I’d been working at Vanguard for about eight years when my mother, and best friend was diagnosed with Stage 3 Urothelial Cell Carcinoma. As you can imagine, this turned my family’s world upside down as my mom is the heart & soul of my family unit.

My mom, who had cared for me, my brother and my dad, all (or most of) our lives was now the one who needed care. This was a role no one in my family, except my mom, had really ever done. I knew I would play a key part in my mother’s appointments as my family wasn’t sure what questions to ask or notes to take. Needless to say, having served in auditor-type roles most of my Vanguard career, I was well prepared for the challenge.

During the first quarter of 2017, while my personal life was turned on its head, a new leader was assigned to my team. I was experiencing changes both at Vanguard and in my personal life. My first one-on-one was conducted through video conference from my parent’s house. It was during that conversation I finally said the words out loud…my mom had cancer. Not knowing how my new leader would respond, I waited.

He took a moment and said, “Family comes first,” a concept I heard Vanguard was known for but never experienced firsthand. To my relief, my manager and I worked out a flexible schedule so I could attend all of my mom’s chemotherapy treatments.

My mom’s 68th birthday in our matching red panda onesies

My first leave occurred in July 2017, for mom’s surgery to remove the cancer cells. Knowing I could assist in her care, this was my first experience with Vanguard’s Family and Medical Leave Program (FMLA). I took the steps necessary to ensure that everything would go smoothly, and it did.

I was nursing my mom back to health, with my dad and brother and other extended family by my side. Every morning, I went straight into mom’s bed where we spent hours talking, laughing and praying. During that leave, I wore many hats, some included: Doctor, nurse, caretaker, therapist, chef, butler, and chauffeur. Before I knew it, the two months had passed & I was back to work.

When I returned from leave, I was notified that my team was undergoing changes. I had a new team and leader. Like the leader before, she was caring and understanding. She went out of her way to help support me, and therefore, my family.

Having been home for the holidays, I asked mom if she needed me to stay. She was hesitant; worried that her diagnosis that was now Stage 4 was affecting my work. Always a mother. But she did ask me to stay. I went back through the seamless FMLA process and was back at home, supporting my family by the first week of 2018.

The first day of that leave we found out that the cancer metastasized in mom’s liver. She was given six months to live… A time frame no spouse, son, daughter, mother, sibling, or friend is ready to hear or accept. However, a few weeks after that appointment, mom was on an upswing responding positively to her new treatment. My mom, our family, was going to win this fight.

Mom graduating from chemo for the first time on my Vanguard work anniversary

I returned to work in early February of 2018 in hopes of making a career move. I wanted to challenge myself now more than ever considering the flexibility Vanguard had given me. Then, my perfect job appeared. I was hesitant to apply, worried that a new department and leader wouldn’t be willing to work with me through this trying time. With that in mind, I went for it and luckily I did, because I began an exciting new journey at Vanguard.

Having the same insecurities I’ve had before, I explained my home situation. My new leader exceeded my expectations even more so since I had only just gotten the job. She didn’t know me, but she didn’t need to. She knew what I needed.

Shortly after starting my new job in June 2018, my mom stopped responding to treatment and my family was overwhelmed. I needed to be home as taking care of mom had become a full time job that did not include sleep. For a third time, I submitted for FMLA. Another straightforward and successful process.

I was on leave from the end of July 2018 until Labor Day. I did my best to remain optimistic. Mom surpassed the six month expectation her doctor gave her in January. Every moment with her beyond six months was a blessing but I wasn’t naive; things looked bleak.

We had mom’s palliative care appointment the Friday I returned to work. The night I arrived home, I knew things were bad. During that appointment, mom was admitted to inpatient hospice care though she had been using their home services for months. I was told she may not make it the 15 minute ambulance ride. My world was falling apart.

My brother, mom & I visiting the casino with dad

Saturday morning, September 8, at 12:08 AM EST, after a year and a half of fighting, my mom passed away, unable to beat the courageous battle all cancer survivors and victims have to go through. More than anything, I wish this blog was ending differently, not only for you, but for me…for my family.

From that experience, here’s what I can tell you: If I wasn’t working at Vanguard, I don’t know how different this story would have been. I don’t know if I would have been at every chemotherapy appointment. I don’t know if I would have been at every doctor’s appointment. I don’t know if I would have been as available to my family. I don’t know if I would have been able to be home.

However, I was working at Vanguard. I was able to be there when my family needed me the most. I was able to go to every doctor’s appointment. I was able to be available for my family. I was able to be home. I was able to take multiple leaves of absence through FMLA. I was able to use personal leave to handle my mother’s affairs. I was able, and that – that is a blessing.

Hospice of the Sacred Heart Memorial walk

Abha Kumar, Principal in Information Technology, sits down with Senior Manager, Nivedita Masani, to discuss her career journey as well as global perspectives. In this feature, Abha shares insights into her formative years and how various experiences have shaped her professional career. What tips does she have for individuals interested in the Information & Technology industry? Abha says, “Hold true to your values and look for tomorrow’s adventures.”

Curious about our Information Technology career opportunities? We’ve got you covered.

Vanguard’s annual celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), held on May 16, placed a spotlight on the role of assistive technology in helping people with disabilities achieve more independent and productive lives.

Assistive technology takes many forms: adapted vehicles, hearing aids, safety devices, scooters and wheelchairs, in addition to computers, iPads, tablet software, and hardware.

Our 2019 GAAD celebration featured a guest presentation from Susan Tachau of the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), a statewide, non-profit organization that helps individuals with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians acquire assistive technology devices and services. The presentation provided information about the organization, how it helps people with disabilities find funding and access to assistive technology tools; and on raising awareness of financial education and literacy.

Before and after the event, our crew had opportunities to learn more about assistive technology tools and gained insights into how we can all advocate for accessibility at work and in our communities.

Meet Deji A. He is a Financial Advisor Manager who shares how he found the right fit in Vanguard. Deji’s strong client focus and passion for developing his crew have remained a priority throughout his career.

Watch his full story below:

Curious about our Advisor opportunities? We’ve got you covered.

We asked 7 Vanguard leaders what inclusion means to them.

Here’s what they had to say:

1. Christina Selby, Principal in Finance:

Everyone’s voices being heard and taken into account as we make decisions and set strategy for the business. We want everyone to feel comfortable engaging, debating, and being an active member of our team.  The best thoughts come from a diverse team!

2. Steve Holman, Principal in Institutional Sales:

Inclusion to me means that I never have to question if I belong; what makes me unique is embraced by others, and we spend our time celebrating what links us together rather than focusing on everything that makes us different from one another.

3. Joe Davis, Global Chief Economist and Principal:

Feeling that I could walk into any meeting and be comfortable sitting at the table, and that my voice would be heard. Others may disagree with my perspective, of course, but others are not offended if I take a different respectful view.

4. Lisha Davis, Head of the Innovation Studio:

People feeling safe to be themselves, to voice their ideas and concerns, and to feel like they’re helping to shape our culture.

5. Jodi Miller, Principal in Retail:

Being approachable to all crew and open-minded to all ideas and perspectives that our crew bring forward.

6. Kevin Jestice, Principal in Information Technology & Security:

For me, inclusion is about everyone being comfortable bringing their whole self to work and fostering an environment that promotes and appreciates differences. Everyone is unique and has real value to add in this world. Being inclusive is about appreciating that value and ensuring people are comfortable being themselves so they can achieve their full potential. The greater the diversity of backgrounds and ideas we bring to a challenge, the more creative and better the outcome.

7. Manuel Calero, Principal in Retail:

I came to this country and enrolled in school having no understanding of the English language, not knowing a single person, and generally did not have a clue about how the school systems worked. Almost every single teacher I had, in spite of having nothing in common with me, went out of their way to get to know and guide me. Simply accepting me as just another student would have been okay, but they didn’t see that as an option. It was almost as if I was a family member they were inclined to help. I am forever indebted to those teachers from decades ago who reached out to me, and who taught me the importance of caring about and taking an active interest in others. They lived inclusion, which they knew to be a verb not an attitude or passive concept. To this day, I do my best to follow in their footsteps by doing as they did for me here at Vanguard.

Are you ready to make it count this year? Search our opportunities.

More careers blogs you may have missed

Everyday inclusion
Ken looks back on his inclusion story with humor and great pride.

4 tips for a more inclusive environment
Vanguard’s Chief Human Resources Officer John James shares four tips to promote a more inclusive environment in this blog.
 

The family I never expected
Read about how Tiffany found her home away from home in Vanguard’s Black Professional Network (VBPN).

When I first started looking for internships during undergrad, candidly, I was not excited by anything out there. All the business opportunities looked painfully similar. Stay with me, this is a happy story. What caught my eye during research for job fairs were the firms that heavily demonstrated their commitment to community. While it is pretty common nowadays to champion community involvement, what is less common is sincere passion backing those snapshots of community events.

Nearly every time I spoke with a representative of a company, I heard the same message: ‘Community service is great! We have one event each year that we rally behind and blast on social media. Other than that, not much else goes on.’ Disappointing… that is until I stumbled upon Vanguard’s My Classroom Economy, which is a program that enables educators to teach children financial responsibility through experiential learning.

From the multiple interviews to the first day of my internship at Vanguard, everyone I asked about My Classroom Economy indicated it was an ongoing, substantial operation: a mini-business within the business. Comprised of project teams, ambassador roles, as well as leaders for the work streams, this organization was solving a problem known all too well among my generation: a lack of financial literacy. Throughout college, in casual conversations or classroom debate, I heard the common lamentation from my peers: Why were we taught about geometric shapes but never received any sort of training/instruction on critical financial concepts, such as budgeting? Even social media comically points out the irony in a lack of ‘parallelogram season’ and searing reality of tax season. My Classroom Economy is not only fighting for an admirable cause, but also offers many opportunities to build leadership, project management, and relationship-building skills. I wanted in!

Fast forward through my senior year of college, my first full year of employment with Vanguard, and to steadily increasing my involvement with My Classroom Economy. Today, I serve as Project Manager for two expansions of the program, My Home and My Group Economy. My role in My Classroom Economy has helped me just as much as it’s helped our community.

If at any point while reading this, you were reminded of a time your interest was sparked in your workplace by a non-direct-job experience (i.e. something you are not compensated for) and you’re wondering if it is worth pursuing, here are reasons to raise your hand for that activity:

Validation in impactful work

Sometimes the most rewarding jobs are the ones you do not because you are being compensated but because you care. When you care about something you feel good contributing your time and energy to it. And thankfully, your professional development has helped you build upon valuable skills, which in the end, feels validating when you’re tapping into them for an altruistic cause.

Skill-building for future compensatory experiences & safe space to fail

Flipping what I just said on its head, while you have a ton of valuable skills to offer, you may not always accurately assess your utility. We are biased creatures and while you may think a job is perfect for you, volunteerism is a way to test out your interests and skills before jumping into a long-term role. Volunteerism offers exposure to skills and situations that teach you what you can do versus what you can do well. Capitalize on the chance to try ideas and challenge yourself in a safe space.

Cross-functional teamwork

Working with individuals from various disciplines is critical to the workplace of today. In a volunteer network, you can work regularly with individuals in roles from client-facing to IT development. Building relationships through cross-functional teamwork is beneficial to build your network and a fun way to learn about what other people do. It’s a way to research other types of roles within your company and can offer a ton of insight you would not otherwise have access to.

Bottom line: If you find something you are passionate about, have fun while getting invaluable experience for your long-term career. Stop sitting on your hands – raise them instead.

Meet Tiamoy W. She learned about Vanguard at a job fair and shortly after launched her career in Client Services.  “I think what excites me the most is getting on the phone and knowing that you’re going to change someone’s life.”

Watch her full story below:

Curious about our Client Services career opportunities? We’ve got you covered.

“The last two years have been intense. I had a baby, I started business school, I moved from New York City to Pennsylvania to start a new job at Vanguard. But when I think about it, I’m really happy. This has been the best career move and the way Vanguard supports its crew members to balance work and life has been amazing.”

Hear from Amrita T. as she shares her Vanguard story.

During this year’s Black History Month, Vanguard hosted a company-wide celebration, bringing crew together near and far.

The Vanguard Black Professional Network (VBPN) kicked off February with a keynote event featuring Mehrsa Baradaran, bank scholar, associate dean at the School of Law at the University of Georgia, and author of The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap.

In an effort to build connections globally, VBPN also introduced The Diaspora blog series, where crew shared personal stories that highlight the rich cultural heritage and diversity of the VBPN community.

We invite you to read the following excerpts from these #InclusionatVanguard stories that have also been shared personally on LinkedIn.

Algreen Bakasa’s Story

Today, I am heavily involved in the community both at work and outside of work, and strive to maximize every opportunity I receive by paying it forward. By helping create better opportunities for disadvantaged minority children and young adults, I hope they receive an opportunity that will change their trajectory like the one afforded me.

During this year’s Black History Month, I challenge you to take the time to really know the unique stories of those around you, learn their culture, and what makes them tick. As a global organization, Vanguard has crew from many diverse backgrounds with unique experiences and perspectives. What keeps me motivated each day is knowing that: “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Antonia Singleton’s Story

Growing up in Harlem, despite the crime and war on drugs, there were many fun, community uplifting and educational events and traditions that I loved to take part in with my family. My top three traditions were: attending the African American Day Parade in Harlem, The Million Youth March, and block parties during the summer on Saturdays. The African American Day Parade in Harlem was an opportunity for people around the world to come and celebrate black people and black culture in America just two short blocks away from where I grew up. My dad took my sister and I to the Million Youth March every year from inception until it tapered off. He wanted us to be aware of what was going on in the country with regards to the African American community and how we were treated. He wanted us to listen to and learn from the leaders in our community, as they usually shared what we could do as young black children in America to help make a difference.

Ajaa Jackson’s Story

Growing up with my grandmother, I gained a sincere appreciation for diverse cultures.  She taught me at an early age there were places far away from Sierra Vista, Arizona where people lived similarly yet differently from us. My grandmother spoke on the phone—to me what seemed like all the time—with family in Ethiopia and friends across the U.S. I would listen to her speak in Tigrinya, Italian, and English, sharing boastful laughter with family and friends. She also regularly hosted friends for coffee. The delight of roasted coffee bean smoke mixed with incense frequently permeated the house—a smell I’ll never forget. She loved bright colors, both in her home and clothing, which complemented her unquenchable zest for life.

Our family got to share my grandmother’s satisfaction of achieving her dream of becoming an American citizen in 2002.

Although she is no longer in this life with us, her spirit lives on in our family. She is preceded by her siblings in Axum, Ethiopia. In February, I will be taking what I hope is my first of many trips to Ethiopia. My grandmother’s love of Ethiopia has always fueled my desire to visit, and this trip is a lifelong dream come true!

Shauna Collick’s Story

While I’m blessed to have many amazing family members, the moment I was asked to write a blog representing a piece of my history, I immediately thought of my paternal grandmother. As a youth, I vividly remember when she would take me to nursing homes and hospitals. She would always tell me to smile at the patients, look them in the eye, and that it’s okay to give them a gentle touch of affection on their hand or shoulder. Because of that experience, I started having my daughter visit local nursing homes when she was in preschool. She would hand out her art work and it would inevitably be the highlight of someone’s day.

My grandmother demonstrated that you can rise up from poverty and live a fulfilling life if you put God first, work hard, pursue education, and use political, economic, and social influence to improve your community.

We sat down with seven leaders from across the organization to learn more about what sparks the strong sense of pride they feel in working for Vanguard. In this blog, you’ll hear directly from these individuals as they discuss how our client-first mentality and inclusive culture have shaped their professional experiences.

1. Christina Selby, Principal in Finance:

One thing I love about Vanguard is that everyone’s voices are being heard and taken into account as we make decisions and set strategy for the business. We want everyone to feel comfortable engaging, debating, and being an active member of our team.  The best thoughts come from a diverse team!

2. Steve Holman, Principal in Institutional Sales:

I truly believe that everyone at Vanguard is motivated to do what is best for our shareholders at all times, and we’ve had an incredibly beneficial impact to our investors and the marketplace overall. We’ve proved you can do the right thing and be very successful.

3. Joe Davis, Global Chief Economist and Principal:

I am proud of our mission – that we strive and exist to help investors with their long-term goals. Our culture and firm are aligned singularly to that mission. Not many firms around the world can say that.

4. Lisha Davis, Head of the Innovation Studio:

Vanguard is filled with kind people who are committed and share a common goal; our brand that’s growing to include things like innovation.

5. Kevin Jestice, Principal in Information Technology & Security:

For me, inclusion at Vanguard is about everyone being comfortable bringing their whole self to work and fostering an environment that promotes and appreciates differences. Everyone is unique and has real value to add in this world. Being inclusive is about appreciating that value and ensuring people are comfortable being themselves so they can achieve their full potential. The greater the diversity of backgrounds and ideas we bring to a challenge, the more creative and better the outcome.

6. Manuel Calero, Principal in Retail:

I came to this country and enrolled in school speaking no English, not knowing a single person, and generally didn’t have a clue about how the school systems worked. Almost every single teacher I had went out of their way to get to know me and guide me. Simply accepting me as just another student would have been ok, but they didn’t see that as an option. It was almost as if I was a family member they just had to help. I am forever indebted to those teachers from decades ago who reached out to me, and who taught me the importance of caring about and taking an active interest in others. They lived inclusion, which they knew to be a verb not an attitude or passive concept. To this day, I do my best to follow in their footsteps and set a similar example at Vanguard by doing as they did for me.

7. Jodi Miller, Principal in Retail:

Vanguard’s mission – always doing the right thing for our investors is at the core of everything we do.

Stay tuned to hear more from these leaders in the coming weeks.

Are you ready to make it count this year? Search our opportunities.

More careers blogs you may have missed

Everyday inclusion
Ken looks back on his inclusion story with humor and great pride. Covered lamp shades linked to the history of the people where he grew up.

What it means to be a thought leader
Vanguard Investment Analyst Sneha K. answers a common question: what is thought leadership?

10 years at Vanguard: our culture
In this video blog, five tenured Vanguard crew members talk about Vanguard’s culture of giving back and continuous improvement.