Sofia Pride Business Forum 2025: The DEIB Shift

This year’s theme focuses on the transformation happening in the field of DEIB – the need to evolve and rethink how we understand and implement diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and most importantly, how DEIB is not just a social good, but a solid foundation for achieving strategic business goals.

Organized by the GLAS Foundation and the Work It OUT business network, this half-day event is dedicated to companies committed to building human-centered, inclusive work environments.

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 Date: June 13, 2025
 Time: 9:30 – 14:00
 Location: Grand Hotel Millennium, Da Vinci Hall, 89B Vitosha Blvd, Sofia, 1463
 Register now – spots are limited: https://shorturl.at/zgfqy

 Please note: The event will be conducted in English.
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• 9:30 – 10:00 Registration
• 10:00 – 10:45 Inspiring keynotes

Insights from industry leaders setting benchmarks in DEIB in Bulgaria

Opening – Simeon Vassilev (GLAS)

Keynotes:

1. Marc Angel (Member & Quaestor of the European Parliament, Co-chair of the LGBTIQ+ intergroup in the European Parliament)
2. Simon Reeves (Tech leader at EBRD, D&I Champion)
3. Katrien Meire (Head Honcho Worknomads)
4. Velislava (Dnevnik)
5. Catherine Vaughan (Partner, EY Global Chief Compliance Officer, Partner Sponsor Unity, EY’s LGBT+ employee network)
6. Jovan Džoli Ulićević (queer activist and founder of Spektra, Trans Mreža Balkan and LGBTIQ Association of Queer Montenegro

• 10:45 – 11:45 Panel discussion: Beyond Buzzwords: Measuring the True ROI of Inclusion

Inclusion is no longer just a moral imperative, it’s a business advantage. So how do we move past the slogans and actually measure its impact? This panel brings together business leaders to unpack the real return on inclusion: from employee engagement and retention to innovation, brand equity, and financial outcomes. Expect a discussion on the data, the business cases that resonate, and the practical tools companies are using today to track and prove the true value of inclusion.

Panel discussion participants

1. Maria Dimitrova (Country manager at Foundever)
2. Maya Peycheva-Takeva (HR Manager Bulgaria, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Turkiye and HR Hub Manager at HPE)
3. Ariel Antonelli (Director Legal Operations and Sr. Legal Counsel – EMEA & Executive Sponsor of the company’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at Ingram Micro)
4. Victor Fachev (Senior Director of Human Resources at Paysafe Bulgaria)

Moderator: Sophia Lyateva (nPloy)

• 11:45 – 12:00 Break
• 12:00 – 13:00 Belonging bootcamp

In this second part, you will take part in the conference through workshops and immersive sessions designed to provide practical tools, fresh perspectives and actionable takeaways. Three different labs will lead you from live scenario role-plays and DEIB storytelling to decision-making simulations and inclusive strategy sprints. Expect energy, honesty, and bold ideas!

Topic 1: Mental wellbeing at the workplace in the context of DEIB
Let’s talk about microaggressions, experience how they lead to mental distress, learn to recognize them on time and change communication and behavioral patterns.

Facilitator: Galina Georgieva (HR innovator & psychologist)

Topic 2: Inclusive by Design: Co-Creating Cultures of Belonging in Hybrid & Remote Teams
Meet design thinking methodology and experience how using its instruments you can co-create with your team mates diverse and inclusive environments for everyone.

Facilitator: Biliana Bogdanova (design thinker & practitioner)

Topic 3: Human library: Meet Jovan Džoli Ulićević
Join the trans inclusion lab and learn the story of a trans person to understand first hand how trans people handle work challenges, possibilities and life in general. Take this opportunity to ask your burning questions to get to know the topic closer.

Facilitator: Jovan Džoli Ulićević (queer activist)

• 13:00 – 14:00 Networking lunch

Connect and exchange ideas with forward-thinking professionals committed to building thriving workplaces

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