Whether its through sponsoring events or internal efforts, Northwestern Mutual has made it a priority to continue its ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Northwestern Mutual also holds many accolades and recognitions such as ranking 100 on the 2016 FORTUNE 500, being recognized by FORTUNE® as one of the “World’s Most Admired” life insurance companies in 2016, and being named one of 50 Best Companies for Diversity in 2016 by Black Enterprise Magazine, an award that recognizes companies for the highest commitment to diversity and inclusion measured by four categories including employee base, senior management, board of directors and procurement.
DIVERGE spoke to Raymone Jackson, Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Northwestern Mutual to find out more:
What makes your company stand out in terms of your diversity initiatives?
Northwestern Mutual’s diversity initiatives stand out because they’re fueled by a passionate employee base that truly embraces our collective commitment to a diverse and inclusive organization.
We have active Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that accelerate our larger D&I strategy through a focus on thriving careers, an inclusive culture, engaging our community and influencing our commerce efforts. Additionally, we have department D&I Councils that work across teams to embed diversity and inclusion practices within their department priorities and activities.
Additionally, Northwestern Mutual leaders are trained and equipped with the capabilities to become D&I role models through targeted training, immersion learning experiences and other offerings aligned to our leader expectations. Senior leaders are encouraged to participate in a reverse mentoring program, where they receive formal mentoring from an ERG member to expand their cultural competence, create a safe space for learning and relationship build with a junior employee.
Which one are you most proud of?
I am most proud of our commitment to inclusion through action. We recently hosted a Cultural Competency week, where over 500 employees attended 1 of 17 Cultural Competency Learning Sessions over the course of one week. Employees were able to learn about unconscious bias, explore their own biases and build the cultural dexterity to lead and engage with others more inclusively.
This effort aligns with one of our core values: putting people first. Without the people who make up Northwestern Mutual, diversity and inclusion would only be a goal. Because of the people, we are a living culture of inclusion and respect powered by diversity. That lets us maximize the collective ideas, opinions and creativity of our diverse workforce.
Why is diversity so important to your company?
Northwestern Mutual is deeply committed to the important work of advancing diversity and inclusion across all aspects of our business, and we’re honored to be recognized for these efforts. Meeting our clients’ needs requires a diverse and inclusive organization that draws from a variety of perspectives, experiences and approaches. It’s an essential part of reflecting the markets we serve, activating the talents of our team members, being recognized as a world-class employer and achieving brand distinction.
How do you create an inclusive environment?
An inclusive environment comes from building and expecting the behaviors that allow team members to bring their full and inclusive self to work each day. Employees are empowered to engage and leaders are positioned to both move through their own D&I journey while reinforcing it with those around them.
- We talk about inclusion consistently at all levels while making meaningful connections across corporate priorities.
- We also seek feedback on the progress to date via Employee surveys which allow us to celebrate the accomplishments while identifying additional areas of focus.
- Additionally, we attract the most talented applicants from diverse backgrounds. Northwestern Mutual partners with organizations and career fairs that focus on fostering the skills and disciplines that are ideal for careers in the financial services.
- For example, we partner with ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America), Grace Hopper Conference (focused on women in technology), National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA), National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), Consortium Orientation Program and Career Forum, as well as recruiting at diverse colleges including Howard University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, University of Arizona, University of Illinois – Chicago and University of Puerto Rico.
Why should companies focus on diversity?
Companies should focus on diversity as it goes beyond race, ethnicity and gender. Northwestern Mutual views diversity as a necessity to attract, engage and retain the most talented individuals. Each member of the greater team is an important contributor that has a unique perspective that enables us to think differently about financial security, how we can better serve the needs of the marketplace and streamline processes and systems.
As organizations continue to assess and deliver on the changing needs of consumers, a diverse organization is better positioned to bring creative thought-leadership and action to market. At Northwestern Mutual we strive to celebrate and leverage this diversity to serve the financial security needs of our clients and future clients. We appreciate our recent successes that affirm the journey that we are on. Most of those successes can be attributed to the people who make it all possible. Companies should focus on diversity because their greatest assets are those who make up the whole.
