Breaking the Cycle: the experiential game that brings gender equity into organizations

Milan, November 12, 2025 - Bringing reflection on violence and gender equality into companies, transforming it into concrete action. This is the goal of Breaking the Cycle, the new experiential program created by InVento Lab, an Italian B Corp engaged in educational and regenerative consulting projects, in collaboration with Ashoka and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship.

As pointed out by ASviS Secretary General Giulio Lo Iacono, data from the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025 show that it will take another 123 years to achieve full gender equality worldwide, while Italy ranks 85th out of 148 countries in terms of overall equality (World Economic Forum, 2025; SheTech Italy, 2025).

During the launch event, ASviS recognized InVento Lab's commitment with the award “Good territorial practice for a more sustainable Italy 2025.” “We chose to recognize InVento Lab's good practice for its impact on the younger generations and the community, with a specific focus on gender equality,” said Giulio Lo Iacono, Secretary General of ASviS.

Created and developed within the Dela accelerator programme — co-created by Ashoka and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship — Breaking the Cycle is the first European initiative of its kind. Through experiential gaming, it tackles gender stereotypes, discrimination, and violence, stimulating collective reflection on behaviors and dynamics that are often invisible in organizational contexts. The official launch of Breaking the Cycle took place in Milan during the Impact Education Coalition event, organized by InVento Lab with the sponsorship of Assobenefit and B Lab Italia.

“With Breaking the Cycle, we wanted to make visible what often remains invisible and accompany people and organizations on a path of shared awareness and responsibility. Gender equality is not a goal, but a regenerative process that requires collective action and daily courage.”, says Ashoka Fellow and Dela programme participant Giulia Detomati, founder and CEO of InVento Lab.

During the gaming sessions, participants experience realistic scenarios inspired by corporate life and co-design concrete actions to promote gender equality: corporate manifestos, inclusive policies, and paths toward social certifications.

“We need to respond to highly complex challenges such as the gender gap and gender-based violence with solutions that are both systemic and concrete, and that involve a broad ecosystem. Breaking the Cycle combines all these aspects, adding a game element that makes it inclusive and accessible. We are delighted to have contributed to this national and international initiative,” says Arianna De Mario, Co-Director of Ashoka Italy.

“Thanks to the Dela Accelerator Program, promoted by Ashoka and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, together with InVento Lab we have created a game that helps organizations prevent all forms of gender-based violence and build safe and inclusive work environments,” adds Stefania Mastroeni, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Leader at IKEA Italy. With Breaking the Cycle, InVento Lab confirms its mission: to promote regenerative development models based on respect, equity, and collaboration.

Read more about Breaking the Cycle in these two articles: 

• On Il Sole 24 Ore, an editorial focused on innovative initiatives in the Italian landscape aimed at preventing gender violence and promoting equality;

• And on La Repubblica, an article by actor and director Alessandro Gassman, who powers the Green Heroes network in Italy.