Ep 77. Katy Talikowska: Ending Disability Exclusion

In this episode, Katy Talikowska, CEO of the Valuable 500, discusses the state of disability representation in advertising and businesses, which remains significantly low despite 20 percent of the global population living with a disability. Highlighting her own journey from the advertising industry to her current role, Katy underscores the importance of authentic representation, innovation, and inclusive leadership in driving meaningful change. She talks about successful campaigns, such as Maltesers' groundbreaking ad during the Rio Paralympics, which not only upped sales by 7% but also set a new standard for inclusive advertising. The episode also delves into the initiatives by the Valuable 500, including the Generation Valuable program and the upcoming SYNC25 Accountability Summit in Tokyo, aimed at promoting inclusive leadership, representation, and reporting in global organisations. Katy emphasises the need for companies to start the conversation about disability inclusion, despite fears of getting it wrong, and stresses the importance of collaboration and collective action in achieving sustainability and progress.Episode Highlights:00:00 The State of Disability Representation in Advertising00:21 Introducing Katy Talikowska and the Valuable 50000:48 The Journey to Disability Inclusion in Advertising02:36 Katy's Professional Background and the Maltesers Campaign06:57 The Birth of the Valuable 50009:21 SYNC25 and the Future of Disability Inclusion14:03 The Power of Purpose-Driven Brands21:17 The Evolution of Brand Storytelling26:07 The Power of Diverse Storytelling27:14 Apple's Emotional Ad: The Lost Voice29:41 The Role of Leadership in Inclusive Representation30:38 Generation Valuable: A Unique Mentoring Program32:49 Revamping the Leadership Team35:41 The Self ID Resource Guide42:35 The Importance of Authentic Purpose48:18 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Accountability51:58 The Journey of Innovation and Collective ProgressChatting with Katy is always a pleasure, and her insights are crucial for anyone committed to fostering genuine inclusion and driving systemic change. Her emphasis on actionable insights and collaborative movements offers a hopeful path toward a more equitable future.Enjoyed the podcast? Subscribe now, and together, let's empower our communities for a brighter, more inclusive future.Host: Peter BellGuest: Katy TalikowskaWatch on YouTubeThis podcast was recorded and produced by Purpose Made, dedicated to powering societal change through knowledge sharing.Interested in becoming a sponsor or collaborating with us? Reach out via Purpose Made.The Inner Circle: Amazing news today! We're launching an inner circle community exclusive to listeners. Those who come in now will be able to join a free monthly zoom with me and the community where we'll go deeper in topics, get to know each other and talk about the realities and people behind the profiles we meet. Also you'll be able to win a purpose made t-shirt in there now. Just click the Drop Station link here, to check it out. Join our tribe and lets grow together https://plus.acast.com/s/purpose-made-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.