The diversity and inclusion market in France has grown significantly over the past decade. Today, it encompasses a wide range of organizations: awareness-raising agencies, specialized consulting firms, training organizations, major general-purpose firms, and advocacy groups. Gloria, EGAE, Altidem, AlterNego, Ariane Conseil, JLO Conseil, Diversidées, Diversity Conseil, and AFLD on one side; Cegos, Demos, and Lefebvre EFE on the other. Not to mention major firms like BearingPoint and KPMG, which rely on specialized partners for their D&I projects. Before making a choice, it’s important to understand what each one actually does.
A crowded market with widely varying positioning
Outreach and Conference Specialists
Gloria for Business is the leading provider of event-based engagement formats, including blind tests, interactive presentations, quizzes, and virtual reality. Their strengths lie in the variety of formats they offer and their ability to deploy them quickly. They primarily work with external facilitators and are particularly well-suited to one-off, engaging events.
EGAE (founded by Caroline De Haas) specializes in combating gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV). Their approach is assertive and activist—a deliberate stance that is appropriate in certain contexts but may not be suitable for environments seeking a more behavior-change-focused approach.
Diversidées offers awareness-raising and training programs on a range of D&I topics, with a strong social media presence and an accessible approach.
Multi-disciplinary D&I firms
Altidem specializes in diversity and inclusion (D&I) training and consulting, with a service model similar to that of specialized consulting firms. Their offerings cover a range of topics and are designed for companies seeking structured support.
AlterNego offers training, conferences, and consulting services. Its visibility relies in part on well-known speakers, which creates a strong presence but also means the company is dependent on the personalities who promote its services.
JLO Conseil, Diversity Conseil, and AFLD provide training and consulting services, with their areas of focus varying by organization.
Subject Matter Experts
Ariane Conseil is a leading expert in the field of disability. If your needs specifically concern the inclusion of people with disabilities, their sector-specific expertise is both recognized and highly specialized.
Consulting a subject-matter expert is appropriate when there is a clearly identified need related to a single topic. However, this approach has its limitations when the organization seeks to address multiple D&I priorities in a coordinated manner.
General practitioners training: catalog without a dedicated specialist
Cegos, Demos, and Lefebvre EFE offer D&I modules in their training catalogs. Their strength lies in their logistics and scale: they can deliver large-scale training programs on a wide range of topics.
Their limitation is structural: D&I is just one line among hundreds in their catalog. There are no dedicated experts, no proprietary approach, and no focus on the specific challenges of each organization. If you’re looking for broad-based, large-scale awareness-raising, they can deliver. If you’re looking for a lasting impact on your organization’s culture, this model quickly reaches its limits.
Do you need comprehensive support?
If you’re looking to raise awareness, provide training, and build a sustainable D&I strategy, the criteria for choosing a provider change. It’s no longer about finding the best provider for a single program, but rather a partner capable of supporting you throughout the entire process.
Awareness-raising & conferences
D&I Training
Consulting & Strategy
Objective criteria for choosing
The service delivery model: Is the consultant an employee of the firm or a contracted freelancer? The answer determines the consistency of the approach and continuity over time.
Thematic depth: Does the service provider cover all major topics (gender equality, LGBT+, disability, generational issues, racism, and low- and very-low-income households) with genuine expertise in each, or does it focus on just one or two?
The educational approach: Do the methods used lead to lasting behavioral change, or merely a momentary awareness?
The approach: Is it focused on performance and corporate culture, or is it ideological? Both have their place depending on the context.
The sustainability of the structure: Is the service based on a firm or on specific individuals?
This comparison is provided for informational purposes only, based on publicly available information from the websites and social media accounts of the providers mentioned. It reflects our assessment of the market as of the date of publication.
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