A member of the advisory team at the Short Hills, New Jersey, branch of Merrill Lynch, Nancy Canales has represented a strong, steady voice for diversity and inclusion over her 37-year career at the firm. Her particular focus has been on expanding opportunities at the firm for members of the Hispanic and Latin communities, and toward that end she has been a long-standing member of the Hispanic Latino Organization for Leadership and Advancement, known as HOLA. The group is committed to helping Bank of America attract, engage, develop and retain Hispanic/Latino employees; it also promotes community volunteerism, and Canales has taken part in activities sponsored by Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics and the New Jersey LGBTQ Pride Parade.
Over the past two years she has been a leading member of the Merrill Lynch Hispanic Latino Advisory Council, which includes a cross section of advisers, client associates and company executives. The council focuses on hiring and developing talent while positioning Merrill Lynch to take full advantage of the business opportunities created by the growth of the Hispanic/Latino community.
— Evan Cooper