Tag: Diversity

Episode 55 – A Leader’s Guide to Organization-Wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging With Karen Paulson

Episode 55 – A Leader’s Guide to Organization-Wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging With Karen Paulson

Being part of a diverse organization does not guarantee everyone feels valued and welcome. It’s crucial to simultaneously and intentionally focus on equity, inclusion and belonging.

Moreover, DEIB is not only the right thing to do, but research shows it can also produce better outcomes.

In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Karen Paulson, partner and senior consultant at Fiducient Advisors, who also chairs the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Steering Committee. Karen provides meaningful insights and inspiration to all stewards looking to advance their DEIB objectives.

You will learn:

  • Macro trends in the DEIB space, especially in the investment management industry
  • Various DEIB initiatives at Fiducient — and the three primary pillars that support these initiatives
  • How organizational leaders can develop diverse talent and an inclusive culture
  • Best practices to create DEIB awareness and align boards and committees
  • And more!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | Karen Paulson | Email Karen | Insights by Fiducient Advisors (Research, Blogs, Podcasts) | Year Up | National Black MBA Association® | National Association of Black Accountants | Women’s Association of Venture and Equity | Women Investment Professionals | Chicago Financial Women | Institutional Investing Diversity Cooperative

About Our Guest:

As a Partner and Senior Consultant, Karen services institutional clients, including 401(k) and tax-exempt retirement plans and nonprofit endowments and foundations, by providing advice and counsel on all areas of fund oversight including policy, asset allocation, manager research, portfolio structure, portfolio rebalancing, performance monitoring and overall investment policy. Karen is chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Steering Committee and is a member of the firm’s Defined Contribution Strategic Oversight Committee, Mission-Aligned Investing Committee and Employee Engagement Team. Karen co-founded Fiduciary Investment Advisors, LLC in 2006, which combined with Fiducient Advisors in 2020.

Episode 42 – Investment Considerations, DEI, Nonprofit Leadership, and More with Mellody Hobson

Episode 42 – Investment Considerations, DEI, Nonprofit Leadership, and More with Mellody Hobson

How concerned should we be with market and economic trends? How can we improve our DEI efforts? What are opportunities and challenges should nonprofit leaders be focusing on? These are some of the pressing questions we hear from clients.

Join Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis as they speak with one of the most in-demand guests Mellody Hobson, co-CEO & president at Ariel Investments, a firm managing nearly $18 billion in assets. Mellody shares valuable insight into current investment trends, along with strategies to make your organization more diverse and inclusive.

You will learn:

  • Effectively diversifying your portfolio, given the recent performance of various asset classes
  • Ways to overcome the “unconscious bias” that sabotages your DEI efforts
  • How to evaluate investment managers and firms through a DEI lens
  • Valuable advice for nonprofit leaders to help them drive positive, systematic change
  • And more!

Tune in to hear Mellody Hobson’s expert insights on how investors, including nonprofit organizations, can thrive in the current environment!

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | Mellody Hobson on LinkedIn | Ariel Investments | “The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies” by Scott Page

About Our Guest:

As Co-CEO, Mellody Hobson is responsible for management, strategic planning, and growth for all areas of Ariel Investments outside of research and portfolio management. Outside of Ariel, Mellody is a nationally recognized voice on financial literacy. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Starbucks Corporation and as a director of JPMorgan Chase. Previously, Mellody served as Chairman of the Board of DreamWorks Animation until the company’s sale and was also a long-standing board member of the Estée Lauder Companies. Mellody’s community outreach includes her role as Chairman of After School Matters, a Chicago non-profit that provides area teens with high-quality after school and summer programs. Additionally, she is vice chair of World Business Chicago; co-chair of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art; and a board member of the George Lucas Education Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Episode 28 – How Nonprofits Can Drive Results Through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — With Cynthia Primo Martin

Episode 28 – How Nonprofits Can Drive Results Through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — With Cynthia Primo Martin

Focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is more than just the “right thing to do.” It can help your nonprofit make better decisions and achieve greater results.

In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with Cynthia Primo Martin, founder of the Trustees of Color initiative. They discuss actionable strategies to create diverse investment committees, overcome common DEI challenges, and leverage DEI initiatives to achieve your core organizational mission.

You will learn:

  • Top recruitment and selection practices for nonprofit boards and investment committees
  • Why nonprofit leaders should be intentional with their DEI efforts
  • How “board readiness” helps you overcome personal biases & become more accessible
  • How diverse committees are more likely to achieve better investment returns
  • And more!

Tune in to gain valuable insights into how DEI plays an important role in charitable organizations.

Resources: Email the Stewards | Fiducient Advisors | Bob DiMeo | Devon Francis | Cynthia Primo Martin on LinkedIn | Contact Cynthia: (302) 540-0196 or CPrimo@comcast.net | “Handbook for Nonprofit Leadership: Recruiting, Training and Engaging Trustees of Color” by Cynthia Primo Martin | “Diversity of Asset Managers In Philanthropy” by Global Economy Group | “Madam C. J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving: Black Women’s Philanthropy during Jim Crow” by Dr. Tyrone McKinley Freeman | “Focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” by Devon Francis

About Our Guest:

Cynthia Primo Martin is the founder of the Trustees of Color initiative, whose mission is to ensure that nonprofit boards are inclusive of people of color. Cynthia has served as a director and trustee of many nonprofit organizations, including the University of Delaware, Delaware Symphony Association, African-American Endowment Fund at DCF, and the Waterson Family Foundation. Earlier in her career, she served as human resources and equal employment opportunity director for a major insurance company. Cynthia is also the author of “Handbook for Nonprofit Leadership: Recruiting, Training and Engaging Trustees of Color.”