Episode Two - In Conversation with Caroline Casey, Founder & Creator of Valuable 500

Susan Scott-Parker Goes Live

It was such a pleasure interviewing Caroline Casey- as she continues mobilising the collective power of business to tackle, in her words, “ the global Disability Equality Crisis”.

Our conversation, as such long standing friends and colleagues, provides fascinating insights into the world -and the lived reality - of this fascinating international change maker…who combines the power of her personal story, her passion for justice, and her lived experience of business – and her sense of humour! – to go where no disability campaigner has ever gone before…

Why do we do what we do? ‘The presumed chasm between the world of disability and the world of business remains unacceptable – it’s bad for business and bad for people’.

What are we up against? ‘Influential companies like McKinsey’s saying that ‘disability has no materiality for business’. Which is a complete denial of what it means to be human – and of the importance of human beings to any business and to any economy.

We open with the simple question: “Are we covert human rights campaigners?”

Her answer: “What am I? – well I’ve learned to separate ‘what I am’ from’ what I do’ … hugely important …let's just say I am a ‘positive troublemaker!’.

“Labels, after all, are for jam jars – I’ve been called a social entrepreneur, innovator, disruptor – and more lately, and I'm easy with this, a global activist and campaigner. Mind you I’ve also been accused of running a cynical PR campaign for the Evil Capitalist System!.”

Caroline has managed to secure commitments from more than 500 CEOs (for the first time in history) to put disability on their agenda – an amazing achievement – but inevitably the conversation also turned to: ‘but what about the 1500 who turned down this free opportunity? What does that feel like?’ How do you persuade disbelievers?’

What has she learned?

“Susan and I laugh the dark humour of the dark moments – you must find the humour….or this is just too hard.

It’s not enough to be right – find the common ground and read your audiences – different audiences have different ways of connecting.

Connect closely with people who both love you and challenge you.

Don’t take failure personally, as you do what hasn’t been done before

And remember… as I had to tell myself time and time again– that you’re not going to solve it all – Do take those moments to celebrate what you’ve achieved along the way- and find the laughter!”.

Great listening for anyone working in the ‘disability & business’ domain-or indeed the social justice space more generally - tons of inspiration and thoughtful lessons to help you along the way.

This episode is also available now on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwX0u79G98I&t=4s

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