Pathways to Zero Barriers Podcast
Scaling solutions for disability inclusion.
The new episode is out!
The episodes of Pathways to Zero Barriers podcast are released on Wednesdays, on a bi-weekly basis.
Tune in:
Podcast Description
Do you have a product or initiative that removes barriers for persons with disabilities? How can you expand or scale it to benefit more people?
Pathways to Zero Barriers takes you on a global journey of scaling disability inclusion solutions. In each episode we explore how innovative initiatives expand to new regions and markets, breaking down the practical steps needed to scale effectively.
Through the experiences of Zero Project Scaling Solutions Programme Fellows, you’ll learn about strategy, partnerships, investment, and more – essential steps in scaling impactful, inclusive solutions worldwide.
Join us to uncover real-life stories from the disability inclusion ecosystem and hear lessons learned from the field.
Host
Anthony Giannoumis, founder of Inclusive Creation and facilitator for the Zero Project Scaling Solutions Programme, brings years of expertise in the field of inclusive innovation and scaling impactful solutions.
A joint initiative
This is the official podcast of the Zero Project Scaling Solutions Programme. It is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.
What to expect:
Discover how each element – strategy, partnerships, funding, and more – contributes to broader disability inclusion efforts. Gain insights into real-world scaling processes, learn from diverse cultures and countries, and hear from leaders driving change in accessibility and inclusion.
Epiosde 3: Adapting Strategies Across Regions.
This episode focuses on the complexities of scaling inclusive solutions across diverse regions, exploring strategies to navigate economic, cultural, and regulatory challenges. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring programmes to local demands, building strong partnerships, and addressing intersectional barriers, such as those faced by migrants with disabilities.
Gabriela Garciadiego, Director of Operations at Incluyeme, shares her experience expanding into 14 Latin American countries, highlighting approaches to inclusive training, corporate collaborations, and overcoming economic instability. Thomas Trümper from GIZ, German development cooperation agency, provides a global perspective, stressing sustainable solutions, capacity building, and partnerships as key drivers of systemic change in inclusive employment.
Tune in to learn more about adapting scaling strategies across regions!
The key questions addressed in this episode are:
- How do you create a scalable strategy for job access across diverse economies?
- What are the key objectives when adapting your job programmes to new countries?
- How do you overcome barriers to scaling within different regional contexts?
Guest Information
- Gabriela Garciadiego is a political scientist, currently working as Operations Director at Incluyeme.com. Her skills include project management, business development, and fundraising strategies, creating inclusive employment initiatives for people with disabilities. She is an experienced Operations and Cultural Affairs professional with over 14 years in high-impact roles across diverse sectors. Gabriela previews experience extends to cultural diplomacy, managing significant exhibitions and cultural events at prestigious venues and cultural heritage, that includes the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Gabriela is skilled in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership, with a commitment to innovative, mission-driven work. Incluyeme.com website.
- Thomas Trümper works for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and advises the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in international development cooperation. He is also committed to bringing official development cooperation and the private sector closer together to improve the living conditions of persons with disabilities, particularly in the world of work, through social innovation, joint projects and alliances. GIZ website.
Epiosde 2: Unlocking Sustainable Funding and Investment.
This episode dives into the critical topic of securing funding to scale innovations, with practical lessons from the field of assistive robotics. How can startups assess the required level of investment? What are the key challenges in securing funding? And how can they align initial costs with long-term sustainability goals?
Rob van de Ven, Co-Founder of Happybots, shares his journey developing and scaling Felix, a ‘social’ robot designed to support individuals with psychosocial disabilities. He is joined by Małgorzata ‘Margaret’ Grobelna from the Zero Project, who complements these experiences with a broader perspective on funding assistive technologies and strategies for building sustainable, impactful solutions.
Tune in to learn more about sustainable funding for scaling disability-inclusive innovations!
The key questions addressed in this episode are:
- How do you determine the level of investment required for scaling your robotics solutions?
- What are the biggest challenges in securing funding for such technology?
- How do you balance initial costs with long-term sustainability?
Guest Information
- Rob van de Ven, HappyBots: A project leader in education, healthcare, and the cultural sector, as well as an innovator, Rob redefines assistive technology by focusing his innovations on human emotions and inclusivity. Happybots website.
- Małgorzata 'Margaret' Grobelna: A passionate advocate for the rights of autistic people, Margaret dedicates her work to fostering innovative collaborations and creating opportunities for impactful solutions to scale globally. Essl Foundation.
Epiosde 1: Foundational steps for expanding to new regions.
In this debut episode of Pathways to Zero Barriers, we dive into the crucial groundwork required for scaling disability inclusion solutions across borders. DISQ, a social innovation incubator focused on assistive technology start-ups, shares their approach to transferring their incubation model to new regions. We discuss the importance of infrastructure, building strong partnerships, and aligning with local communities to ensure success.
Joining the conversation with Anthony Giannoumis are Sameer Rawal from DISQ, one of the Scaling Fellows and Sayomdeb ‘Den’ Mukherjee from EnAble India, one of the Programme Partners. They bring their real-world experience to highlight the challenges and strategies for effective expansion.
Tune in to learn how to succesfully expand to new regions!
The key questions addressed in this episode are:
- What foundational steps do you take before expanding to a new region?
- How do you assess the readiness of a region for adopting your incubation model?
- What are the key challenges in transferring your incubation approach to different markets?
Guest Information
- Sameer Rawal, DISQ: An expert in social innovation and incubation, Sameer leads the charge in nurturing assistive technology start-ups. DISQ website.
- Sayomdeb 'Den' Mukherjee, EnAble India: With extensive experience in scaling solutions for persons with disabilities, Den provides insights into adapting inclusive practices for different regions. EnAble India website.
Do you have questions about the Pathways to Zero Barriers Podcast? Get in touch with the team: