Aġenzija Sapport CEO: ‘People underestimate what someone with a disability can bring to the table’

Oliver Scicluna, CEO of Aġenzija Sapport and Member of Parliament, has called for a shift in how leadership potential is perceived, particularly when it comes to persons with disabilities.

In a reflective post, Mr Scicluna highlighted the often-unspoken biases that continue to shape workplace attitudes, noting that individuals with disabilities are still frequently underestimated.

“For years, I’ve watched people underestimate what someone with a disability can bring to the table,” he wrote, pointing to “subtle double-takes, lowered expectations, and quiet assumptions” that equate impairment with incapability.

Mr Scicluna’s believes that leadership should not be defined by physical or cognitive norms.

“Leadership has no prerequisites,” he stated, challenging the notion that traditional traits or circumstances determine one’s ability to lead effectively.

Drawing on his own experience, he argued that disability can, in fact, enhance leadership qualities rather than hinder them.

“Leading with a disability has not made me less of a leader. If anything, it has made me a better one.”

According to Mr Scicluna, navigating systems that are not always designed with accessibility in mind has fostered a unique skill set.

He explained that his experience has strengthened resilience – “to push forward when systems weren’t built for me” – while also deepening empathy, allowing him to “see people as whole human beings, not just their limitations.”

“It has taught me creativity to find solutions where others only see barriers,” he added.

He described disability not as a shortcoming, but as “a different lens through which some of the most powerful, innovative, and compassionate leaders see the world.”

Mr Scicluna urged employers to reflect on their own perceptions and biases when evaluating talent. “Ask yourself: Am I seeing this person, or just their impairment?”

Mr Scicluna concluded with a broader call for cultural change within organisations: “The world doesn’t need fewer leaders with disabilities. It needs more workplaces willing to recognise them.”

With a career spanning public service, policy advisory roles, and advocacy – including serving as Malta’s first Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disability, Mr Scicluna’s post is rooted in personal experience and institutional insight.

In 2025, he was recognised at a European level with the European Leadership in Social Services Award, underscoring his contribution to advancing inclusion and leadership within the sector.