Michele Pazzini

Equality & Workplace Anti-discrimination Expert・Compliance & Ethics・Allyship, Community Building & Management・Communications・DEIB Awareness・Coaching Practitioner (in-training)

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

About

Compliance & Equality Manager with a strong track record in leading discrimination and harassment investigations, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, and delivering strategic communications that promote ethical and safe environments. Experienced in guidelines enforcement, regulatory alignment, community building and management, and risk mitigation. Skilled at collaborating with cross-functional teams, including HR and Legal, to ensure alignment of compliance practices across the organisation. Recognised for critical thinking, stakeholder management, advocacy, problem solving, data-informed decision-making, and the ability to translate complex policies into accessible, actionable guidance. Very good analytical and communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive issues discreetly.  The diversified background in social sciences, disability services, equal opportunities, communications, engagement in the LGBTQIA+ community is beneficial for empowering action and enhance organisational awareness on regulatory requirements, ethical standards, best practices. Having always worked in people-centred jobs - social work, education, event management, hospitality, and patient support - proves to be useful in easily understand and creatively address the stakeholders’ variety of needs and perspectives.

Experience

  • Zalando (Berlin, Germany)
    • Compliance Manager
      Aug 2024 - Present · 2 yrs

      Leading sensitive end-to-end investigations (eg. employee misconduct, data breach, GDPR) encompassing thorough documentation, interviews, risk assessments, stakeholder communication, and process review. Driving mitigation strategies for behavioural misconduct, ensuring alignment with internal policies and EU regulatory frameworks. Delivering compliance trainings and designing interactive workshops focused on ethical conduct, speak-up culture, and safe space practices. Heading the Equality Allyship Network, fostering cross-hubs collaboration to champion inclusive policies and response to harmful behaviour. Creating engaging content to clarify complex policy topics, shaping narratives around compliance culture, and executing proactive communication campaigns that support Zalando’s policy goals. Fostering a culture of compliance by promoting integrity, accountability, and transparency across all levels of the organisation. Leveraging data to assess and enhance process effectiveness and to detect emerging risk areas. Performing root cause analyses on incident patterns to inform leadership and recommend preventive actions. Actively contributing to the strategic direction and vision of Corporate Compliance. Main Achievements & Impact: ‣ Internal investigations: managed 100+ confidential discrimination-related cases with consistent positive feedback from employees. ‣ Improved the speed of the internal response protocol for harassment and discrimination by 30%. ‣ Community building and management: increased members in Equality Allyship Network by 400% in less than 1 year and connected five international sites. ‣ Culture: trained 500+ employees on safe workplaces, ethical behaviour and compliance. ‣ Communications: co-wrote and hosted 6 episodes of the Lead Well company-wide video series on ethics, sustainability, and employee wellbeing.

    • Equality Manager - Wellbeing People & Empowerment, P&O - Compliance, Corporate Governance
      Sep 2021 - Jul 2024 · 2 yrs 11 mos

      End-to-end discrimination case management including review of e.g. processes to ensure inclusive and safe working environment. Raising awareness on equality topics by driving communication initiatives aimed at fostering inclusive behaviour among leaders, managers and teams to achieve D&I objectives. Community contributions: creation and leadership of the Equality Allyship Network throughout several company locations and collaboration with ERGs and other communities. Main host and content writer of video-products for leadership focused on ethical business, D&I, sustainability, wellbeing and empowerment. Learning instructor and workshops facilitator.

  • Communications Strategist at QueerNext
    Jun 2024 - May 2025 · 1 yr

    Creation of short- and long-term communication plan for social media: outline of goals, target audience, messages and channels. Development and implementation of content in various formats for digital communication, ensuring consistency across communication channels. Data analysis and monitoring of results.

  • Patient Support | Medical Device Consultant at MagForce AG
    Dec 2017 - Aug 2021 · 3 yrs 9 mos

    Provided emotional, administrative, and logistical support to oncological patients awaiting treatment. Facilitated the connection between vulnerable individuals and institutions, developing strong skills in conflict resolution and ensuring adherence to safety standards.

  • Personal goal pursuit at Career Break
    Apr 2016 - Nov 2017 · 1 yr 8 mos

    During this career break I moved to Berlin, went to German classes every day in between April and October 2016 achieving the TELC B1 certification. In October 2016 I started the Master in Sociology at the Freie Universität, being student full-time only for the first two semesters, since in December 2017 I restarted working while completing my Master's degree in September 2018.

  • Istituto per la Sicurezza Sociale (Full-time · 15 yrs 7 mos)
    • Socio-Pedagogical Worker
      Oct 2011 - Mar 2016 · 4 yrs 6 mos

      Created inclusive educational frameworks and behavior intervention strategies for minors ages 3-16. Led the expressive-therapeutic area (theater, visual arts) addressing bullying and youth safety. Trained and mentored youth educators.

    • Deputy Managing Director
      Apr 2011 - Sep 2011 · 6 mos

    • Socio-Pedagogical Worker
      Oct 2010 - Mar 2011 · 6 mos