Creating diversity within the financial planning industry
Krista DeGuffroy
Director of Inclusion & Compliance for Workforce Development
SEI
Rising Star
"Focus on belonging and safety within the organization. Culture won’t change with recruitment and diversity supplier programs alone. Before any of us can move forward with external initiatives, we need to look at internal opportunities to create equity and justice. Now is the time to see who’s proactively putting in the work and consistently driving for belonging without the promise of recognition. Inclusion champions may lead business resource groups, or they could be those who consistently ask why someone’s not in the room. They may be the people who edit documents for inclusion-based language when no one else does. These are the individuals who have equity in their minds, hearts and actions. These are the people whose passions are contagious and to whom employees often reach out. Ask these unrecognized champions of belonging, “What are you hearing that I may not be? Are we missing information about how employees feel?” Be receptive to what they share. Listen with intent to understand, and seek opportunities to deepen trust and partnership. This is a long-term action that needs consistency in order to protect and grow our most valuable business asset: Our people."