Most people are familiar with blind dates – but what about a blind date with a colleague? That was exactly what was possible as part of our initiative for German Diversity Day 2026. Anyone interested in meeting new people and having inspiring conversations about diversity and inclusion could sign up for a Diversity Blind Date.
Colleagues from all our Pepperl+Fuchs locations across Germany were invited to take part voluntarily. The participants where then randomly paired up for a 30-minute date – either virtually or in person. The idea behind it: to discover new perspectives, look beyond our own horizons, and get to know colleagues outside our usual work environment. Because diversity thrives on dialogue – on talking to each other, listening, and learning from one another. The conversations started with topics related to diversity and inclusion, but there was no set agenda. Each conversation was free to develop in its own way. Why did our colleagues take part, and what did they take away from their Diversity Blind Date? Some of them share their experiences themselves:
The Diversity Blind Dates
Julia: „I signed up for the Diversity Blind Date because diversity is something we encounter every day, shaped in many different ways by our personal experiences, cultures, and backgrounds. I found the opportunity to have an open conversation about these topics with someone I already knew or someone completely new particularly exciting, as there is rarely enough time for this kind of exchange in our everyday working lives. I believe that conversations like these help us broaden our horizons, gain new perspectives, and better understand the needs and viewpoints of other people.”
Rui: „For me, it was a given that I would sign up for this wonderful initiative. As a deaf person, I always try to overcome the communication barriers I encounter. I was curious to meet a new colleague. I was very grateful to be paired with someone who was considerate of my needs – for example, by using WebEx subtitles and speaking slowly and clearly. As a deaf person, I shared some of the challenges I face in my daily life and explained how I usually overcome them. As a father of two daughters, I also expressed my concerns about the possibility of them experiencing discrimination in their future careers (e.g., being paid less for the same work, having their suggestions overlooked until the same ideas are voiced by men, etc.).”
Thinking outside the box
Simon: „For me, the Diversity Blind Date was an opportunity to get to know a colleague I had never actually met before (even though we had both been with the company for around 15 years). It completely exceeded my expectations. We had a really pleasant, relaxed, and interesting conversation. I think these kinds of encounters are a great way to look beyond your own area of work and gain new perspectives on other people at Pepperl+Fuchs, as well as on their processes and challenges.”
Johannes und Bernhard: „Our Diversity Blind Date led to a really interesting exchange. Since Johannes works in a technical area and Bernhard in a commercial one, we probably would never have met otherwise. During our first meeting via WebEx, we quickly realized just how different our working worlds are. Bernhard works in Financial Reporting, dealing with figures and reports, while Johannes works in Test Engineering with electronic circuits, testing systems, and software. When we met in person for the second time, we not only talked about circuit technology and how testing equipment and sensors work to opportunities in new market segments. We also discovered that we share an interest in renewable energy. For both of us, it was a great experience to get to know the person behind the numbers and the testing processes. And we were both pleasantly surprised by how interested we were in each other’s work. We hit it off really quickly – and were already planning our next meeting.”
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