Zahra Nedjabat

Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Deutsche Welle (3k+employees)

Zahra Nedjabat was appointed Head of International Relations & Diversity at DW in November 2019. She and her team are responsible for the development, management, and evaluation of the company-wide DEI strategy with the aim of making DW more inclusive, both internally and in its program. By setting priorities and standards, sharing knowledge, and creating spaces for dialog, they help anchor DEI values in the corporate culture and strengthen the skills and the sense of belonging of DW employees. Before joining DW in 2018, Zahra Nedjabat worked as an editor and PR project manager at media.net berlinbrandenburg e.V. and as head of corporate communications and management consultant at TRIAD Berlin Projektgesellschaft mbH. Nedjabat gained journalistic experience at BBC World and RC 93.9 FM Paris. Since 2014, she has been organizing the Vienna International Christian-Islamic Summer University together with the University of Vienna. Zahra studied comparative literature, Islamic studies, philosophy, and history in Bonn, Tehran, and Paris.

4:00 - 4:30 pm CET

Thursday 22 May 2025

“Why Dei? What We Gain by Confronting the Realities of Diversity Around and Within Us”

We are living through challenging times. The pandemic has taken a significant human and economic toll, and ongoing crises, wars, and natural disasters continue to push our systems to the limit—economically, politically, and psychologically. At the same time, constant change in the wake of demographic transition, digitalisation, and globalisation has many people overwhelmed. Feelings of uncertainty, burnout, and pressure are increasingly common in a world that seems to be moving faster, growing more complex, and becoming less predictable. Amid all of this, the topic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has sparked debate in many organisations. Why should we prioritise DEI when we're already stretched to our limits? Isn't it just another trend—one that consumes limited resources and potentially creates division? In this session, we’ll explore why DEI is not just a "nice to have." Rather, it’s a meaningful, strategic response to the realities we face—and it can help make us stronger, more resilient, and better equipped for the future.