October 2015 – U.S. Capitol Building, Washington DC
On October 28, 2015, SIFMA hosted members of the Congressional Hispanic and Congressional Black Caucuses for a roundtable discussion on diversity and inclusion priorities in financial services.
Members of Congress shared with participants, which included 25 financial services firms and industry stakeholders, the importance of a more diverse pipeline of talent entering the financial services sector and the long-term benefits those efforts can have on wealth creation and asset-building in key communities.
Next Steps:
The industry identified ongoing qualitative and quantitative business practices that have yielded greater diversity and inclusion. Kenneth E. Bentsen Jr., President and CEO of SIFMA, emphasized the industry's desire to partner with policymakers to achieve incremental growth in the sector.
Partners:
In addition to financial services firms, the following partners also participated in the roundtable discussion: U.S. Small Business Administration, the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP), the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and the National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP.)
December 2015 – New York, NY
On December 4, 2015, SIFMA hosted members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) in New York City for a roundtable discussion on diversity and inclusion efforts currently underway in the financial services sector.
The roundtable brought together senior executives from 16 firms to discuss industry efforts to better engage Hispanic graduates in the workforce pipeline and to identify opportunities for policymakers to support and engage those efforts.
Next Steps:
SIFMA's members and the CHC resolved to partner on internship and grassroots outreach efforts at targeted colleges and universities in 2017.
SIFMA's D&I Partners
SIFMA partners with the following organizations to advance diversity in the industry, through memoranda of understanding, sponsorship of events, or participation in Diversity & Inclusion Committee roundtables and meetings.
View the full list of Partners
Council of Urban Professionals
Founded in 2007, CUP is a non-profit organization focused on preparing high-performing professionals of color and women for the rise to senior leadership roles within financial services, legal, media & entertainment, non-profit, and public sectors.
National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
The NGLCC is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global not-for-profit advocacy organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people.
National Urban League
The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities.
Veterans on Wall Street
VOWS is an initiative dedicated to honoring former and currently military personnel by facilitating career and business opportunities in the financial services industry.
Mortgage Bankers Association
MBA is committed to increasing racial, gender, sexual orientation and ethnic diversity within the mortgage banking industry.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
The CHCI experience places Latino youth on a new trajectory by inspiring high school and college completion, and then providing programs to explore public policy and leadership in our nation's capital.
National Bar Association
The National Bar Association was founded in 1925 and is the nation's oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges.
Urban Financial Services Coalition
The Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC) is a non-profit organization of minority professionals in the financial services industry and related fields.
