For Stephanie A., finding her place at Vanguard has been a journey of growth, connection, and discovery. Each step in her career journey and her involvement with HOLA (Hispanic/Latinx Organization for Leadership and Advocacy) and OPEN has expanded her confidence, strengthened her leadership skills, and created opportunities to build meaningful connections across communities.

Currently, I’m a fund compliance analyst on a team within the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) that monitors ownership limitations for sensitive industries.

Prior to joining OGC, I spent most of my time in Personal Investor—specifically within the group that supports retail brokerage trading. Working in Personal Investor allowed me to learn more about Vanguard, our mission, our retail product offerings, and how impactful Vanguard has been for clients. It’s been fascinating to move into different areas of the company and see how each one contributes to Vanguard.

Being part of OPEN has increased my confidence both personally and professionally. I have learned that my thoughts and ideas are important. Part of that is through having the opportunity to work with senior leaders, specifically our OPEN co-leads that have trusted my ideas and allowed me to see them through. Ultimately, that confidence ends up presenting in my day-to-day role.

In addition to gaining confidence, I’ve sharpened my leadership skills by working with a team of volunteers and leading them through a year of programming.

I have also had the opportunity to work with HOLA. Most recently, we joined forces to host an event that celebrated both Hispanic Heritage Month and National Coming Out Day. I am part of both communities and enjoy any opportunity that allows me to honor and celebrate each of them.

One of my most memorable moments is from last year’s OPEN Pride Celebration. I was with Matt (member of the OPEN events team), and we were doing one last walk through to make sure we did not miss anything. We ran into a crew member who thanked us for the event and all the work we do. It was memorable, since Matt and I were sharing how tired we were after the event, and hearing that sentiment was a reminder of why we continue to do the work.

It’s always rewarding receiving a post-event thank you chat from an attendee or connecting with a crew member that is attending their first OPEN event. Completing each event is incredibly rewarding, and I’m always amazed when I look back and see how the team came together to make it happen.

I had the opportunity of attending the ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America) Convention through work. It was fulfilling for a variety of reasons: I was able to share my journey with students and professionals and introduce them to opportunities at Vanguard.

As a Mexican American, it was rewarding to interact with students that share a similar lived experience and be the example I wish I had at their age. It was also rewarding doing this alongside colleagues that are passionate about attracting and uplifting diverse talent.

What makes this work possible is a team of reliable, dedicated volunteers. Every event is a team effort and knowing how to delegate and create space for others to contribute makes all the difference. It’s also about building strong relationships—following up, checking in, and finding ways to support one another.

The feedback we receive from crew keeps me motivated. It’s a reminder of why crew resource groups matter and the role they play in helping people feel comfortable showing up as their authentic selves.

At its core, this work is about caring for others and creating space for everyone to grow. It’s also about carrying that forward—so the support and sense of community we build here extends beyond Vanguard.

—Stephanie A.