Capgemini VP Karine Vasselin discusses inclusive futures

Capgemini knows that having a diverse workforce that represents society, and by fostering an inclusive culture, it can continue to build a workplace where its people can thrive.

Capgemini continues to champion its passion for sports, and highlights the powerful ways that sports can make a difference by inspiring one another to constantly innovate and nurture an inclusive environment for everyone.

Working together to build inclusive futures for all

The Beyond the Scoreboard series explores how Capgemini shapes inclusive futures through sports both on and off the field.

This five-part mini-series dives deep into the importance of diversity and inclusion through real-life experiences and inspiring stories from Capgemini's team members, as well as guest athletes. Capgemini Vice President, Global Head for Diversity & Inclusion, Karine Vasselin, who is an avid sports enthusiast herself, is the host of the mini-series with guests including veterans, people with disabilities, those returning from a career break, and members of the LGBT+ community.

Beyond the Scoreboard explores the power of team spirit, one of Capgemini’s values through the lens of sportsmanship, showcasing how lessons learnt on the field can cultivate a thriving and inclusive work environment for all. Through their journeys, listeners discover how to pursue excellence, overcome stereotypes, and build resilience while balancing passion and professional life and applying that mindset in the workplace.

"At Capgemini, everyone is in the game. We shape a common passion for sports, and we build inclusive futures for all, on and off the field. In this series, we will be hearing from amazing athletes and inspiring role models, how they break stereotypes and overcome challenges in sports and in the workplace," says Karine.

Challenging stereotypes in the field and at work

In an episode of Capgemini's Beyond the Scoreboard, Karine discusses LGBT+ inclusion and challenging stereotypes in the field and at work. The episode features two guest speakers: Adrian Riches from Stonewall who leads the Rainbow Laces campaign, and Capgemini IT Engineer Cemre Ergun, who is also a professional volleyball player and a rally car racer. They share their experiences of how the company can better deal with bias and build a more inclusive environment to enable a broader societal acceptance of the LGBT+ community in sports and the workplace.

Commitment to driving LGBT+ inclusion in sports

Karine begins the episode by sharing how listeners will learn about dealing with bias, and shaping an environment where everyone feels truly welcomed, irrespective of their gender identities, and sexual orientations.

Adrian explains how Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign is driving LGBT+ inclusion in sports. "Stonewall was founded 30 years ago on the back of some harmful legislation, section 28, which was a piece of legislation which prevented discussion, or prevented people talking about homosexuality as it was then known in schools and colleges, which Stonewall successfully overturned. But the legacy from something like Clause 28 is that many LGBTQ+ people still feel unsafe and unwelcome in sports and fitness. So, for example, across Europe, 82 per cent of LGBTQ+ people who take part in sport have experienced or witnessed homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in the past 12 months. While there's been a significant up tick in visibility in recent years, a lot of queer people still face prejudice across the sporting world."

Learning important skills by participating in sport

Adrian shares that the Rainbow Laces campaign is one of Stonewall's most successful campaigns, and the purpose of the campaign is to tackle homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in sport. Stonewall works with a number of sporting bodies, organisations, as well as a number of individuals to really work with them to encourage people to lace up in their rainbow laces and drive a conversation that will help Stonewall to stamp out homophobia and biphobia in sport. "We work with people at the grass roots level, right through to elite sports people. It's been a hugely successful campaign running for 10 years, but there's still a great deal for us to do," says Adrian.

Cemre discusses the amazing and rich journey that they have experienced in sports, from starting to play volleyball at 12 years old, to having the chance to play at a professional level, which in turn has taught skills such as teamwork and discipline, as well as learning technical skills through rally car racing. "To be racing and playing volleyball, I choose to embrace myself, the true identity, but it's really hard in my country. And moving to Australia after 2019, there's a more accepting environment, and it's great that I found myself continuing to pursue my passion for both racing and volleyball."

Addressing LGBT+ stereotypes faced by athletes

The conversation moves on to shedding light on the stereotypes that athletes from the LGBT+ community face, especially within a team, and how this can be addressed, including ways that people can contribute to a broader acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community both on and off the field.

"There's this idea that somehow we might not be great at competitive sports for various reasons, there are perceptions about how they might perform in sports, and really the best way we can tackle those, I suppose, is through a conversation. By having those conversations, we can change attitudes, but those stereotypes exist, they've existed for a long time. Things are changing, but it's still very difficult for LGBTQ+ people to feel able to fill their full potential in competitive sports, or even in the gym," comments Adrian.

"My experience of racing and playing volleyball, Australia compared to Turkey, is worlds apart. In Turkey, I often felt that the stereotypes in sports make me uncomfortable while I'm playing with my teammates. I wasn't really comfortable taking a shower with them. It made me think that they would find out my sexuality, would judge me. Instead of focusing on the sport, I was always thinking about what they're going to find out, if they're going to talk about me, what they think about me. And the second thing is my sport. When I moved to Australia, people did not think about it. People love you for who you are," says Cemre. "I'm playing volleyball with the LGBT+ Sydney Volleyball Club at the University of Sydney, and that part of the community was fantastic. They provide support and an inclusive environment."

"Consider how we can all play our part in making sport everyone's game. One of the ways that you can do that is simply by starting a conversation about why those around you should also support the cause. It's provoking positive, constructive conversations about LGBTQ+ inclusion, whether that happens in the workplace, in the locker room, in places where you play sport, on the field. And remembering that every conversation that you have will take us one step closer to creating a better sporting world for queer people, where they feel comfortable to be themselves and reach their true potential," adds Adrian.

Raising awareness and fostering understanding

The conversation concludes by discussing Cemre's role as a leader for Capgemini Australia's section of the company's global employee network, OUTfront.

Cemre shares that an important tip for anyone who may be entering on the kind of journey that they have experienced is to be their true self. "Find your community and connect with others who share a similar experience and can provide invaluable support. When we find support behind us, we feel stronger. OUTfront Australia actively works to create a safer environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. Advocacy, event and partnership OUTfront Australia is fostering a culture of acceptance and inclusion at all levels. We have seen a lot of progress in the last years, bringing the Gender Information Policy, neutral bathrooms and inclusive language. By raising this awareness and fostering understanding, we can create a more inclusive environment and challenge harmful stereotypes. In OUTfront, education is the key for meaningful change, and promoting acceptance isn't something that happens overnight, the cultural shift is essential."