u2013 including people with disabilities, seniors, and representatives of diverse social and cultural backgrounds.<\/div><\/li>
  • <\/i><\/span>
    Equal opportunities \u2013 regardless of gender, age, background, or identity, everyone should have the chance to grow and fulfill their professional potential.<\/div><\/li><\/ul>

     <\/p>\n

    Tomek D\u0105browski, Diversity Hub:<\/b><\/span> <\/b>Today, our greatest wish is for DEI to become a truly lived part of organizational culture \u2014 for inclusivity to no longer be something that needs to be fought for, but something that is simply taken for granted in every company.<\/span><\/p>\n

    We wish for the courage to engage in conversations \u2013 including difficult, uncomfortable, or controversial ones \u2013 because they are essential for real change to happen.<\/p>\n

    We would like DEI not to be seen as a project supporting only one group \u2013 disadvantaged, minority, or requiring special attention. It is an issue that concerns absolutely everyone, regardless of who we are, where we are in life, or what experiences we have had. Our shared goal is to create a workplace that is good and welcoming for all \u2013 a place that supports growth, harnesses talent, and is never \u201cagainst\u201d anyone, but always \u201cfor\u201d everyone. <\/p>\n

    We also wish for consistency \u2013 so that the energy for change does not fade at the end of an event, but transforms into lasting change and a real difference within the organization. It is a journey \u2013 often long, requiring courage and determination \u2013 and it is precisely this journey and the way we navigate it that are crucial. <\/p>\n

    Ten years ago, we never imagined we would find ourselves at such a moment. At that time, diversity & inclusion was not yet so firmly present in organizational language \u2014 we were rather talking about humanizing work or taking a humanistic approach to management. Today, we know that this is exactly what it\u2019s about: creating an environment where the work and lives of many people can come together in harmony.<\/p>\n

    And what did we not wish for 10 years ago? Perhaps precisely this authenticity. Back then, we were fighting just to secure a seat at the table for DEI. Today, we want there to be no doubt that this place is permanent \u2013 and that no one is trying to reduce diversity to an empty slogan.<\/p>\n<\/div>

     <\/p>\n<\/div>