About the Author
Leading with Inclusion, Delivering Performance: A Journey Toward Inclusion-Driven Performance
By Mariana Fagnilli
I was born in Argentina, raised between Latin American values and European traditions, and educated as an international human rights lawyer. My early passion for justice, equity, and human dignity took root long before I ever stepped into a corporate setting. But it was in those
boardrooms—first in the pharmaceutical industry and later in finance, sports, and entertainment—that I realized something essential: inclusion is not a nice-to-have; it’s a performance imperative.
For over two decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of culture, leadership, and business
strategy—leading global teams, transforming organizational cultures, and advising executives on how to embed inclusive behaviors into core business functions. I’ve witnessed the pitfalls of performative DEI, where good intentions failed to produce meaningful outcomes. I knew there had to be a better way—one that aligned inclusion with business priorities and made it everyone’s responsibility, not just the responsibility of HR.
That’s what led me to write Inclusion Driven Performance: A Framework to Unlock Human Potential and Achieve Organizational Excellence. Now a bestseller, this book is not
about checking boxes. It’s about unlocking potential — of individuals, teams, and entire companies. I introduce a model that positions inclusion as a critical lever for innovation, market
expansion, talent performance, and long-term sustainability. It is grounded in data, informed by lived experience, and designed to be practical forreal-world implementation.
Inclusion isn’t soft.
It’s strategic. My framework helps leaders understand how to assess inclusion with new KPIs, how to build environments where people can perform at their best, and how to hold themselves accountable to outcomes that matter—like creativity, speed to innovation, retention, and revenue growth. I include tools, case studies, and even hard questions—because transformation isn’t easy, and it shouldn’t be.
I wrote this book for the executive who wants to build high-performing teams, for the ERG leader who knows their work deserves more recognition, and for the aspiring change agent who’s tired of hearing “just be patient.” We don’t have time to wait. Businesses are being reshaped by demographic shifts, global competition, and changing employee expectations. Inclusion is no longer a side initiative—it’s a survival strategy.
Since its publication, the book has sparked conversations around the world and inspired a
growing network of professionals who are rethinking how they lead. One thing that matters deeply to me is access. That’s why I’ve made elements of this work available without charge—through free resources, open-access workshops, and pro bono advisor, sessions for grassroots groups and early-career professionals. I believe this knowledge should not be a luxury—it should be a lever for change in every corner of society.
Today, I run Fagnilli Group, my consulting firm based in La Rioja, Spain, where I work with global clients to implement this framework and train leaders on the art— and science—of human connection. Moving to this beautiful and historic region has been a dream come true, and it’s where I’ve found the space and inspiration to deepen my work while staying rooted in service. Because at the heart of performance: people.
And when people feel seen, valued, and empowered, organizations soar.
Writing this book was both a professional and personal milestone. I hope it inspires leaders to move from awareness to action—and to lead with courage, clarity, and conviction.