Nicsa’s committees are at the heart of our mission to connect all facets of the asset and wealth management industry to advance leading practices. Creating synergies among our various Diversity Project North America committees is one way to maintain positive momentum toward our mission of championing DEI as a business priority.
Take a look at how our working committees are enriching our organization and advancing our initiative. If you are inspired by efforts below, reach out to learn how to get involved.
Our Benchmarking Committee explores industry measurements and metrics around DEI standards. They are focused on benchmarking sources, internal data collection, and goal setting. Check out the committee’s Toolkit for discussion around DEI data collection and metrics tracking efforts. In addition, the committee recently released "Pay Equity: Guidance for Asset & Wealth Managers," a best-practices approach to evaluating legal and compliance issues, enhancing employee morale, and retaining talent.
The DEI Perception Committee explores insights on the perception of progress and identifies gaps and opportunities to advance DEI within organizations. The 2023/2024 DEI Perception Study, largely the work of this committee in collaboration with founding DPNA member EY, is intended to shape the industry’s adaptation of DEI issues. They are currently collaborating with other DNPA committees to share results of 23/24 DEI Perception Study.
Our Education & Outreach Committee shares industry education with diverse talent pipelines. The committee continues its work with Junior Achievement USA (JA) and the JA Take Stock in Your Future learning experience, which introduces teens and young adults to the stock market.
The Industry Engagement & Events Committee amplifies the message of DPNA by leveraging digital media channels as well as hosting events that promote DEI initiatives and inclusive leadership. Following the engaging Powering Up Families webinar in late 2023, the committee hosted an Empowering Women webinar in honor of Women's History Month in March of 2024. The webinar featured female leaders who shared actionable ideas and valuable perspectives for empowering women to thrive in the workplace and beyond. As part of the panel, the committee gave a platform/visibility to a Nicsa Rising Star.
The committee also heads up our association’s efforts to celebrate and recognize the many underrepresented groups within our industry, so be sure to follow our LinkedIn feed for resources and education around Juneteenth, Orange Shirt Day, Indigenous People's Day, and Purple Sock Day to name a few.
Our Next Practices Committee fosters collaboration around forward-looking DEI programs and strategies. This committee benefits from internal roundtables and Safe Space discussions. Over the past year, the community members met to explore the benefits of wellness programs within ERGs as well as to unpack the opportunities and challenges around DEI investing via managed funds.
In addition to candid discussions among committee members, this group also works to bring education to the larger industry by offering programs such as its ABCs of ERGs webinar. Members of this committee are currently focused on the topic of corporate culture and are exploring what it takes to both create and validate a healthy and equitable working environment.
DPNA committees welcome employees of any member firm. We encourage you to get involved in advancing DEI in the asset and wealth management industry. Click here to find out how.