There have been significant inspirations to raise awareness and address issues of diversity and inclusion in 2020, but those firms that have been addressing the issues for a number of years had a leg up, and FS Investments found itself fortunate to have plans in place to immediately take action after George Floyd’s killing.
“Following George Floyd’s death, we felt it was critical to have conversations around race and inequality,” said Mia Fioravanti, executive director of corporate social responsibility and FS Foundation. “We were able to start an employee-led Courageous Conversation series that allowed candid conversations on topics around race.”
This effort serves as a continuation of initiatives FS already has in place. In January, the firm started in-person training led by the Anti-Defamation League to address unintentional biases. Even after COVID-19 and the relocation of the work force, the company continues to train staff and expects to reach 100% completion this year. Beyond internal efforts, FS maintains an active presence in the Philadelphia community, running a financial literacy program that serves 15 area schools — a number that is intended to grow this year.
Contact Mia Fioravanti, executive director of corporate social responsibility and FS Foundation, at mia.fioravanti@fsinvestments.com or Carla Gobantes, Director of Early Talent at carla.gobantes@fsinvestments.com to learn more about the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.
— George B. Moriarty