Evidence of a growing commitment to inclusive business was on full display as over 40 founders, HR leaders, and business managers gathered for NIIC 2’s latest masterclass, “Creating Inclusive Workspaces by Embedding GESI in HR Practices.” The session brought together decision-makers who are actively shaping workplace culture across Nepal’s tech and tech-enabled sectors.

Designed as a highly interactive and practical workshop, the masterclass explored the often-overlooked connection between social inclusion and organizational productivity. Participants examined how inclusive HR practices are not just “good to have,” but directly linked to stronger teams, better retention, and more effective leadership.

The session was led by Dr. Neeti Aryal Khanal, PhD, and Ms. Jyotika Rimal, who guided participants through real-world scenarios, reflective exercises, and actionable frameworks. Rather than focusing on theory, the facilitators helped participants identify unconscious biases, rethink everyday HR decisions, and anchor GESI-responsive policies into recruitment, performance management, workplace culture, and career progression.

Conversations ranged from designing fair hiring processes and inclusive workplace policies to ensuring transparency in evaluations and leadership pipelines. Throughout the session, participants actively shared experiences, challenged assumptions, and discussed how inclusion can be implemented even within the resource constraints faced by SMEs.

The energy in the room carried through to the closing moments of the workshop, where a majority of participants pledged to translate their learning into immediate, policy-level updates within their organizations. For many, the session marked a shift from intention to action.

This expert-led masterclass forms part of NIIC 2’s broader commitment to fostering a robust, equitable, and future-ready entrepreneurial ecosystem. NIIC 2 is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by One to Watch.