Event

Middle Ground: Exploring Diversity and Inclusion in the Swedish Workplace

Initiated by: Creative Insights Studio

In collaboration with: Mindpark Helsingborg

Supported by: Anna Lindh Foundation, co-funded by the European Union

Location: Mindpark Helsingborg

Date: 13 mars 2025

How can we make diversity a lived experience in Swedish workplaces?

This question shaped Middle Ground: Diversity in the Workplace, a half-day forum that brought together HR professionals, recruiters, civil society actors, and entrepreneurs to explore the challenges and possibilities of workplace inclusion.

The event featured two panel discussions and a facilitated World Café workshop. The first panel explored recruitment biases and structural barriers that hinder fair access to the labor market, particularly for international professionals. The second panel explored how discrimination affects employee well-being and what is required to create socially sustainable work environments.

The World Café session, co-facilitated by Abbas Sbeity (Creative Insights Studio) and Vy Nguyen (Tetra Pak), invited participants to exchange insights and propose concrete actions. The key takeaways emphasized the need to create spaces where critical conversations about diversity and inclusion can occur, as well as to foster more informal, relational moments in the workplace that allow people to connect across differences.

The event originated from ongoing conversations between Creative Insights Studio and Asma Sheikh Attieh, building on previous collaborations centered on civil society, integration, and inclusion.

Middle Ground: Diversity in the Workplace was created to spark cross-sector dialogue around how we can move beyond buzzwords and make diversity a lived experience at work. It emerged from ongoing reflections on integration, labor market exclusion, and the limitations of current diversity discourses in Sweden.

Format & Program

The half-day event featured:

Two Panel Discussions

  • Panel 1: Diversity and the Labor Market - Focused on recruitment biases, structural barriers, and the gap between Sweden’s need for international talent and the lived experience of job seekers.

    • Speakers:

      Fadi Barakat (DEIB Expert),

      Anna Goudoulakis & Maria Lethin (Skillway)

      Moderated by Rasha Shaaban (Världskulturmuseerna / Anna Lindh Foundation)

  • Panel 2: Diversity and the Work Environment - Explored how discrimination impacts mental health, and how leadership and culture can support inclusion and well-being.

    • Speakers:

      Sandra Jönsson (Wellbefy),

      Adriana Cercea (Städlyx)

      Moderated by Asma Sheikh Attieh (Creative Insights Studio / Middle Ground)

  • World Café Session

    A participatory session co-facilitated by Abbas Sbeity (Creative Insights Studio) and Vy Nguyen (Tetra Pak), where participants rotated through three rounds of discussion:

    1. Key challenges to workplace inclusion

    2. Effective strategies and initiatives

    3. Concrete actions individuals and organizations can take

Key insights from the session included:

  • The importance of creating ongoing spaces for critical conversations

  • The role of informal social interactions in fostering deeper connection and trust

  • The need for shared responsibility between leadership and employees in building inclusive environments

The event strengthened collaboration among civil society, employers, and thought leaders, laying the groundwork for the continued development of Middle Ground as a platform for inclusion-focused dialogue, research, and interventions.

  • “The event highlighted the issue of diversity and inclusion from multiple perspectives. A rich program with meaningful conversations and discussions that deepened our understanding of how we can create change moving forward.”

    Sandra Jönsson, Wellbefy

  • “Thank you for the invitation and the opportunity to take part in this debate. As someone who has been—and still is—on both sides of working life, I believe it’s important to discuss topics related to diversity and integration. As the owner of Städlyx, I see daily in my work how we can improve the work environment and increase opportunities for new employees from diverse backgrounds. At the same time, I believe it’s also up to the individual to contribute to their own and the company’s development through commitment and hard work.”

    Adriana Cercea, Städlyx

  • “Many thanks for one of the most important conversations of our time. It was truly inspiring to see your dedication and the strong engagement from all participants. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we continue to raise these issues—despite efforts to diminish the importance of DEI in a democratic society.”

    Fadi Barakat; DEIB Expert

  • “We wanted to create a forum where these questions could be discussed. That’s exactly what Middle Ground is—a space for dialogue. We hope this conversation inspired all of us to take further action in our workplaces, in society, and in our daily lives.”

    Abbas Sbeity; Creative Insights Studio

Want to learn more about how we design participatory processes that drive inclusion?

Whether you are planning a dialogue, designing a program, or exploring new approaches to workplace change. Reach out and book a conversation with our team.