Shaping Future Disabled Leaders Through Mentoring and Executive Access.

A woman with brown skin and black hair, wearing a green shirt in the office. The lady is holding an ipad and has a hand impairment.

Recognising the underrepresentation of disabled talent in leadership, Pioneers of Change offers differently-abled professionals unparalleled access to leaders from global brands and personalised mentoring.

Executive Access and Tailored Guidance

Our six-month Pioneer 100 programme includes six exclusive closed-room sessions with top C-suite professionals and senior executives from companies renowned for their innovation, strategy, leadership, and impact. Additionally, participants receive five hours of personalised mentoring from successful leaders with lived experience of disability, offering tailored guidance and support for their career goals.

A male and female professional standing in a brightly lit office, looking at a tablet together. The female, who is wearing a prosthetic leg, is engaged in the discussion.

Disability Insights

At work:

  • Only 7% of global C-suite executives have a disability, and 80% hide their condition due to discrimination fears.

  • Non-disabled individuals are three times more likely to earn over £80,000 than disabled counterparts.

In enterprise:

  • Differently abled entrepreneurs are 400 times less likely to receive VC funding.

  • Female disabled entrepreneurs receive only 0.002% of VC funds.

A group of professionals having a meeting in an office. A man in a pink shirt, who is wearing a hearing aid, appears to be leading the discussion.

Programme Details

  • Each year, our programme is open to 100 participants seeking to elevate their leadership skills, expand their network, and gain recognition as emerging talent within their organisations. 

    • Gain insights from seasoned executives and thought leaders.

    • Small groups ensure everyone can ask questions and learn directly from the speakers.

    • Sessions culminate in activities to help apply learnings immediately.

    • Five hours of personalised mentoring tailored to specific needs and career goals.

    • Mentoring can be conducted online or face-to-face based on participant preference.

Leading Insights

Our speakers, hailing from some of the most prominent and esteemed companies, share key learnings from their careers and areas of expertise with our cohort. Participants have the opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable insights tailored to their unique needs and career goals, recognising that everyone’s path is different.

Thought Leader Contributors

  • Clare Cunningham

    GB Paralympian Gold Medalist and GB Athletics Services Leader

  • Dr Maya Dillon

    Specialist in Leadership and Innovation in the Age of AI

  • Dr Mark Esho

    MBE, Disability Power 100, Award Winning Entrepreneur

  • Dr Jo Burrell, C.Psychol., AFBPsS

    Resilience & Psychological Safety Expert, Clinical Specialism in Neurodiversity.

Woman navigating tablet with an impairment of the hand

Encouraging Openness and Equality

Only 4% to 7% of employees identify as having a disability at work, compared to 25% outside of work.

The Pioneers 100 programme encourages greater openness by providing empowering experiences and increasing the number of differently-abled role models in the workplace, inspiring everyone to aim high.

We collaborate with employers and brands committed to creating greater equity and levelling the playing field for underserved talent.

By becoming a partner, employers can enrol differently-abled staff in the Pioneer 100 cohort or sponsor disabled entrepreneurs through the programme.

Partners can also sponsor our research into disability inclusion and have a presence at our prestigious annual awards.

Our Partners

A woman with short, curly red hair is at an awards event, clapping and looking up with a moved expression.

Our commitment to lasting change means our support doesn't stop when the cohort finishes. We stay connected with our participants and celebrate those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and effectively applied their learnings to advance their careers at the end of each year.

Future Leaders’ Pioneer Award

Our Impact

By the end of 2025, we aim to provide 1700 hours of leadership training and mentoring to over 100 professionals across various industries.

Claire Given, Mentor

“Access to a programme like this earlier in my career would have made a world of difference. It's crucial to see more differently-abled talent progress to the boardroom, addressing the glass ceiling that many currently face. This is why I am so passionate about this initiative.”

Unlocking Career Growth.

The Pioneer 100 Programme not only highlights the lack of representation in leadership positions but also reinforces that no opportunity is out of reach and that there is a supportive community pushing for their success.

 FAQs

  • Our partners understand the challenges faced by disabled employees, such as the glass ceiling in the workplace. By integrating the Pioneers of Change programme into your employee development initiatives, you actively work to break down these barriers and support disabled employees in reaching their full potential.

    By joining us, your company not only champions inclusivity but also leverages the unique perspectives and talents of disabled individuals, driving innovation and success.

  • By becoming a partner, your company receives;

    1. Minimum of 15 staff places on the Pioneer 100 programme.

    2. Opportunity to contribute to press releases about our research, with an estimated advertising value equivalent (AVE) of £35k.

    3. Brand exposure throughout the programme and at our annual awards. Our partners will also be recognised in press about the awards estimatedAVE £35K.

    Additionally, we welcome support in the form of access to spaces for our meetings and candidate networking events.

  • In addition to small group sessions with leaders from renowned companies, we provide mentors with lived disability experience, offering several distinct advantages

    1. Authentic empathy and understanding

    Mentors who have navigated similar challenges can empathise deeply, fostering a more trusting and supportive relationship between mentor and mentee.

    1. Practical insights and strategies

    Successful mentors with disabilities serve as powerful role models, demonstrating that professional success is achievable, thereby inspiring and motivating mentees.

    1. Advocacy and empowerment

    Mentors with lived experience can empower mentees to effectively advocate for themselves.

    1. Support network

    Participants gain access to a supportive network where they feel valued and understood.

  • Each candidate receives a minimum of 9 hours learning from our leadership discussions and five hours of tailored mentoring, with the option to extend if needed.

  • We measure and evaluate the programme’s effectiveness through a comprehensive assessment strategy using both quantitative and qualitative metrics, including:

    • Completion rates.

    • Achievements and milestones completed throughout the programme.

    • Improvements in job performance through pre- and post-programme evaluations.

    • Employee engagement scores and testimonials.

    • 360-degree feedback if requested by the partner and participant.

  • Yes, the sessions are confidential to ensure a safe space for open and honest communication. We only share partner evaluations as agreed with the partner organisation, unless the participant requests otherwise.

  • The first session establishes a solid foundation and sets the stage for future sessions. This includes getting to know each other, clarifying the boundaries of the mentoring relationship, setting expectations and goals, and agreeing on practical aspects such as the frequency and duration of future sessions and preferred communication methods. The participant may also be given tasks or reflections to work on before the next session.

    Based on the goals and discovery of development areas, we then create a development plan, with actionable steps. This plan is flexible and will evolve as the participant progresses.

  • We like to meet in person where possible, but we also conduct sessions online to accommodate candidates' preferences and needs. Typically, we use a hybrid approach.

  • Yes, we can extend support hours if requested. We also check in with our candidates to document both immediate impacts and long-term outcomes.

  • Your organisation can sponsor candidates through the programme, such as disabled entrepreneurs on the waiting list. As part of the programme, these entrepreneurs gain access to funds and investors focused on supporting the differently abled. The programme includes a speaker list featuring successful disabled entrepreneurs and sessions on idea validation, product-market fit, and more. We have a waitlist of entrepreneurs eager to join. If your organisation would like to fund a differently abled entrepreneur through the programme, please get in touch.

  • Yes, if you're interested in sponsoring 100 disabled candidates through the programme, and support our research, we would love to hear from you.