At the Connect and Act 2026conference, DUO for a JOB and Professor Peggy De Prins (Antwerp Management School) explored the topic of corporate volunteering.
Missed the event? We’ve summarized the key takeaways that highlight mentoring as a powerful driver of inclusion and performance.
We often hear: How can we develop our employees' soft skills? What CSR initiatives can help meet CSRD criteria? How can we retain talent through skills-based volunteering?
For companies, DUO for a JOB is much more than just a social impact project. It is a strategic partner in a hybrid Learning & Development (L&D) strategy.
How can corporate volunteering help businesses?
1. Recognizing one's own skills
Experienced professionals often operate on autopilot. By guiding a young immigrant toward the job market, the skills acquired over a career become tangible.
« Mentoring at DUO acts like a mirror. The job search process forces the mentor to reframe their own knowledge. As an expert, you become "consciously competent" again in your own profession and coaching abilities. »
- DUO for a JOB
2. The win-win: HR + ESG
The Professor Peggy De Prins (Antwerp Management School) has demonstrated why this form of engagement is so powerful for HR policy. It is a direct response to talent development goals and CSRD reporting criteria.
"Employees develop soft skills in the field,
such as empathetic listening or intercultural communication, which are simply impossible to simulate in a traditional boardroom training session."
- Professor Peggy De Prins (Antwerp Management School)
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3. A lever for innovation in diverse teams
In teams marked by generational or cultural differences, having a mentor is not a luxury, but a necessity. Volunteer mentors help build bridges between perspectives and effectively transfer knowledge.
"Companies that invest in mentoring skills are investing in their capacity for innovation.
When employees learn to truly listen to other points of view, it leads to better day-to-day decision-making."
- DUO for a JOB
4. Training in the "real" world
The moderator Charlotte Vroemans highlighted the context: why is external volunteering more effective than internal training? The answer lies in the diversity of society.
"It was inspiring to see how employees grow by stepping out of their 'corporate bubble' through volunteering," summarizes Charlotte Vroemans. "They apply their skills at the heart of society, where their clients and partners are also located."
5. Employer branding and retention through "purpose"
Employees who have the opportunity to make a social impact through their work feel more closely connected to their employer. The search for meaning is the driver of loyalty.
"We see that motivation and loyalty increase significantly when employees can put their expertise to work for others," concludes Prof. Peggy De Prins.
"This strengthens your employer brand and helps you retain your talent for longer."
A crucial HR process
Whether it's mobilizing those over 50, strengthening the employer brand or building an inclusive work environment: corporate volunteering is no longer just a "bonus." It is a qualitative, personal, and sustainable investment in human capital.
Since 2013, DUO for a JOB has been connecting young people from immigrant backgrounds with experienced volunteer mentors over the age of 50. For six months, they work together toward a concrete goal: sustainable integration into the job market.
Would you like to translate the vision of this panel into your own organization? Discover how DUO for a JOB can become your strategic partner in talent and inclusion.
Would you like to implement the vision of this panel within your organization? Discover how DUO for a JOB can become your strategic partner in talent and inclusion.
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