Chair Trip

On April 23, the Chair closed its second day of the study trip with a powerful session at Microsoft, exploring the intersection of technology, inclusion, and innovation alongside Philippe Trotin, Director of Inclusion & Accessibility.

Guided by Microsoft’s mission — “To empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more” — the session demonstrated how digital accessibility is not a feature, but a foundation for a more equitable future.

Key themes included designing products and services with and for people with disabilities, adopting an iterative, inclusive approach, and leveraging technology and AI to break barriers — from image-to-sound and speech-to-text to real-time translation.

The Employee Resource Group disAbility plays a key role in this ecosystem, helping raise awareness, activate initiatives, and drive a culture of inclusion across Microsoft.

The visit underscores a powerful principle: “If it works well for a person with a disability, it benefits everyone.”

From education and employment to daily communication, technology must be designed with universal needs in mind, making sure inclusion is not an afterthought but a starting point.

On April 23, the Leadership & Diversity Chair continued its exploration of digital accessibility with a visit to L'Oréal, where students were introduced to HAPTA, a powerful innovation from Lancôme designed to make beauty more accessible.

Presented by Ambre Brizon, CSR Manager, and Tara Ferrero, Senior International Manager, Beauty Tech & Innovation, HAPTA is a smart lipstick applicator that uses micro motors, a 9-axis accelerometer, and gyroscopic sensors to stabilize movement — allowing people with limited hand or arm mobility to apply lipstick with greater ease and precision.

HAPTA was designed for beauty lovers living with conditions such as arthritis, stroke-related disorders, muscle weakness, or limb differences. It reflects L’Oréal’s deep conviction that beauty should be universal and empowering for everyone.

This visit underscores the role of inclusive innovation in shaping the future of Beauty Tech and highlights L’Oréal’s ongoing mission to make sure no one is left out of the beauty experience.

On the afternoon of April 22, the Leadership & Diversity Chair visited Handilab, a pioneering startup incubator and accelerator specialized in developing innovations for people with disabilities.

With 13,000 m² dedicated to accessibility within a 33,000 m² innovation space, Handilab brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, and partners — including L'Oréal and ESSEC — to drive impactful, market-informed solutions.

Handilab’s approach highlights the importance of including people with disabilities as creators, not just users, and developing innovations that empower and enable their independence. Handilab demonstrates how inclusion drives innovation, proving that designing with and for people with disabilities benefits everyone.

Some remarkable innovations from the ecosystem include:

• Heegee: A digital therapy solution for chronic pain, co-designed with doctors and patients.

• PainChanger: A “pain management center in your pocket”—democratizing care.

• AVI & OTO: Smart, adaptable accommodations and travel solutions for people with mobility disabilities.

• GiveVision: Wearable technology making live events more accessible for the visually impaired.

On April 22, the Leadership & Diversity Chair kicked off its study trip with a deep dive into digital accessibility and innovation at Google.

During this insightful day, Christopher Patnoe, Head of EMEA Accessibility and Disability Innovation, explained Google’s approach to designing for all: leverage strengths, start somewhere, and innovate alongside the people who will use the technology.

Thomas Castéran, Global gTech Engagement Manager for L'Oréal, illustrated how this collaboration brings accessibility to life — from improving website compliance and adding captioned content, to employing AI for more representative and adaptable campaigns.

Meanwhile, Joanna Podgorska, Advertising Solution Architect, presented a new solution: auto-narrated audiobooks, a low-code tool making books more accessible, faster, and more efficiently.

The day concluded with a hands-on workshop at the Accessibility Discovery Center, where participants experimented with a range of assistive technologies, experiencing firsthand how technology can empower people of all abilities.

This first day made it clear that inclusion must be at the core of innovation, and that designing for all benefits everyone.