AESC Joins The Valuable 500 and Pledges Accountability for Improving Disability Inclusion

The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) has joined The Valuable 500 in commitment to increasing disability inclusion. Launched by social entrepreneur and activist Caroline Casey at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January 2019, The Valuable 500 aims to put disability on the global business leadership agenda.

There is a global inequality crisis. And it can’t be fixed by government and charity alone. It needs the most powerful force on the planet: business. The disability market is a huge opportunity for businesses. But right now 96% of organizations don’t see it. So, to empower businesses to end this crisis, we need strong and accountable leadership.

The Valuable 500 seeks commitment from 500 multinational companies that have at least 1,000 employees to make a public pledge to advance disability inclusion in their organizations. By engaging the most influential business leaders and brands, the movement seeks to create a tipping point within business that unlocks the business, social and economic value of the 1.3 billion people living with disabilities around the world, and the millions of us who will become disabled over time. Today, AESC joins more than 400 companies in 35 countries who have pledged action to disability inclusion.
 
AESC supports The Valuable 500 belief that if business takes a lead, society and government will follow—truly inclusive businesses can build truly inclusive societies.

Karen Greenbaum, AESC President and CEO, commented: “Dedicated to strengthening leadership worldwide, AESC champions diversity and inclusion as a core tenet of our Code of Professional Practice. We believe that diverse organizations are better organizations. Working as trusted advisors to Boards and C-suites across industries and geographies, our members are committed to delivering diverse slates of candidates for senior roles—including candidates with disabilities—and identifying, attracting and developing leaders who can foster inclusive cultures so all talent has opportunity and access to thrive. As a member of the Valuable 500, we take action to bring disability inclusion into dialogue with the clients we serve.”

About The Valuable 500
The Valuable 500 is a global collective of CEOs committed to disability inclusion. We are a social enterprise built on the combined power of business leaders. Those with the power to positively impact their businesses, and in turn the power to shape society. With signatories like Ben van Beurden from Shell, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, and Procter & Gamble’s David S. Taylor, we depend on strength in numbers. Because only united, do we have the speed, the smarts and the influence to accelerate us all to a more inclusive world. Learn more at thevaluable500.com.

About AESC
Since 1959, AESC has set the quality standard for the executive search and leadership advisory profession. AESC Members represent 16,000+ trusted professionals in 1,200+ offices, spanning 70+ countries. AESC Members are recognized leaders of global executive search and leadership advisory solutions. They leverage their access and expertise to place more than 100,000 executives each year in board of directors and C-level positions for the world’s leading organizations of all types and sizes. Dedicated to strengthening leadership worldwide, AESC and its members share a deep commitment to the highest quality standards in executive search and leadership consulting—for the benefit of clients and the profession. We Shape. Connect. Educate. Learn more about us at aesc.org. For AESC’s career service for executive-level candidates, visit bluesteps.com.