Look no further than the board of Raymond James to see how its culture of inclusion plays out in real life: 38% of nonexecutive directors are women and 38% are ethnic minorities.
“Nurturing a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion starts at the top,” said Pedro Suriel, Raymond James’ senior vice president of diversity and inclusion. “Having a broad spectrum of perspectives throughout our organization is integral to achieving companywide success. It fuels innovation, enhances associate and client experience, attracts top talent, and delivers numerous other advantages. Our diverse board exemplifies this commitment.”
The firm’s advisor Inclusion Networks support a wide spectrum of identities and life situations and are essential for drawing new advisors from diverse communities into the firm and the profession.
“Raymond James’ growing footprint of inclusion networks plays a pivotal role in shaping and driving the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives,” Suriel said. “By participating in these vibrant communities, members have the chance to grow both personally and professionally, building strong relationships with leaders and peers and enjoying an invaluable source of mutual guidance and support.”
In fiscal 2022, the company filled more than 3,000 associate positions — over 40% with people from underrepresented communities. Meanwhile, 45% of U.S. interns were women and 53% of U.S. interns were people of color.
“Attracting and retaining top talent requires meaningful efforts to nurture talent pools and channels, especially those that connect with typically underrepresented communities,” Suriel said.
—Gregg Greenberg