Staffing & Culture | 02.22.23
Celebrating Black Voices of the Industry
by: BISA Staff
It’s Black History Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the importance of Black voices, but it’s important to include and celebrate these voices throughout the year. In celebration of the BISA members who are part of the Black community, we’re sharing some of the invaluable content they’ve provided that you may have missed.
Portfolio Podcast Episode 10 | Managing Exam Priorities With Serina Shores & Carol Goulding
Managing SEC and FINRA exam priorities isn't always a walk in the park, but guest host Carol Goulding (M&T Securities) and guest Serina Shores (Huntington Financial Advisors) break down how they do so effectively — and have fun along the way — in this edition of the BISA Portfolio Podcast. Listen Now.
Portfolio Podcast Episodes 7 & 8: Diverse Leadership Journeys in the Financial Industry (Parts 1 & 2) — Jim Nickens and Kevin Beard
PART 1
In this two-part series of the BISA Portfolio Podcast, Portfolio contributing editor Rich Blake is joined by Kevin Beard, chief growth officer at Atria Wealth Solutions, and Jim Nickens, president of InSource, Inc. and executive vice president of USAnnuity Partners — both members of BISA's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
In this first episode, Beard and Nickens share their leadership journeys, what DEI means to them and how to keep the conversation going about DEI within organizations. Listen now.
PART 2
In this second episode, Beard and Nickens share their thoughts on:
- Executive buy-in and commitment to DEI,
- How to hold leaders accountable to supporting DEI in an organization,
- Examples of particularly effective leaders in the financial services industry that have advanced DEI in authentic and impactful ways
- Advice for future leaders who look forward to a more inclusive, diverse financial industry.
Listen now.
From Tokenism to Recruiting and Retention: A Look at Top Diversity and Inclusion Issues
We had the fortunate chance to interview Brett Carmichael, associate vice president of strategic accounts at Nationwide Financial and a member of BISA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, for his perspective on DEI and how organizations can foster an inclusive environment, as well as recruiting and retaining employees with diversity in mind. Read article here.
The Power of Communication: A Q&A With Wallace Harris
The past two years have in many ways transformed how people communicate both personally and professionally — for better and worse. Thirty-three percent of people interviewed for a 2022 project.co study said communication has gotten harder for them in the past year, while only 18% said it’s gotten easier. As president of BMO Investment Services, Wallace Harris has developed effective communication strategies to ensure he and his staff stay on the same page despite many competing priorities. Learn how he makes it all work in our conversation with him. Read article here.
Rising Stars: Year-end Reflections and Advice for the 2023 Cohort
BISA’s DE&I Rising Star classes of 2021 and 2022 had an eventful year, experiencing both challenges and celebrations. We asked a few of them to share their top moments and key takeaways as 2022 comes to a close. Plus, they give advice to the 2023 class. Read article here.
Providing Inclusivity and Confronting Unconscious Bias
We had the opportunity to interview Martin Powell, head of annuity distribution at CUNA Mutual Group and a supporter of BISA’s Black Voices Unmuted task force, to share how leaders in his organization are tackling unconscious bias and creating an inclusive environment. Read article here.