
NSITE: Rewriting The Rules Of Diverse Hiring Through Comprehensive Talent Management Solutions
NSITE , a Virginia-based nonprofit founded in 2021, is committed to bridging this disconnect. It draws from decades of experience under its parent organization, the National Industries for the Blind (NIB), to make the recruitment process smoother and more accessible for both job seekers and employers.
On the job seeker side, people reach out to NSITE for guidance and are connected with tailored training programs, accessible job boards, and direct employment opportunities. NSITE Connect serves as a curated job board where every listing is tailored for candidates who are blind or have low vision. It's worth noting that the organization remains involved post-hire to provide ongoing support, professional development, and workplace accommodations that align with the employee's needs.
On the other hand, NSITE offers employers practical solutions to promote workforce integration. "One of the most common assumptions is that people who are blind or have a visual impairment can't perform certain jobs or that accommodating them would be too expensive or complicated," Marianne Haegeli, Director of Learning and Leadership at NSITE, shares. "We want to dispel that misconception."
From consulting services to hands-on support in making digital platforms and physical spaces accessible, NSITE's experts help companies build a work environment where all employees can succeed. Training sessions focus on effective leadership, eliminating unconscious bias, and comprehensive communication strategies.
For companies seeking immediate solutions, NSITE offers a flexible staffing service that provides temporary talent as organizations work toward final hiring decisions. This gives employers time to adjust, while still benefiting from talented workers.
NSITE also supports employers through candidate pre-screening, onboarding assistance, and long-term relationship management. Whether a company is making its initial hire or scaling an entire team from the blind or low vision talent pool, NSITE provides support every step of the way.
Partners who have worked with NSITE report powerful outcomes. One collaborator even said, "If actually getting talent who is blind hired into competitive integrated employment is critically important to you, you need to work with NSITE."
In another client story, an organization partnered with NSITE to assess and improve the accessibility of its internal systems. The initiative to support one new hire eventually led to a broader redesign of digital tools, benefiting numerous employees, including those whose neurodivergence had previously gone unacknowledged.
NSITE's impact can also be seen in NSITE's job board, which has seen rapid growth, with more job postings and candidate profiles added each year. The organization's professional development programs have expanded significantly, providing thousands of hours of training.
Ultimately, NSITE's work is grounded in the idea that disability hiring is a strategy. Dr. Jonathan Lucus, Executive Director, remarks, "Our services aren't about charity or compromise, but about building a workforce that reflects the richness of human talent and potential." With every employer it educates and every career it helps launch, NSITE is changing what's possible for companies, communities, and individuals who deserve the chance to thrive.

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DW
6 hours ago
- DW
As France's Africa policy collapses how do companies adjust? – DW – 07/27/2025
With the political leaders of francophone Africa increasingly turning their backs on their former colonial rulers, French corporations have been forced to rethink doing business with Africa without Paris' support. The disruption is now in full swing, with more and more African countries, particularly in the Sahel region of northern and western Africa, rejecting the so-called Francafrique policy by their former colonial power, France. The term refers to a complex and controversial network of political, economic, social and military ties between France and its former African colonies, describing a kind of special relationship characterized by ongoing French influence in these nations. Often described as neocolonial, France's Africa policy is under massive political and popular pressure, and the fight against it is openly challenging Paris' military, diplomatic and economic footprint in Africa. The Sahel region stretches from the Sahara Desert in the north to the savannas in the south, encompassing several countries, including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Chad. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Antoine Glaser is a French journalist and former director of Paris-based magazine — a leading publication focused on Africa with editions in English and French. He said French companies with operations in the region enjoyed "preferential treatment," especially during the Cold War era due to the Francafrique policy. "They thought they were at home in Africa," he told DW, and ignored more recent realities such as the fact that Africa has "gone global and France didn't see China coming." One such stark reality, he added, is Chinese companies now have a 25% market share in French-speaking Africa, while France's share has tumbled to "between 6% and 7%." Moreover, French multinational nuclear fuel cycle corporation Orano announced last September that it would suspend production at its Arlit uranium mine in northern Niger due to financial difficulties faced by its Nigerien subsidiary, Somair. The decision came as border closures between Niger and Benin, triggered by the July 2023 coup, had blocked all uranium exports, Orano said in a statement, adding: "In spite of efforts to find alternative possibilities to export the uranium produced by Somair and to relaunch commercial activities, all the proposals made to the Nigerien authorities have remained unanswered." In June 2024, Orano also lost its mining license for the Imouraren uranium deposit due to a decision by the military government, which revoked the license following a period of tensions and ultimatum. Situated about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Agadez — the largest town in central Niger — the Imouraren mine holds one of the world's largest uranium deposits. Mining was launched by French nuclear group Areva, rebranded as Orano in 2018, which mothballed the mine in 2015 due to unfavorable market conditions. Since then, tensions have illustrated the fragility of a system in which military and diplomatic presence supported economic interests. Beyond the uranium sector, France's whole model of influence is being destabilized, affecting sectors like infrastructure, telecommunication, energy and public works — all symbols of France's presence that are now being regularly challenged. In February 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron presented a new strategy, entitled "Our Future The Africa-France Partnership," and offering new forms of partnerships. Unveiled by Macron ahead of his tour of Central Africa, the strategy advocates abandoning old paradigms and puts a new emphasis on economic and trade relations rather than focusing on security issues. The central idea of this new model is based on a transition from "a logic of aid to a logic of solidarity investments and partnerships," and is meant to be a "symbiotic relationship" beneficial to all parties. What France used to consider as its "backyard" for a long time is disappearing amid wider change in the Sahel region. In addition, Africa as a whole is no longer France's exclusive business playground. Countries like Turkey, Russia, China and even Germany are advancing their positions, forcing French companies to readjust their business policy if they are to survive in an increasingly competitive environment. A French corporate consultant, speaking on condition of anonymity, told DW that in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the real French presence was "already marginal before recent tensions" with their colonial motherland. In the mining industry, he said, the main players are now often from Australia or Canada, like Toronto-based mining giant Barrick Mining Corporation. "The perception that France is omnipresent is stronger than the reality," he said. He also noted that behind "official posturing," a strategy was becoming clearer: "Maintain a presence, but through more indirect means." French companies would now seek to maintain market share "without provoking rejection" by launching joint ventures, local partnerships or the creation of project companies under local law. "There is now a dynamic in which these companies are adapting through cooperating more with local partners, setting up shared structures. It's a way of staying active while avoiding head-on visibility," he added. Yves Ekoue Amaizo, the director at the Afrocentricity Think Tank, thinks the gradual withdrawal of French companies also opens the door to new alliances, because African countries would now have "the capacity and the partners to replace these companies." "China, Turkey and other immediate players are already involved. But this means accepting new, often opaque conditions, and managing a context of risks [such as] political instability, terrorism and legal uncertainties," he told DW. While withdrawal seems inevitable for some French multinational corporations, others are still betting on rebalancing their business strategies. According to a report in the offshore industry magazine , energy giant TotalEnergies, for example, is trying to find a new footing in English- and Portuguese-speaking countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Namibia and Angola. But competition there is fierce, and France can no longer rely on a historical advantage in these countries. Even more so as questions of legitimacy and social responsibility also play an increasing role, said Amaizo. "The real question is one of mentality. If companies want to remain credible, they must prove that they are co-constructing locally and sharing the benefits, rather than going it alone with the resources." With the era of the Francafrique special relationship between France and its former African colonies now coming to an end, there are signs that French multinationals are trying to transform themselves, too, by collaborating more strongly with local partners or moving operations elsewhere in Africa. No matter what they do or where they go, legitimacy remains their main capital and must be regained.


Int'l Business Times
10 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Humanoid Robots Embodiment Of China's AI Ambitions
Serving craft beer, playing mahjong, stacking shelves and boxing, the dozens of humanoid robots at Shanghai's World AI Conference (WAIC) this weekend were embodiments of China's growing AI prowess and ambition. The annual event is primed at showcasing China's progress in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence, with the government aiming to position the country as a world leader on both technology and regulation as it snaps at the United States' heels. Opening the event on Saturday, Premier Li Qiang announced China would set up a new organisation for cooperation on AI governance, warning the benefits of development must be balanced with the risks. But in the cavernous expo next door, the mood was more giddy than concerned. "Demand is currently very strong, whether in terms of data, scenarios, model training, or artificial construction. The overall atmosphere in all these areas is very lively," said Yang Yifan, R&D director at Transwarp, a Shanghai-based AI platform provider. This year's WAIC is the first since a breakthrough moment for Chinese AI this January when startup DeepSeek unveiled an AI model that performed as well as top US systems for an apparent fraction of the cost. Organisers said the forum involved more than 800 companies, showcasing over 3,000 products -- the undeniable crowd pleasers being the humanoid robots and their raft of slightly surreal party tricks. At one booth, a robot played drums, half a beat out of time, to Queen's "We Will Rock You" while a man in safety goggles and a security vest hyped up a giggling crowd. Other droids, some dressed in working overalls or baseball caps, manned assembly lines, played curling with human opponents or sloppily served soft drinks from a dispenser. While most of the machines on display were still a little jerky, the increasing sophistication year-on-year was clear to see. The Chinese government has poured support into robotics, an area in which some experts think China might already have the upper hand over the United States. At Hangzhou-based Unitree's stall, its G1 android -- around 130 centimetres (four feet) tall, with a two-hour battery life -- kicked, pivoted and punched, keeping its balance with relative fluidity as it shadowboxed around a ring. Ahead of the conference's opening, Unitree announced it would launch a full-size humanoid, the R1, for under $6,000. Most high-tech helpers don't need hardware though. At the expo, AI companions -- in the form of middle-aged businessmen, scantily clad women and ancient warriors -- waved at people from screens, asking how their day was, while other stalls ran demos allowing visitors to create their own digital avatars. Tech giant Baidu on Saturday announced a new generation of technology for its "digital humans" -- AI agents modelled on real people, which it says are "capable of thinking, making decisions, and collaborating". The company recently ran a six-hour e-commerce broadcast hosted by the "digital human" of a well-known streamer and another avatar. The two agents beat the human streamer's debut sales in some categories, Baidu said. Over ten thousand businesses are using the technology already, the department's head Wu Chenxia told AFP. Asked about the impact on jobs -- one of the major concerns raised around widespread AI adoption -- Wu insisted that AI was a tool that should be used to improve quality and save time and effort, which still required human input. For now, few visitors to the WAIC expo seemed worried about the potential ramifications of the back-flipping dog robots they were excitedly watching. "When it comes to China's AI development, we have a comparatively good foundation of data and also a wealth of application scenarios," said Transwarp's Yang. "There are many more opportunities for experimentation." Organisers said the forum involved more than 800 companies, showcasing over 3,000 products -- the undeniable crowd pleasers being the humanoid robots AFP While most of the machines on display were still a little jerky, the increasing sophistication year-on-year was clear to see AFP People watch a robot performing tasks at an exhibition during the World AI Conference in Shanghai AFP


Int'l Business Times
15 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Urgent Need For 'Global Approach' On AI Regulation: UN Tech Chief
The world urgently needs to find a global approach on regulating artificial intelligence, the United Nations' top tech chief said this week, warning that fragmentation could deepen risks and inequalities. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU) agency, told AFP she hoped that AI "can actually benefit humanity". But as concerns mount over the risks posed by the fast-moving technology -- including fears of mass job losses, the spread of deepfakes and disinformation, and society's fabric fraying -- she insisted that regulation was key. "There's an urgency to try to get... the right framework in place," she said, stressing the need for "a global approach". Her comments came after US President Donald Trump this week unveiled an aggressive, low-regulation strategy aimed at ensuring the United States stays ahead of China on AI. Among more than 90 proposals, Trump's plan calls for sweeping deregulation, with the administration promising to "remove red tape and onerous regulation" that could hinder private sector AI development. Asked if she had concerns about an approach that urges less, not more, regulation of AI technologies, Bogdan-Martin refrained from commenting, saying she was "still trying to digest" the US plan. "I think there are different approaches," she said. "We have the EU approach. We have the Chinese approach. Now we're seeing the US approach. I think what's needed is for those approaches to dialogue," she said. At the same time, she highlighted that "85 percent of countries don't yet have AI policies or strategies". A consistent theme among those strategies that do exist is the focus on innovation, capacity building and infrastructure investments, Bogdan-Martin said. "But where I think the debate still needs to happen at a global level is trying to figure out how much regulation, how little regulation, is needed," she said. Bogdan-Martin, who grew up in New Jersey and has spent most of her more than three-decade career at the ITU, insisted the Geneva-based telecoms agency that sets standards for new technologies was well-placed to help facilitate much-needed dialogue on the issue. "The need for a global approach I think is critical," she said, cautioning that "fragmented approaches will not help serve and reach all". As countries and companies sprint to cement their dominance in the booming sector, there are concerns that precautions could be thrown to the wind -- and that those who lose the race or do not have the capacity to participate will be left behind. The ITU chief hailed "mind-blowing" advances within artificial intelligence, with the potential to improve everything from education to agriculture to health care -- but insisted the benefits must be shared. Without a concerted effort, there is a risk that AI will end up standing for "advancing inequalities", she warned, cautioning against deepening an already dire digital divide worldwide. "We have 2.6 billion people that have no access to the internet, which means they have no access to artificial intelligence", Bogdan-Martin pointed out. "We have to tackle those divides if we're actually going to have something that is beneficial to all of humanity." Bogdan-Martin, the first woman to serve as ITU secretary-general in the organisation's nearly 160-year history, also stressed the need to get more women into the digital space. "We have a huge gap," she said. "We definitely don't have enough women... in artificial intelligence." The 59-year-old mother of four said it was "a big honour" to be the first woman in her position, to be "breaking the glass ceiling (and) paving the path for future generations". But she acknowledged there was a lot of pressure, "not just to achieve, but to almost overachieve". Bogdan-Martin, who is being backed by the Trump administration to stand for re-election when her four-year mandate ends next year, said she was eager to stay on for a second term. "There is a lot to do."