An evening on social impact at the Geneva Marriott Hotel

Together with the association Trust To Achieve, Alter Start brought companies and associations together to discuss two levers that are still underused: skills-based volunteering and work placements.

Because impact is measured above all in human journeys.

Kübra Tekindağ Bahar (Alter Start) and Sacha Althaus (Trust To Achieve) shared their stories and explained how the commitment of employees from a Geneva bank accelerated their professional plans — through an internship that led to a job for Sacha, and a pitch session for Kübra's business project.

A committed round table

• Christèle Hiss Holliger – Member of a Geneva philanthropic foundation
• Darius Azarpey – Employer Brand / Diversity & Inclusion, Migros Geneva
• Pierre-Henri Perrin – General Manager of the Geneva Marriott Hotel

Moderated by Hélène Bayeux, director of Alter Start, and Amaury Marchandise, President of Trust To Achieve, the discussion focused very concretely on one key question: how can companies amplify their social impact?

Several levers emerged:

• involving top management to give strategic momentum
• creating a label that recognises genuinely committed companies
• recognising that inclusion drives performance

And there was a strong consensus: involving people with disabilities or a migrant background helps break down silos within companies and encourages exchanges between teams.

Beyond the social impact, companies also see:

• better talent retention
• greater satisfaction within teams
• a positive effect on team dynamics

What if the real question was no longer why companies should get involved… but what is still stopping them from truly doing so?

A big thank you to the speakers, our volunteer mentors, the partner companies who attended, our entrepreneurs and the Geneva Marriott Hotel for hosting us and for such rich discussions.

Photo credits 📸 Ahmed Mohammed & Alona Rieznichek