Why Financial Education Should be Part of Your Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has evolved. Companies are focused on attracting diverse talent and retaining them by removing biases and discrimination in the workplace, addressing disparities in pay and offering more desirable rewards and benefits packages. One critical element often overlooked is financial well-being. Evidence shows minorities are more likely to face financial challenges throughout their life compared to white Americans, and lack of financial education is contributing to the growing wealth gap. By helping employees build a more positive relationship with their money, companies can play an important role in reducing the wealth gap and changing the life of generations to come.
Learning Objectives:
- Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of the role financial wellness programs can play with retention efforts.
- Attendees will walk away with a strong understanding of the components that make a financial wellness program effective.
- Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of why financial wellness should be part of your DE&I strategy.
In-person session offerings are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Brought to you by: UBS
Amy Bruce
Amy Bruce is a Director at UBS and Head of the Financial Wellness business, helping employees at all levels to improve their relationship with money and overall financial health. Prior to this Amy spent ten years in Human Resources where she held several service delivery and business partner positions in various locations including New York, Nashville and Krakow, Poland.
Melinda Hightower
Melinda (Mel) leads the multicultural segment in the Client Strategy Office (CSO). In this new role for Wealth Management USA, Mel is responsible for the firm’s forward-looking strategy to cultivate an inclusive investor experience and support the growth of multicultural financial advisors. Working closely with other senior leaders across the firm, she works to expand thought leadership, champion product and solutions innovation, and identify business opportunities.
Mel joined UBS from J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where she managed large client relationships and served as a trusted wealth management advisor to technology and health care entrepreneurs, executives, and investors. In addition, she drove engagement strategies for diverse prospects and clients as well as select firm diversity partnerships. Previously, Mel was a Vice President with ICONIQ Capital, a privately-held investment firm and family office. Prior to her work at ICONIQ, she was a member of the Tax Group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where her practice included counseling family offices and private foundations. She began her career in 2000 as a consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Mel has a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science from the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. A Detroit native, she currently lives in San Francisco.
