At Hello Accelerator, change begins with a question: What would the world look like if every person on the move were a changemaker for the good of all? This question drives our mission to bring together diverse voices—social entrepreneurs, media professionals, academics, policymakers, and business leaders—to reimagine migration as a driver of innovation and inclusion.

Through multi-stakeholder collaboration, Hello Accelerator tackles systemic barriers and co-creates opportunities for migrant talent to thrive. It’s not just about addressing challenges—it’s about creating a framework where migration is seen as a strength, unlocking the potential for societal transformation.

Mapping the Landscape: Insights from Europe

In 2024, Hello Accelerator embarked on a journey to map Europe’s migration ecosystem, identifying over 190 leaders and conducting 65 in-depth interviews. The findings illuminated systemic barriers, such as employment challenges, policy gaps, and the need for narrative shifts. 

There’s so much out there that warrants careful consideration… How do we take what’s out there to shape and inform policy development, and how can that be meaningfully accounted for as we think about policy and regulatory frameworks?

Angie Larocque | Intergovernmental Consultations on Asylum and Migration

This comprehensive work, documented in the Flourishing Talents on the Move: Europe System Map, set the stage for designing collaborative solutions. 

Co-Creation in Action: The Insights Network

 On November 27, 2024, Hello Accelerator convened the Insights Network, an exclusive gathering of change leaders from diverse sectors. Hosted in collaboration with Ashoka and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, the session addressed key challenges:

1. Hiring Barriers: Addressing language constraints, credential recognition, and biases.
2. Narrative Shifts: Redefining migration stories to dismantle stigma.
3. Social Capital: Building networks for integration and belonging.

The focus on credentials instead of skills creates significant challenges for migrants, especially when their qualifications from outside the host country aren’t recognized. These individuals have valuable experience that can be transferred, but systemic barriers prevent them from thriving.

Nelson Olanipekun | Citizens Gavel

Participants also mentioned the barriers migrants face when navigating employment systems.

The hiring process is one of the primary pathways to gain access to any country from the migrant perspective. However, it also spotlights the significant challenges they have faced over the years.

David Scicluna | Innovation Foundation

This session emphasized not only challenges but actionable solutions, from mentorship programs for migrant entrepreneurs to advocacy for inclusive policy changes.

Unique Value: Collaborative Changemaking

What sets Hello Accelerator apart is its methodology. By bringing together changeleaders with policymakers, media, businesses, academia and NGOs, the program drives towards entrepreneurial action and fosters impactful, scalable solutions. 

What’s unique about this program is that we have migrant leaders within the project, alongside stakeholders from businesses, NGOs, governments, and even media, all collaborating in one room to tackle these issues. 

Nicklas Wallberg | IKEA Social Entrepreneurship 

Looking Ahead

The journey continues with the next session on January 15, 2025, titled “Part of the System.” Here, we will visualize how a positive change from our respective roles in the system could look like and what story with its plots and milestones could lead to integration of migrant talent into systems and structures.

As the Hello Accelerator grows, so does its commitment to fostering changemaking. Together with partners and changemakers, we are building a world where migration is not just a movement—it’s an opportunity for transformation.

Stay informed with the latest insights and updates by visiting the Hello Accelerator via our website and Ashoka’s channels. Engage as an implementation thought partner by leveraging your expertise and networks to support emerging projects or nominate a changemaker for migration to help identify and celebrate impactful leaders. For additional information, reach out to learn how you can get involved.