Inclusion is not about extending an invitation to the party, it’s about planning the party in a participatory way where everyone has a say in the food served and music played. Inclusive policies are about co-creating spaces where everyone is an equal partner in shaping the work environment and contributing the decision-making. True inclusion is way beyond nominal quotas; it is an active, ongoing process of listening, adapting, and embedding diverse perspectives into decision-making at every level.
At Soltara Consulting, we have spent decades working across academia, business, and civil society to develop and implement inclusive policies that do more than tick boxes. One of the most critical shifts organizations need to make is recognizing that measuring inclusion isn’t just about benchmarking against international statistics. It’s about generating locally relevant data that reflects the lived experiences and needs of the communities involved. Without this, inclusion efforts risk being disconnected from reality and ineffective in driving meaningful change. It’s about alleviating the burden from individuals and placing the responsibility in the hands of decision-makers (that’s what the word Soltara stands for inspired from Spanish “to let go” or to release a burden).
Our approach to inclusion emphasizes intersectionality, ensuring that policies and programs account for the complexity of identities and experiences. Whether in education, healthcare, telecommunication, or workplace practices, successful inclusion requires dismantling hierarchical structures and fostering shared ownership of change. Through co-creation, organizations can shift from top-down decision-making to participatory models where diverse voices actively shape strategies, solutions, and outcomes.
In a time of increasing pushback against diversity and equity efforts, inclusion must remain a collective responsibility. Organizations must move beyond performative commitments and invest in long-term, systemic change. This means integrating inclusion into leadership development, fostering environments that allow for vulnerability and authentic exchange, and ensuring that policies are informed by those most affected.
The path to true inclusion is complex, but through co-creation, organizations can embed sustainable, contextually relevant practices that drive real impact. Let’s move beyond inviting people to the table—let’s build the table together.