Irene Caprì: Operationalizing Culture and Creating Safe Spaces

Irene Caprì is a Gold Tier #IAmRemarkable facilitator, an HR Business Partner at ABB, and a passionate advocate for inclusion. A natural connector, she is dedicated to helping people find their voice and true belonging at work.

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I’m an HR Business Partner at ABB, working at the intersection of business, people, and culture in a complex industrial environment. What defines me is how I work: I combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution. I don’t just design frameworks, I make sure they land, are owned by the business, and deliver measurable impact. I play an active role in shaping culture through initiatives on D&I, belonging, and an agile mindset, helping create a workplace where people feel engaged, valued, and empowered.

Outside of work, I’m 36, married, and a mother of two, which keeps me grounded and reinforces my focus on what really matters: simplicity, effectiveness, and making things work in real life, not just on paper.

What does Pride mean to you, and why is it important?

For me, Pride is first and foremost about respect. It’s about recognizing that people are people, no matter who they love, and that everyone should be free to love openly, without fear, judgment, or limitation. This topic is also deeply personal to me. LGBTQIA+ is part of my family’s history, which makes Pride something I feel very close to my heart. It’s not abstract, it’s about the people I love. When we talk about inclusion, we are really talking about real lives, real stories, and the freedom to be who we are.

What has been your favourite moment from an #IAmRemarkable workshop?

One of my favourite moments was during a session when there was a long silence after I asked participants to write down why they are remarkable. You could feel the discomfort in the room, people smiling, hesitating, not really sure what to say.

Then one person spoke up and said, “I’ve never actually stopped to think about this.”

That moment shifted everything. Suddenly, the room opened up, and people started sharing, first cautiously, then more freely. You could see confidence building in real time, people recognizing their value, sometimes for the first time.

What made it special wasn’t just the content. It was witnessing that switch from self-doubt to awareness. That moment where someone starts seeing themselves differently, and you realize you’ve helped create a space where that was possible.

That’s why I love these workshops: because you don’t just talk about change, you actually see it happening in front of you.

What role do you think #IAmRemarkable can play in helping to support LGBTQIA+ people?
Many LGBTQIA+ individuals grow up learning to minimize themselves, adapt, or stay silent to feel safe. #IAmRemarkable creates a space that does the opposite: it invites people to speak up, take ownership of their achievements, and feel legitimate in doing so, without fear of judgment.

For LGBTQIA+ colleagues, this can be a turning point:

• Moving from silence to voice
• From self-doubt to self-recognition
• From adapting to belonging

Ultimately, I see it as a tool to unlock potential that might otherwise stay hidden, helping people not just to be accepted, but to be visible, confident, and proud of who they are and what they bring.

What advice would you give to people who want to be better allies?
For me, being an ally starts with something very simple: awareness and intention, but it becomes real only through small, everyday actions:

• Be curious and willing to listen: Real allyship starts when we stop assuming and start listening.
• Educate yourself: Don’t expect people from minority groups to always explain everything. Take ownership of your learning.
• Use your voice: Allyship is not silent. It means speaking up when something is not right, even in small situations, even when it’s uncomfortable.
• Master everyday behaviors: Inclusion lives in small moments, how you react to a joke, how you introduce someone’s partner, how you include people in conversations.
• Accept that you will make mistakes: Allyship is a journey, not a perfect state. What matters is being willing to learn, to adjust, and to show up again, better than before.

And finally, the all important question: what makes you remarkable?

I’m remarkable because I don’t just support culture, I operationalize it: I create safe, structured spaces where people find their voice, leaders take ownership, and strategy becomes measurable action. And I do it by showing up as my full self, a neurodivergent person who lives with severe depression and anxiety, and who chose to share this openly, turning my story into a source of strength and hope for others who may be struggling to navigate the same path.