07.14.21
A Collective Voice: Leadership and DE&I Resources at Your Fingertips
by: BISA Staff
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives in the workplace are paramount to team and business success. We’ve rounded up articles focused on how unconscious bias plays a role in the workplace, why businesses need D&I principles, leadership perspectives, and why breaking bad habits will create an environment established around success in your daily work life.
“When I got to a place at a company where I felt I truly belonged, I felt like I fully thrived.”
Read about the BISA 2020 Annual Convention interactive peer group discussion on an ever-important topic within the workplace: diversity and inclusion (D&I), that took place in March 2020. The session attracted participants for various reasons: Some were looking to combat their unconscious bias, while others wanted to learn how to feel comfortable talking about uncomfortable topics. Another member solicited advice on setting a diversity and inclusion culture at new a firm.
“I believe that actually starting with really enhancing your diversity on every level, whether it’s ethnicity, culture, gender, because the reality is when you bring those different elements to the workplace, it creates an environment where people can draw from one another’s distinctions and strengths.”
Learn more about common challenges for diverse financial advisors, like navigating the socialization part of the business and taking ownership of their uniqueness, according to Margaret Starner, founder of Starner Group of Raymond James & Associates. Most importantly, having a collective voice — instead of thinking of your employees individually — will help move the needle on diversity, equity and inclusion, she said.
“Leadership is what I strive to accomplish each day. The craft is never perfected.”
The ability to effectively lead a team is more important now than ever, with ever-changing work environments and team needs. Earlier this year, BISA teamed up with Thayer Leadership at West Point to offer a new and unique virtual leadership development program to attendees. Read more about what they learned about leading others and developing values as a leader.
“Another intangible common to young people finding their professions: a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves.”
Around the nation, financial firms continue to report difficulties finding qualified employees. Read more on the challenges confronting advisory teams out for new blood: how to pitch the attributes of a profession that may not seem all that appealing to today’s youth, specifically those twentysomethings just starting their careers, and who are guided by different priorities, sensibilities — and skepticisms.
"I truly believe that diversity and having people with different backgrounds is really energizing, and it really pushes an organization forward, it pushes an organization to be successful."
In this special episode of the BISA Podcast, Portfolio contributing editor Rich Blake is joined by Martin Powell, head of annuity distribution at CUNA Mutual Group and a supporter of BISA’s Black Voices Unmuted task force. In this episode, Powell shares his inspiring story, how his passion for equality and inclusivity was instilled in him at a young age, moving snapshots of his life, and his pathway to leadership.
Powell gives insight into three habits leaders in the industry need to break in order to find financial success. The pair cover ways to broaden diversity and create opportunity, overcoming biases, the power of breaking bad habits, and why seeking out diversity in the workplace is imperative.