S06 EP08: The Future Belongs to Inclusive Enterprises

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In this bonus episode of the Masterclass, Rianka sits down with Tonia Bottoms, a Managing Director and Senior Managing Counsel for BNY Mellon | Pershing. Tonia is also Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Advocate for Pershing and is a member of Pershing’s Executive Committee. Tonia speaks about the firm’s enterprise-wide strategy for DEI, and how and why it’s woven into the fabric of the company. 

Tonia acknowledges that as an industry leader, they know they can be a catalyst for change in DEI - and works to do so both collaboratively and creatively.

Tonia shares why setting representation goals and being intentional with them is so important for the company. Recruitment is only one side, but retention is a key component to a healthy work environment, and a key to holding the entire team accountable to the DEI values.

Rianka and Tonia talk about how important it is for employee resource groups to have their own budgets, and Tonia shares examples of the many resources groups available at BNY Mellon | Pershing.  

Most importantly, Tonia assures the listeners that inclusivity is a competency that can be learned by leadership.

What you’ll learn:

  • How BNY Mellon | Pershing is creating a space of belonging for all associates

  • Why setting representation goals is important 

  • How BNY Mellon | Pershing is seeking out what is missing, in an effort to be an inclusive workplace that is additive to the DEI culture.

  • The tools BNY Mellon | Pershing uses to regularly survey their employees around workplace culture

  • The missteps that can happen around recruiting


Facilitator Questions:

  1. Does your company have an enterprise-wide approach to DEI?

  2. Have you considered joining forces with other industry leaders?

  3. Is DEI a part of the employee surveying?


Show Notes: