Supporting the hosting of a future guide dog: an adventure that reflects SQLI’s inclusive commitment
For the past few weeks, a new face has been making the rounds in SQLI’s offices. Or rather, a new muzzle. Agrid, a young Golden Retriever welcomed as a future guide dog, accompanies Jose Lima, a SQLI employee and Agrid’s foster carer, every day in our Levallois offices.
But behind this discreet human story lies a project fully aligned with SQLI’s Disability Mission and its ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) commitments.
Welcoming a future guide dog into the workplace means supporting an employee in a personal commitment, while also giving concrete form to the values of inclusion, solidarity and social responsibility that shape our company culture.
A personal commitment that is demanding and deeply considered
A Salesforce Marketing Cloud Consultant at SQLI, Jose is a foster family for Agrid. This role goes far beyond welcoming a dog: it involves training, on a daily basis, a future essential companion for someone who will depend on him to live, move around and gain autonomy. A huge responsibility, which Jose fully embraces.
“This isn’t my dog. Behind him, there’s a person who will rely on him.”
SQLI, fully involved from the very beginning
Very quickly, one thing became clear: for this project to exist, the company had to be fully involved.
Jose discussed it with his management and then with HR. At SQLI, the topic was taken seriously from the outset.
Rose Ribeiro, HR Business Partner (Human Resources Business Partner) and Disability Lead at SQLI, played a key role in setting up the framework: defining the scope, liaising with the association, validating the approach, and listening closely to teams. Questionnaires were put in place to identify any allergies, concerns or constraints, ensuring that Agrid’s presence could be accommodated in the best possible conditions for everyone.
A demanding process, but one that clearly reflects a caring, responsible and inclusive company culture.
“I realise how lucky I am: at SQLI, projects like this are listened to and supported, which isn’t the case in every company.”
An approach that embodies SQLI’s disability mission
If SQLI chose to support this project, it wasn’t simply out of goodwill towards an employee: it was a decision fully aligned with its values.
Rose Ribeiro explains:
Supporting this kind of project means giving real substance to our commitments in terms of social responsibility, diversity and inclusion.
SQLI’s Disability Mission already covers a wide scope: support, job retention, training, recruitment… Agrid naturally extends this work.
Supporting Jose, in partnership with the Paris Guide Dogs School, is about saying that difference is a strength, and that everyone can contribute, in their own way, to a more inclusive society.
A project that also resonates with SQLI’s ESG commitments
For Auguste Rames, ESG Project Manager, the project naturally fits within the Group’s social commitments.
It’s a very concrete way of bringing our commitments to life on a daily basis, beyond policies or indicators. Initiatives like this make ESG visible and human. They create dialogue, raise awareness around disability, and strengthen a culture of inclusion.
Ultimately, it reflects a simple conviction:
A company’s performance isn’t measured solely by its economic results, but also by its ability to have a positive impact on society. Projects like this are a powerful illustration of that.
Agrid at the office: a presence that changes perspectives
The story of Jose and Agrid is not just about a committed employee. It’s the story of a company that chooses to adapt, to listen and to trust.
Very quickly, Agrid didn’t just find his place in the office — he helped transform the atmosphere. His calm presence brings a sense of serenity, and his walks through open spaces regularly spark smiles.
Through him, perceptions of visual impairment also evolve. People become more aware of everyday challenges, as well as the importance of small gestures and simple adjustments.
With Agrid, inclusion is no longer an abstract concept: it becomes a shared, lived and tangible experience. And it reinforces the idea that at SQLI, values truly come to life when they are expressed in real situations, at the heart of our teams.
Agrid will soon continue his training with his foster family and the Paris guide dogs School, L'Ecole de chiens guides de Paris, and if all goes well, joining the person he will support on a daily basis.
At SQLI, his time with us will leave a discreet yet lasting mark: that of a deeply human project, where individual commitment naturally finds its place within the collective.
