Tisha Boyd knows what it’s like to be the outlier in a financial industry dominated by white men.
“I’m often the only woman and person of color in the room,” said Boyd, senior director of learning and development at Envestnet. “How do I put my voice in the room? How do I make sure my voice is heard?”
These are the questions she helps her colleagues tackle through programs she’s established, such as the African American Employee Resource Group. It was launched last year to address frustrations Black employees expressed about their lack of professional development opportunities.
Boyd also has launched initiatives to educate employees about identity bias, microaggression and privilege. The programs, mandatory for all 1,500 Envestnet employees beginning last year, start conversations about background and experiences.
“We’re not creating a utopia,” said Boyd, who is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants. “We’re creating a psychologically safe community where we’re able to talk about our differences and create strength from them.”
Another program Boyd helps lead — the Envestnet Institute on Campus — consists of mentoring, job placement and financial literacy initiatives for students that’s designed to create a more diverse workforce.
The curriculum is offered at 47 schools, including historically Black colleges and universities, and has been completed by 6,000 students. The program’s database contains 3,000 resumes for employers seeking candidates for internships and entry-level jobs.
— Mark Schoeff Jr.