10.14.20
Be Inclusive and Intentional to Add Diversity, Panel Says
by: Nicole Casperson
A common challenge for diverse financial advisors is 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. Yet, the practical reality of the industry today is that women and people of color in senior roles are few and far between, and diversity efforts start at the top with mentors who can advocate within your firm, according to Shundrawn Thomas, president of Northern Trust Asset Management. So how does the industry make improvements? Before anything, it’s important to note the terms diversity, equity, and inclusion have to work in concert, not independently, to ultimately create a truly inclusive culture, according to Thomas. “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,” Thomas said. “You actually have to be really intentional about building diverse teams.”
Read the full article on InvestmentNews.