Fundación FLOR is an Argentine foundation focused on training and promoting leaders to build more diverse, inclusive, and equitable companies. Created in 2012, it is currently receiving applications for the 10th FLOR Diversity Awards. The initiative honors organizations that manage diversity as a core element of their organizational strategy and implement innovative practices with significant social impact.

“We see how fundamental achievements related to gender, disability, interculturality, and human rights are being questioned,” said Andrea Grobocopatel, Fundación FLOR founder and president. “It is essential that companies, institutions, and civil society redouble their efforts to keep this agenda alive.”

She added that, in a local and international context of rising polarization, hate speech, and setbacks of rights, “upholding diversity as an essential value becomes more urgent than ever.” 

“It is essential that companies, institutions, and civil society redouble their efforts to keep this agenda alive.”

Applications will be open until June 30. All those interested can register via the FLOR Awards website. Large companies, SMEs, NGOs, public sector divisions, business chambers, unions, and professional associations from Argentina and Latin America can apply for the award by presenting their diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.

Applicants must showcase practices that demonstrate social impact, innovation, scalability, and an intersectional approach.

In an interview with the Herald, Grobocopatel shared her insight about the importance of integrating diversity within companies’ strategies.

How do companies integrate diversity into their strategies and values?

There is a great deal of diversity among companies themselves, so we cannot generalize. Some approach these issues because they’re trendy and help improve their reputation, and others because the market demands it. But there are also many that do it out of conviction. Because they understand that diversity is not only a matter of ethics or social justice but also a competitive advantage.

The most committed organizations integrate inclusion into their strategies through gender policies, accessibility programs, promotion of diverse leadership, active listening spaces, and training in unconscious bias, among other actions.

There are companies that incorporate diversity indicators into their management dashboards, review their selection processes to ensure fairness, or encourage the participation of people with disabilities or from different cultures or generations in their teams.

Why is promoting diverse workplaces important?

It’s not just a matter of ethics or social justice: it’s a strategic decision with a direct impact on companies’ sustainability and performance.

Diversity enriches teams by incorporating multiple perspectives that improve decision-making, stimulate innovation, and strengthen the ability to adapt in changing contexts. 

Furthermore, creating spaces where all people can develop authentically promotes a culture of belonging, which contributes to attracting and retaining talent. Simply put, people want to stay where they feel valued for who they are. At Fundación FLOR, we believe that inclusion is not only an opportunity but also an organizational responsibility. 

Do you think that the social and political context in Argentina and the world makes it more valuable and important to do so?

Yes, absolutely. In a local and international context marked by polarization, the rise of hate speech, and setbacks in terms of rights, upholding diversity as an essential value becomes more urgent than ever.

We see how fundamental achievements related to gender, disability, interculturality, and human rights are being questioned. In the face of this, it is essential that companies, institutions, and civil society redouble their efforts to keep this agenda alive. Sometimes it is difficult to translate this into concrete actions, but we know that the way forward is through greater commitment, courage, and collective awareness.

The world of work is no stranger to this context: it reflects it, but it also has the power to transform it. Companies can choose to reflect the status quo or become beacons of change. They can reproduce inequalities or promote inclusion, empathy, and innovation. At Fundación FLOR, we choose to stand with those who lead with courage, understanding that diversity is not a fad or a marketing strategy but a necessary condition for sustainable development and social peace.

Cover image courtesy of Fundación FLOR