Event brings ex-wife of Nelson Mandela to discuss racial agenda with CEOs

More than 50 CEOs of large companies will meet with activist Graça Machel, Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife, to discuss the private sector’s commitment to the racial agenda and the fight against racism. The meeting is part of the schedule of the 2nd International Business Forum for Racial Equity, which will take place this Thursday (17) and Friday (18), in São Paulo.

The forum is free and will be held in person at the Zumbi dos Palmares University, in the north of São Paulo. Applications can be made via the official website.

Human rights activist and former Minister of Education of Mozambique, Graça Machel will give a lecture this Thursday morning. Next to her, businessmen will gather to read a letter presenting the current moment of the racial agenda in the corporate environment and reaffirming commitments with the adoption of affirmative actions for the promotion of equity.

The forum is organized by two of the main corporate movements in favor of racial inclusion: the Business Initiative for Racial Equality, which brings together more than 60 large companies —such as Itaú, Coca-Cola, Unilever and Magalu— and Mover (Movement for Racial Equity ), currently formed by 47 companies.

During the two-day event, national and international leaders from the private sector, public authorities and civil society will also discuss topics such as ESG (environmental, social and governance) and the climate crisis.

The objective is to tropicalize the issues, understanding how to debate the climate and social agendas considering the racial issues that weigh on Brazilian society.

Another topic under discussion will be the Quota Law and the effects of affirmative actions to promote diversity and inclusion in the business environment. During the event, a partnership project will be launched between Universidade Zumbi dos Palmares and US universities to identify and study the impacts of affirmative action.

The Business Initiative will also present the results of the new Index of Racial Equity in Companies, which makes a diagnosis of diversity in Brazilian organizations. In its third edition, the index had the participation of 48 companies, such as Petrobras, Bradesco, Cargill and Banco do Brasil.

“Last year, despite all the discourse of inclusion and racial diversity, the participation of blacks in the top leadership of companies reduced”, says Raphael Vicente, general director of the Business Initiative for Racial Equality. “This year, we should have interesting results, because the base has changed reasonably, we have more than 13 new respondents”, he adds.

According to Vicente, the forum will also have the announcement of a partnership between Iniciativa Empresarial and USP (University of São Paulo), which in August this year launched Diversa, a program that offers grants of R$ 800 paid by companies and individuals to Help students in situations of economic and social vulnerability remain.

“We are announcing that Diversity [braço de recrutamento, seleção e desenvolvimento da Iniciativa] and USP are going together to seek solutions and resources to also include these young people in the job market”, he says.

2nd International Business Forum for Racial Equity