ABLE Roundtable: Inclusive Culture - Inclusion or Illusion?
On 18 September 2025, we partnered with Micron Technology to host the ABLE Roundtable, bringing together diverse professional voices to discuss one focus: how to foster an inclusive culture in the workplace.
The session, co-organised with Micron Technology, began with valuable insights from panellists Hosea Lai (Applied Materials), Tan Kia Hiang (Micron Technology) and Ong Hua Han (TomoWork Board Member), before opening up into a wider discussion on what it takes to move beyond awareness into action and build inclusive workplace cultures.
Key insights from the session:
Hybrid approaches matter. Change needs to be driven both bottom-up (through Employee Resource Groups and passionate employees) and top-down (with leadership buy-in and structural support).
Safety and sustainability are critical. Psychological safety, fair assessments and embedding inclusive practices in organisational strategy ensure long-term impact.
Just get started. Inclusion is a journey, not a one-off initiative. Progress happens through small, intentional steps.
What emerged from the table discussions:
Inclusion is an ongoing journey, not a one-time effort. Needs may not always be fully met—but what matters is the commitment to adapt, improve, and make workplaces kinder and more patient.
Start small, start somewhere. Disability inclusion doesn’t need to begin with grand strategies. From raising awareness to building mentorship pipelines, small steps create belonging.
Trust is the foundation of inclusion. Trust allows persons with disabilities to disclose their needs safely and be met with empathy, not judgement.
Allyship means awareness + action. True allyship means learning disability etiquette, understanding both visible and hidden disabilities, and stepping up meaningfully.
Leaders set the tone. Psychological safety starts when leaders show authenticity and empathy, making space for honest conversations.
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us, shared openly and committed to making change within their organisations. Events like these reaffirm that while challenges remain, our collective dedication to inclusive hiring and employment is stronger than ever.
It was wonderful to see participants mingling over snacks and having lightbulb moments as they tried an interactive card game simulating common challenges faced by colleagues with autism or dyslexia — part of Infinity Within, our campaign raising awareness of invisible disabilities.
About ABLE Roundtable
TomoWork hosts the ABLE Roundtable regularly, twice a year, teaming up with a corporate partner for each session. It provides a platform for together HR professionals, policymakers and community leaders to exchange ideas and strategies on inclusive employment.
