Archive for category: Diversity & inclusion
Hispanic and Latino Americans have made vast and vital global contributions and their positive influence is felt in all aspects of life and society. They represent an array of distinct and vibrant cultures, each of which enriches our communities.
Recently, in recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Vanguard’s Hispanic/Latino Organization for Leadership (HOLA) sponsored several small forums entitled HOLA VOCES at its Charlotte, Malvern, and Scottsdale offices. Each forum featured opening remarks from a HOLA leader, followed by a facilitated discussion focused on the Hispanic experience that considered reactions to recent events including the El Paso shootings and rising tensions around immigration.
In his opening remarks during a Malvern session, Hector M. Salcido-Torres, Fund Financial Services senior line manager, said, “You should be comfortable having conversations that are uncomfortable. It is impossible to leave it at the door. You may not agree but at least break down the barriers.”
Hector, an eighth generation Arizonan of Mexican descent, shared his grandparents’ experiences of attending segregated schools and being punished for speaking Spanish. Hector encouraged the audience, “Push yourself, drive yourself for the people that came before you. Being lazy is an insult to the people in heaven who are rooting for you.”
During the ensuing small group discussions, which included crew of Cuban, Salvadorian, Peruvian, Mexican, and Puerto Rican ethnic origins, thoughts and reactions were openly shared. Understanding that collective minorities will be the majority in the U.S. by 2030, crew universally agreed that they sought to assimilate, but also wanted to show up and be their honest selves. “I feel recent events in the U.S. have had a significant impact on the Hispanic and Latino community,” said Sejla Karalic, senior project manager in the Institutional Investor Group. “And some of the issues really resonate with me as an immigrant to this country.”
HOLA will sponsor several more VOCES forums thorough out the coming year, to bring crew from all walks of life together to share and learn from each other. “My experience with HOLA started with curiosity, which led to involvement, and now engagement,” said Nicholas Fernandez, Emerging Leader Development Program participant. “Being a part of events like the VOCES series makes me feel closer to my heritage and more at home at Vanguard.”
-Constance H.
Vanguard’s Out Professional Engagement Network (OPEN) works to create an inclusive environment for LGBT individuals and their allies, and plays an active role in Pride and National Coming Out Day festivities. In recognition of this year’s National Coming Out Day, and to further our goal of creating an inclusive workplace, we share crew member Jason N.’s coming out story: “I heard you are a poof,” Simon announced to everybody around me. I was 18 years old and in a group outside a lecture theatre. Simon and I were embarking on a friendship. Or at least I thought we were. Even if you haven’t heard the word poof, you can easily guess that it isn’t flattering. I wasn’t entirely sure of my sexuality but I knew that I wasn’t straight. When Simon levelled his accusation, years of shame bubbled to the surface. I stood humiliated and exposed as everyone filed into the classroom. I was alone on the precipice of a lifetime of coming out. I followed everyone into class and considered what I was going to do next. It was just a remark but it cut deep enough to make me shake. Boys call each other gay all the time. I could have just let it go. As the lecturer’s words washed over me, it was clear that I wanted to come out. I had to. Although I hadn’t yet acted on these feelings with anything other than shame, I knew it was riskier for me to not share my secret. I couldn’t remain hidden any longer. The burden had become too great. It was time. I told Simon that I was gay. In coming out, I expected to lose Simon. I expected to lose all of my friends. I expected to lose my family. I firmly believed that I’d lose everyone close to me. I would no longer be a friend, a son, or a brother. I thought I would be alone. I went home and cried. The next day was a new beginning for me. When I found Simon at university, he said he wanted to talk. He told me that he went home and considered whether he could be gay. He told me that he just couldn’t conceive of it. But he also realized how unnatural it would be for me to ignore my own sexuality. He told me that nothing had changed between us. Little did he know, everything had changed for me! I was liberated. I was no longer in hiding. It was my first step on a path to self-acceptance. I didn’t lose Simon. Coming out to him brought us closer together. But coming out isn’t just telling one friend in the hallways at university and then you’re done. It’s an ongoing experience. Your sexuality isn’t apparent in the same way that something like skin color is. While being gay is not a choice, coming out is a choice that you have to face every day. When your colleague assumes you have a wife. When a taxi driver asks if you have any kids. When you start a new job. When you move to a new house. When you get too friendly with your local grocer. When you check into a hotel with your partner. When you make a new friend. Of course, you don’t always come out, but the assumptions and the choice to come out never goes away. The relevance isn’t immediately obvious but if I choose to come out to you, it’s because I’ve decided not to censor myself with you – I’ve decided to let you know who I am. It allows me talk as freely about my weekend or my family life as you can to me. It allows me to be me, and it allows us to have an authentic relationship. So here goes – my name is Jason. I am a friend, a brother, a son, and a colleague. I’m also gay. Jason N. is a Project Manager in IT in our Australian office and is on the committee of the Australian OPEN Crew Resource Group. He is an advocate for bringing your whole self to work. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, camping, and playing squash (with great enthusiasm but much less skill).
If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
When I Iooked to return to the workforce after spending six years at home with my three children, the most important factors for me when searching for firms were culture and fit. I did quite a bit of due diligence and received a great deal of feedback about the firms I was looking at, especially from senior professional women. In the end, Vanguard stood out for its values as well as its focus on supporting women in the workplace.
Not long after I joined Vanguard three years ago, my husband was diagnosed with ALS. Since it was early in the diagnosis and his particular form of the diseases was rather slow moving, there was not much we needed to do to adjust the way in which we managed our home life with our kids. For this reason, I chose not to share my husband’s diagnosis broadly with colleagues in work situations. It wasn’t because I thought there would be any negative perception, I just wanted to keep it private. That being said, my supervisor and my team were aware of the situation and I knew I had flexibility in case of emergencies or other obligations, which was important to me.
Last fall, it became increasingly difficult to keep my husband’s diagnosis, and how it was affecting our family, to myself. It felt more and more like I was hiding something instead of simply being honest about everything, so I decided to share my story more broadly. Below is an excerpt from an e-mail I sent to my department, comprised of over 90 teammates:
“Early on in my tenure in [this department], I was asked to participate in a Culture and Inclusion panel on “covering,” which is a way of toning down part of your identity to fit into the mainstream. It is related to “passing” which is to be in the closet about your true identity. Both require energy and both should not be necessary in a culture of inclusion. Since becoming the [department] sponsor of Culture and Inclusion, I’ve given a great deal of thought to these concepts. While I’ve embraced parts of my identity as a mother, a woman, an Asian, and someone from the “outside,” there is one part of my identity that I have sought to hide. Nearly two years ago my husband was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Many of you may have participated in the ice bucket challenge a few years ago in support of ALS. It is a progressive, degenerative neuromuscular disease where victims lose the ability to control their muscles including eventually those needed for breathing. This past week my 10-year old daughter agreed to speak at her school assembly about her dad in an effort to raise awareness as part of her year-long “Think Care Act” project. When the principal asked her why she wanted an opportunity to speak at an assembly she said that while she is nervous about public speaking, she wanted to “try something outside of her comfort zone.” Which leads me to why I am writing this email. I wanted to try to get out of my own comfort zone and walk the talk of culture and inclusion. I believe strongly that there is a culture of inclusion and empathy here in [at Vanguard] and I hope each of you will find the courage to be your authentic self at work.”
The outpouring of support I received after sending that email was stunning. The best and most unexpected outcome was that so many people reached out with their own stories of health or family struggles. It was a gift to be able to connect with others on a more personal level.
Since becoming more open about my personal journey, I was recently asked to lead a session called “Navigating a Complicated Home Life.” The session was one of several “Candid Conversations” that were being orchestrated by the divisional organizers of Vanguard’s Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success (WILS) program. It was a small session of about twenty women of all ages and demographics, many of whom I did not know. I expressed with the group how I was trying to manage my home life, and the more I shared, the more others were willing to tell their own stories. No two stories were the same. The only common thread was the authenticity of the struggle. Some people spoke and others just listened with open hearts and minds. There was empathy, advice, tears and strong emotions. I left realizing this is why I had come to Vanguard. Work is not just work. Work is a community. Work is where we spend the majority of our time, time that could be spent with family, friends and other communities. I’m thankful to work at Vanguard where I believe everyone can be their authentic selves and feel supported by those they work with.
– Liz F.
Vanguard’s annual celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), held on May 16, placed a spotlight on the role of assistive technology in helping people with disabilities achieve more independent and productive lives. Assistive technology takes many forms: adapted vehicles, hearing aids, safety devices, scooters and wheelchairs, in addition to computers, iPads, tablet software, and hardware.
Our 2019 GAAD celebration featured a guest presentation from Susan Tachau of the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), a statewide, non-profit organization that helps individuals with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians acquire assistive technology devices and services. The presentation provided information about the organization, how it helps people with disabilities find funding and access to assistive technology tools; and on raising awareness of financial education and literacy.
Before and after the event, our crew had opportunities to learn more about assistive technology tools and gained insights into how we can all advocate for accessibility at work and in our communities.
When I started out on my own after college, like so many people I furnished my apartment with items passed down from family members—drinking glasses from my grandmother, dishes from my aunt, lamps from my parents, and a well-used sofa from my older brother. It was a great new adventure as I had my own place and I was now a “wise, all knowing adult.” One day some friends visited and laughed at the lamps. I knew the lamps were older, but they were still cool-looking and in good shape. But my friends were actually joking about the plastic wrap that was on the lamp shades. You know what I am talking about—that protective plastic covering that is on lamps in the store when purchased (and that remained on those lamps all those years). I was perplexed and thought, “EVERYONE has the original plastic wrap on their lamps. At least everyone from where I grew up left the plastic on. What’s wrong with these friends for thinking this was odd?” It was eye opening for me that, in fact, not everyone leaves the plastic wrap on lamp shades. Who knew?!?
I look back on this story with humor and great pride. Those covered lamp shades linked to the history of the people where I grew up in central New York State. The area had been settled by European immigrants who came to the United States to establish a better life for themselves and for their children. They worked hard to make it in the U.S. and experienced the Great Depression. Their past financial struggles gave them an appreciation for preserving and protecting their assets. Those lamp shades were a reflection of the culture and the values of my upbringing.
We all have our unique ways of doing things based on who we are and our previous experiences. Sometimes we may feel that our approach is similar to everyone else, and other times we may feel like the outsider, not fully understanding the norms of the group we are in. The opportunity for this variety of feelings is even more likely at work where we have the incredible opportunity to be around colleagues who come from various backgrounds and experiences. It’s the intertwining and interaction of all of us and all of our backgrounds that help create a diverse and inclusive environment.
For me a key element of inclusion is simply having a conversation and getting to know more about others, and being open to understanding and appreciating different approaches. I ask questions and try to get to know others and their story. I may not always fully understand or even agree, but I always walk away with a better appreciation. And, most often, I find I have more in common with other people than I could have imagined. In times I have felt like the outsider, I have always appreciated when someone took the time to welcome me, get know more about me, or seek my opinion. It was through these actions of others that I felt a greater sense of belonging and comradery.
So, the next time you run into someone with “plastic wrap on their lamp shade,” be curious. Strike up a conversation, and seek to know more about them. If you are like me, you will be amazed by what you learn.
-Ken O. (The Vanguard Group, Diversity and Inclusion, PA)
Recently, I was invited to be on a panel at Vanguard that focused on the experience of female veterans transitioning into the corporate world. Why did I receive this invitation, you ask? Because I’m a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, having served from 1990-1999. I left the USAF after serving in a variety of roles stateside as well as in the Middle East and Japan, and I consider those years to be my most formative as a professional. What struck me about my fellow panelists at that event was that our respective transition experiences varied greatly. After I separated from service, I spent a short period of time as a stay-at-home parent before taking on part-time roles as an instructor of economics and later as a financial advisor. In 2011 I finally transitioned back into the workforce full-time at Vanguard. In contrast, one of the other women on the panel served as a reservist and the third went directly into the corporate world after leaving the military. Although how we all got to this company differed greatly, being a part of that event reminded me of why I feel so energized and happy to work at Vanguard.
Leadership
At Vanguard, as in the military, leaders are expected to prioritize their people. I learned very early on that if you take care of your people, they will take care of you. Vanguard does an exceptional job of prioritizing and committing resources to crew development—and the results of that focus are crystal clear to me each and every day. We push crew to embrace and take advantage of training, some of which is mandatory and a lot of which is voluntary and available on-demand. As a leader at Vanguard, I spend an enormous amount of time coaching crew, in one-on-one sessions with my direct reports, and meeting with crew in my line. Everyone has their own passions and career aspirations, but I have always believed that my first priority as a leader was to figure out how to best support each and every one of the people who report to me on a daily basis. When our crew feel supported and valued, they in turn dedicate themselves to providing our clients with a world-class experience.
Mission driven
As an Air Force officer, I came to deeply appreciate the importance of having a clear and unified mission. Vanguard stands out within the financial services industry not because we have a mission (lots of financial services companies have one), but because the mission at Vanguard is simple, clear, and applicable to each and every one of us. If you want to get a team to make progress towards a goal, every member has to know precisely where you’re going. Ideally, they also understand why you’re going there. How you get there can be different across the organization, but the final destination must be a clearly defined point on a map, whether literally or figuratively. I love working at this company because I know precisely where we’re going in the very confusing world of investments and what we are all collectively trying to do.
Responsibility
A final similarity I’ll share between the military and Vanguard is that in both cases the people doing the job feel a strong sense of responsibility to those they are serving. Every day I overhear our crew working through very challenging client situations; without fail, what strikes me is the deep sense of ownership and accountability exhibited by those I work with. The best comes out of people when they are taking care of other people. At Vanguard, we take care of our clients, and we never stop trying.
On Veterans Day this year, I am grateful for the years I served and for those with whom I served. I am also extremely grateful for the chance to work at this company, because I can honestly say that I usually leave work feeling like I made a difference. More than anything, I’m grateful to spend my days, my energy, and my intellect at a place where smart, ethical people devote themselves to achieving the Vanguard mission of giving every investor the best chance for investment success.
-Anne-Marie G.
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I began my working career as an Airman in the US Air Force. After serving 8 years, I recognized the strength of the core values I gained: Honesty, Integrity, and Service before Self. Those values, coupled with the foundation set during my childhood, created the woman I am today and help to drive every decision I make. In 2003, I separated from the Air Force after determining that one of my goals of becoming an officer could not be realized due to a prerequisite change in the application process. Feeling a bit lost and unclear of the path ahead, I began the search for the next chapter of my career journey. I relocated to Charlotte, NC and was introduced to Vanguard. Shortly after, I was extended the opportunity to join the company–officially transitioning from Airman to crew member.
Joining a company with a variety of growth opportunities was an important factor for me. Fortunately at Vanguard, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally in countless ways throughout the duration of my career. Often times it has been through a job assignment which required an expanded set of skills. However, I’ve also grown by being in tune with my abilities and knowing when I needed to enhance a competency. One of those competency’s I knew I wanted to gain more knowledge on—and be more effective at—was communication.
I always knew how critical it was to be an effective communicator, but also knew I wanted to become stronger in this area. To that end, last year I signed up for our internal Toastmasters club. While I was reluctant, I knew that only positive results could arise from the experience. Since becoming a member, I’ve become more comfortable with speaking in public settings, more confident in presenting ideas, more assured to share input. For example, I’ve agreed to take on key roles in events such as moderating a Fireside Chat (or Meeting with the North Carolina Leadership team and) with our Chief Human Resources Officer at Vanguard, and on a more personal front I recently served as the master of ceremonies and also a presenter during a women’s conference at church.
To shift gears to written communication, a few years ago I sought out a class on the topic of business communication. While I walked away with many tips, I regularly leverage a couple best practices for communication via email specifically.
There are situations when a more thorough communication is relevant (perhaps in written form and/or planning for a presentation). In those instances, it’s important to find the right mix of information to share and I like to use the “5 W’s + How” as my template:
These steps have helped me to keep messaging as concise as possible while sharing what the audience really needs to know.
In closing, I share my complete gratitude to be part of an organization who truly cares about our Clients, our Crew, and our Communities. I feel honored that Vanguard cares enough about our crew to support and encourage continued development. I was proud to serve our country and I’m equally proud to serve our shareholders.
-Dru J.
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Vanguard’s crew resource group WILS (Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success) recently hosted a panel discussion with three female senior leaders in Investment Management to help breakdown investment acumen myths and misconceptions. In this blog, we recap the event and share how these discussions drive professional development and offer ways to improve this important skill-set. Three panelists take the stage, each representing a different area of focus in Vanguard’s Investment Management group: U.S. Equity Investment Risk Management, Global Rates and Fixed Income Strategy, and Product Planning. Each share their diverse career journey – some had long investment management careers outside Vanguard, others spent time on our Client Services teams or in rotational programs. But all three were anxious to help the women and men in the audience overcome their struggles with the often intimidating world of investment management.
First, it was imperative that the panel define what encompasses Investment Acumen – how does it differ for those focused squarely and deeply in Investment Management from those whose leadership interests are more general?
Seeking deep investment acumen
Two of the panelists expressed the importance of specialization in Investment Management. Their career advice for those who are pursuing this path is to go deep on what interests you most. Develop conviction and an opinion in that area, pursue courses and/or certifications that will increase your knowledge and expertise. They conveyed that specialization is a great way to distinguish yourself.
General investment knowledge
It is also important to have foundational investment acumen for anyone working in Financial Services and at Vanguard. Prior to her current role, one of the panelists had spent the majority of her career in leadership and strategy roles, where she had a strong focus on developing crew. This leader shared that she was keenly tuned in to her learning style. She knew that it was important for her to deepen her investment acumen, so she sought a role to close what she felt were some gaps in this area. She also reinforced the importance of knowing yourself, “I have an all-in learning style so I knew an immersive experience was right for me.” For others in similar situations, she encouraged the audience to think about what unique strengths you bring to the table. How might you lean into those as you’re learning and contributing to a new group?
Final thoughts
The panelists also shared their thoughts on how women in Investment Management can be perceived, and the unique challenges they have experienced in overcoming conscious and unconscious bias. The fact is that currently there are significantly fewer women than men in investment management. In everyday settings, women need to adopt strategies to make sure their diverse thoughts are heard. When any group of people is outnumbered, they tend to be heard less and more likely to get interrupted and dismissed.
These panelists advise us to keep swimming against the current. Seek to understand the dynamic of whatever group you’re in and develop a strategy for how you can fit in. It is important for each of us to be ourselves, while fitting into the environment as that self and on our own terms. A great foundation is to build your acumen and credentialize yourself as a valuable voice in the room. Everyone in the room was already doing that very thing – attending sessions like these builds acumen and strengths that enable crew to stand out.
Finally, the panelists recognized the opportunity each leader in investment management has to “represent women well.” Without diverse thinking, how can we meet the diverse needs of our clients?
-Janet M.
If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our career opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re featuring a series of blogs dedicated to working mothers and their experience at Vanguard. In this video, Caroline C. and her daughter Allie share their insights from a special “Bring Your Daughter to Work Day” event, including how they’re planning for the future and why Caroline feels she “doesn’t have to separate being a mom from working.”
If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
In my last blog, I discussed Vanguard’s high score on The HRC Corporate Equality Index survey. This score reflects our dedication to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies. But these endeavors extend beyond just creating an inclusive workplace – they can alleviate challenges in our personal lives as well. “I specifically asked whether Vanguard provided same-sex domestic partner benefits before I joined in November 2011. My partner, Julie, and I had just gotten married in August and I had covered Julie under my benefits plan at my previous employer. At the time, I knew that Pennsylvania and the Federal government would not recognize our marriage. However, because I could cover Julie under the Vanguard health and welfare plans, I knew we would be okay.” – Kathleen R. “When I came out to my parents, one of the things they were concerned with was the possibility of losing my job because I am gay. A few months later when I joined Vanguard, I could point to Vanguard’s non-discrimination policy to reassure them that members of the LGBT community were valued here. Years later, there was a time when my husband’s company was going through bankruptcy. We weren’t sure the company would survive and he could have been out of work. It was a comfort to know Vanguard offered domestic partner benefits, which we could take advantage of if necessary. Luckily, things worked out fine and it wasn’t necessary, but it was good to know we had it if we needed it.” – Mark O. “I am extremely thankful for the ability to enroll my partner Jon in Vanguard’s medical plan coverage. In fact, he works for a health insurance company, and our plan is more comprehensive than the one his employer offers!” – Brian F. As for me, I began my Vanguard career in the fall of 1999, and I had not come out to anyone during the recruiting stage or onboarding process. This was a purposeful decision. I wanted time to acclimate to my new job, and to learn more about Vanguard’s culture. After six months, I felt very comfortable with my team, and completely aligned to Vanguard’s mission. So I made the decision to come out to my leader and colleagues at work in early 2000. My manager and leadership team were fully supportive, and they treated me with the same level of respect, encouragement, and inclusiveness as everyone else. The way they treated me was a welcomed change, as my experience with leadership at another employer was hesitant and timid, at best. I’m now in my 19th year at Vanguard, and in many respects, this is home for me. My experiences and professional connections at Vanguard have been similar to my personal relationships with my family – welcoming, nurturing, and supportive. At Vanguard I am empowered to focus on meaningful work and career development without the burdens of guardedness and discretion that many in the LGBTQ+ community often confront. For this I feel most blessed, and so very grateful, and I am inspired to help ensure that all crew members feel just as welcomed. Consider learning more about the 2018 Corporate Equality Index – the report is free and available to anyone. (Vanguard is mentioned on pages 54, 89, and 98 of the report.) -Chris H.
If you’re looking for a role where you can be empowered to learn, grow, and make a difference, check out our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.