Podcast | 10.09.24
BISA Portfolio Podcast — DE&I Voices: 2024 Rising Stars Experience
by: BISA Staff
In this episode of the BISA Portfolio Podcast series “DE&I Voices,” guest host Logan Hickman of Nationwide interviews 2024 Rising Stars awardees Madi Vandegrift of Truist Wealth and Juan Muñoz of Nationwide. They share their experience and inspiration as awardees and members of the Rising Stars program.
Listen to the full episode here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and then nominate yourself or someone else for the 2025 Rising Stars cohort! Nominations are now open and close Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.
Episode Transcript
Logan Hickman
Hello everyone, and welcome to this episode in the BISA Portfolio Podcast series covering diversity, equity and inclusion topics important to the financial services industry. I'm Logan Hickman, director of advisory annuity distribution at Nationwide. I also serve on the BISA DE&I Committee and previously received the BISA DE&I Rising Stars Award, just like our two guests for this episode. Juan Muñoz, my colleague from Nationwide, and Madi Vandegrift of Truist. Today, they will be sharing their experiences as DE&I Rising Star Award recipients for 2024 as well as the advice they have for future awardees joining the program. First, I want to encourage everyone listening to subscribe using the podcast app you're listening to now, and please share this with your colleagues if you found it valuable. Specifically, nominations for the 2025 DE&I Rising Star cohort will be opening this fall. So please nominate colleagues you think would be a great fit. So, I have the esteemed pleasure of welcoming my guests, Juan and Madi. Can you please introduce yourselves? And Madi, we'll start with you.
Madi Vandegrift
Hi, it's great to be here.I am an assistant vice president wealth business analyst for Truist Wealth. I assist with sales enablement efforts on the Truist investment services wealth brokerage sales execution team, focusing on recruiting and retention and business strategy execution for our regional leadership teams and advisors, development and DE&I initiatives and strengthening partnerships across business lines. I joined Truist and completed our leadership development program after graduating from Hillsdale College with a bachelor's in accounting in German in 2021. Outside of work, I love to travel, and I have a goal to explore at least one new state and one new country each year. I also love exploring Charlotte, where I'm currently based, and its growing small businesses and coffee shops. When I'm not out discovering new spots, I love playing pickleball and swimming, playing the violin and love hosting creative themed events with my sister as well.
Logan Hickman
That is awesome. When we were actually just having a conversation over lunch about your travels to Dublin, Ireland, so now Dublin is on the top of my voice to visit thanks to our conversation, so great to have you here. Maddie, Juan, how about you?
Juan Muñoz
Thank you for having us. My name is Juan Muñoz. I'm a consultant in business insights for annuity distribution at Nationwide. I co-lead our national Latino Alliance virtual chapter ERG at Nationwide, and I am a Rising Star at BISA. My team supports sales leadership through technology implementation, strategic analysis and sales enablement. I've led initiatives like advisor scoring, lead generation and strategic decision making to boost market share. I'm originally from Bogota, Colombia. I became a U.S. citizen back in 2019, and I hold an MBA in data analytics. My wife and I are expected to welcome our baby this October.
Logan Hickman
That's so exciting. Yes, congratulations, and tell everyone if you don't mind, or if you feel comfortable with the name you've decided on.
Juan Muñoz
So actually, since we were on the topic of traveling. When I went to Venice, we visited a chapel. It was a museum for Leonardo da Vinci. And so a story that hit with me was how his dad supported him through his art. So Leo really hit me. One, because I'm a Leo, and I think the story really hit me. I want to be a supportive dad, and so I think Leo stuck for both of us,
Logan Hickman
I love that. That's awesome. That's awesome. Well, congratulations. So, we really appreciate you both being here. We're actually live today from our DE&I Committee meeting here in the nation's capital of Washington, D.C. I want to start by sharing some background on BISA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Rising Stars Program. This Bisa-sponsored recognition and leadership development program is for professionals who have demonstrated commitment to creating an impact in and advancing DE&I in our industry or within our communities. The program is designed to foster professional growth, leadership and career advancement for diverse individuals through mentoring, networking events and volunteer opportunities. Each year at the annual conference, the Rising Stars program welcomes a new cohort. So Madi and Juan, I'm curious how you both learned about this program. Did you know about it prior to becoming a Rising Star, and why do you think bringing more exposure to this opportunity is important? So Juan, we'll start with you for this one
Juan Muñoz
Sure. Thank you. So first, I just want to say I'm so very grateful to be part of this program. It's been a great exposure, and then just the experience overall. I recently learned about the Rising Star program and the BISA program through an email forwarded by my leader. In that email, Rona Guyman, our SVP of annuity distribution at Nationwide, she asked if there were any nomination suggestions. To my surprise, and honor , my leader and several other leaders recommended me as a good candidate. Secondly, I believe it's crucial for more people to become aware of this program so they can apply and understand on how to be nominated. Increasing exposure and relevance for the rising star program is imperative, because representation matters. There are significant developments happening in the underserved financial markets, and it is important to highlight these changes. I feel that young professionals or other Rising Stars in the industry have valuable perspectives to share by bringing attention to programs like this. I feel that we can ensure that diverse voices are heard and that the industry continues to evolve in a positive direction.
Logan Hickman
Absolutely, it's all about bringing more people in. So that was great. How about you Madi?
Madi Vandegrift
I actually had the opportunity to attend the BISA Annual Conference back in 2023, so a year before I decided to join this program or was accepted. It really allowed me to learn more about the Rising Star program when I attended that conference and met a lot of the members. When applications opened later that fall, my manager, Jacinda Norvel, she is also very involved with BISA, she recommended I apply for the program, so I self nominated and was accepted. Thankfully, it's been a great honor, just like Juan said, to be a part of this program and meet so many other great individuals throughout this program and the broader DE&I Committee as well. It was helpful to learn about this program earlier in 2023 because I recognized it as a great opportunity to learn from other young professionals, to be a part of a class of diverse representatives from our industry and to challenge myself over the next two years to grow in my career and to make an impact in my surrounding community. I think more exposure will only bring positives for this program. There are so many young professionals in our industry hoping to make a difference and share their insights and experiences. There definitely is a need for more exposure, so that these individuals are aware this program exists and that they can then be the next representative, sharing diverse perspectives and encouraging higher standards within the program and industry.
Logan Hickman
Yeah, absolutely. And we're very, very grateful to have you both. and I personally have had nothing but a wonderful experience as part of the Rising Stars program. It's been so helpful to meet like-minded folks from different firms and institutions who bring different ideas that I can then take back to my peers at Nationwide as it relates to DE&I so I've just again have had a tremendous experience with this program, and it actually led me to be nominated for the BISA DE&I Committee, which is another fabulous program to be a part of. And it's what obviously has brought me back to Washington, D.C. two years in a row now. So the Rising Stars program is meant as a launching point for professionals seeking to expand their impact in the financial services industry, like we said. So my next question is, how are you currently and how do you plan to in the future leverage your experience as a Rising Star to help you in your career and impact your community? So Juan, we'll start with you for this one.
Juan Muñoz
One of the main reasons that I was thrilled to join the Rising Star program is my passion for diversity, as I believe I mentioned earlier, I co lead our ERG at Nationwide, our national Latino Alliance ERG. I'm also eager to see how financial services as an industry can better reach underserved markets and underrepresented markets, as I said. As a coleader of our ERG, I hope to bring valuable insight from BISA as an experience in my team. My goal is to share this knowledge with the firm, my colleagues and obviously in my personal life. I do believe that diversity is crucial, and understanding the challenges, impacts and successes in the DE&I space is key to driving their continued growth. The Rising Star program is fantastic, and I think future participants will greatly benefit from the capstone project and the opportunity to enhance BISA's efforts. Personally, I hope our capstone project gains traction and continues to improve from there. I grew up in Broward County, so this project was very close to heart, and being able to bring value back to the Urban League of Broward County was very special. It's a place I value, and it means the world to me.
Logan Hickman
Well, I know just from seeing the presentation this morning that it will provide tremendous value. You guys did an amazing job with that project, so I have to give you props. Yes, of course. So Madi, how would you answer that question?
Madi Vandegrift
Yeah. So it's been wonderful to meet many other young professionals in the industry through the Rising Star program, I kind of spoke to this earlier as well, and just learn from their experiences. We all come from different areas of the financial services industry and are currently doing different jobs, so it's been really cool to just learn about everyone's unique perspectives and experiences working on the capstone project focused on underserved communities and brainstorming program solutions for our partners. This has been a really great opportunity, because I'm getting to work on a project in an area I'm passionate about, and it's also been a great opportunity to represent my community and learn from others through this whole process. So I hope I can take what I've learned and give it back to my own community in Charlotte, North Carolina, and into my career during future projects.
Logan Hickman
Absolutely. And the thing that blows my mind is that these Rising Stars have the same amount of time in their day as everybody else, and they're able to accomplish so many great things, not only in their careers, but outside of their careers as well. So it's super, super impressive. Moving on to the next question, if you were to recommend a young financial professional to apply to the Rising Stars program, what are some of the benefits that you have received during your time in the program? And Juan, we'll start with you for this one.
Juan Muñoz
Logan, thank you. I believe the greatest benefit of the Rising Stars program is having a seat at the table where you can represent your passion for the industry. I think the networking opportunities and professional growth that come with the program are invaluable and definitely beneficial. I think the program underscores the importance of being part of the financial services industry, and it highlights the significant efforts dedicated to improving people's lives and advancing the DE&I initiatives.
Logan Hickman
Yeah, that's awesome. How about you Madi?
Madi Vandegrift
The DE&I Committee Rising Star program is really great for young professionals wanting to create impact within our industry, expand their network and be a voice for the younger generation. It's also a great way to learn about different parts of the industry that you might not normally interact with in your own position on a daily basis.
Logan Hickman
Yeah that's so well said. Well, not everyone has to be a young professional to be in the Rising Star program, we should note, but I know all of us would likely be classified as such by most. I'm hoping we will all be in the financial services industry in 20 years from now, and we'll be able to look back and see all of the many wonderful improvements that we've been able to create within that timeframe. So I'm curious, though, what you both hope to bring to the industry over the next 20 years and changes you would like to see? So Juan, once again, we will start with you.
Juan Muñoz
Thank you. That's a great question, a tough one. So as I mentioned before, I'm very passionate about DE&I, and something else I'm passionate about is my role. I love data analytics. I do hope that I could help BISA include a data analytics and data science program, or other programs for different business roles that are essential to our industry. I feel financial services is much more than sales; it's a people business. If we want to move in to a more diverse perspective, then part of that will be to include people from different roles, other than just client facing roles. I want to continue to leverage DE&I to help our industry grow and learn upcoming markets. As I mentioned, the underserved markets are very important to me, and the capstone project was great. It is important to know why we should do our best to better serve those markets. I will be quoting once again as I did in our capstone John Carter, the head of Nationwide Financial, but my leader also uses this phrase moreso, so I guess I could say I'm quoting him. "It is not just the right thing to do, it is also a good business decision."
I feel investing in DE&I and improving our industry is not just the right thing to do, it is also a good business decision.
Logan Hickman
Couldn't agree more. How about you, Madi?
Madi Vandegrift
I aim to be an advocate for industry change and representation. Not only is it important to bring more exposure to opportunities within the industry, like the Rising Star program, but also to share opportunities and help individuals learn how to enter this industry. So changing recruiting efforts and partnerships can assist with connecting with a more diverse pool of applicants that can bring in new perspective and lead this industry into the next 20 years.
Logan Hickman
Absolutely, it's so wild to think 20 years from now where we'll be, but it's so important that folks like you are a part of this industry, and that you have representation in the industry to bring more folks in as the next 20 years roll forward. So this has been a great conversation, and I thank you both so much for joining. Again, I want to remind listeners to nominate themselves or someone else for the 2025 Rising Stars cohort. Additionally, please subscribe to this podcast and share it with your networks. Thank you so much, and we'll see you next time!
About Logan Hickman
Logan Hickman, ChFC®, CLU®, serves as director of advisory annuity distribution for Nationwide. In his role, he leads a team of high-performing sales professionals who are responsible for growing advisory annuity sales within the broker-dealer channel. Hickman is also responsible for helping design and implement long-term sales strategies that align with Nationwide's mission of protecting people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care.
Perhaps most importantly, though, Hickman is a fervent champion of diversity, equity and inclusion. Aside from the daily duties of his role, he serves as the President of Nationwide's Pride Employee Resource Group’s Scottsdale Chapter. He also serves on BISA's DE&I Committee and is a 2023 BISA Rising Star.
Hickman and his husband, Ben, live in Scottsdale, AZ with their cream-colored miniature dachshund, Whitney. Outside of work, they enjoy hiking (when it’s not too hot), long weekend trips and exploring the Phoenix food scene with friends.
About Madi Vandegrift
Madison (Madi) Vandegrift is an officer and wealth business analyst II for Truist Wealth and Truist Investment Services. Madi joined Truist in 2021 and successfully completed the Truist Leadership Development Program (LDP) before joining Truist Wealth in 2022.
Through the LDP program, she worked with the Truist Foundation, Private Wealth and Fiduciary Audit, Technology Risk Management and Wealth Brokerage teams, expanding her leadership experience and knowledge of different parts of the enterprise.
Vandegrift currently assists with sales enablement efforts on the Wealth Brokerage Sales Execution team, focusing on recruiting and retention, business strategy and execution for managers and advisors, development and DEI initiatives, and strengthening partnerships across business lines. She strives to connect her community and advocate for the next generation of financial professionals.
About Juan Muñoz
Juan Muñoz is a consultant, business insights – strategic analysis at Nationwide Financial. In this role, Muñoz’s expertise in advanced analytics empowers sales leadership and their teams to make informed decisions, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in their sales processes. His leadership on multiple projects has directly contributed to increased sales, improved efficiency and faster time-to-market for business partners. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Muñoz moved to the United States at the age of 15. Since then, Muñoz has achieved remarkable milestones, becoming a U.S. citizen and earning an MBA with a focus in data analytics. At Nationwide, Muñoz serves as a co-lead for the National Latino Alliance associate resource group. Here, he and his team create valuable content and support members through events and resources focused on mental health awareness, professional development, networking, cultural awareness, DEI and insights into underserved markets.