A majority of Vanguard crew have been working virtually for nearly a year. We’ve made several adjustments, never backing down from our mission to give our clients the best chance of investing success. We’ve adjusted as individuals, as teams, and as a company. Vanguard recently held a series of webinars about leading virtually for the long haul, hosted by virtual work pioneer Sacha Connor, CEO of Virtual Work Insider.

Sacha’s wisdom about working on a successful remote team brings value to all as she reminds us that this is not normal. Before the pandemic, a work-from-home environment was something that could be more controlled. Now we are juggling our work plus our families and household duties like never before, or as Sacha explained, we are experiencing work/life collision. It’s important to acknowledge that most of us have probably never experienced this type of environment and it’s not typical. We need to create conditions for ourselves and our teams so that we can do our best. It starts with empathy. Here are three considerations to keep in mind to achieve success:

Avoid bias
There are two key concepts that Sacha touched on – distance bias and recency bias. You’re not seeing your teammates throughout the day, casually or formally. Our tendency is to remember the last thing we heard or saw. This is not exclusive to remote work. You probably remember an important point from a meeting you just had, as opposed to something from last week. You have more conversations with those closer to you (especially with multiple office locations). You may unintentionally give these opinions more weight. Remember that you’re a team and everyone should be included. A quick tip is to post a photo of your teammates on your computer so that you don’t leave anyone out of the mix.

Distance bias – Tendency to put more value on the people closest in proximity to us. [A concept that originated from the NeuroLeadership Institute]

Recency bias – Tendency to put more value on the people we’ve heard from or seen more recently.

Remember that everyone is different
Focus on each person on your team. Just as we have different learning styles, we communicate differently and react to situations differently. As a team, set communication norms:

• Communication tool preferences.
• Speed of response expected.
• Verification of receipt of communication.
• Availability for live meetings.

Cut down on fatigue
Fatigue takes many forms, whether it’s too much communication, too much video time, or no set work hours. We’ve all seen tips on how to avoid burnout while working remotely, but here are some ways to specifically improve your team’s working environment:

• Be empathetic.
• Use “video mail” to replace a live FYI or update meeting.
• Mix in audio-only meetings to reduce video meeting fatigue.
• Find a trusted colleague who can provide you an early warning signal if someone on your team is struggling – what Sacha describes as a “canary”.
• Determine the right balance of live, real-time communication (like video meetings) and asynchronous communication like using Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Planner, and video-mail.

Are you unsure if you should have a meeting or just send an email?

• Purpose – Why are we having the meeting and is it necessary?
• Product – What is the specific desired outcome?
• Process – How will we facilitate the discussion and reach our goal?
• Pre-work – What can we do to prepare to expedite the meeting?
• People – What’s the smallest group that needs to attend?

The first step is to acknowledge our unique situation and have an open mind. We will need new solutions and flexibility. As we adapt, we’ll continue to succeed.

-Laura B.

Interested in reading Sacha’s 10 Top Tips from 10 Years of Remote Work? Click here.

The call that changed it all
I can still picture the day in my mind:

The grocery-store parking lot in which I curbed my car on a brisk winter day so I could take the introductory call from my Vanguard recruiter. Curious and cautious, I wasn’t sure “the corporate life” was for me. But I’d heard Vanguard’s different—and has been since its inception by John Bogle as a Main Street soul in a Wall Street world.

As you can tell by my writing a #LifeatVanguard blog, the recruiter call that day in the parking lot went well (as did the subsequent phone calls and interviews). One of the main reasons that Vanguard was so attractive to me as a job candidate is that it seemed like a place where I could find the coveted combination of longevity and variety.

I liked that Vanguard seemed to be a company where—with some initiative—I could stay but not get stagnant. I liked that it seemed to be a place that provides the option to cultivate a career comprised of different roles, lasting working relationships, and a strong sense of community. I liked that it seemed to offer chances in the midst of changes.

Thankfully, when I needed all of those perceptions to be true in my debut role at Vanguard, and through some organizational changes, they all were.

The power to steer your career proved to be true
Naturally, organizational change can bring unknowns. Seeing some uncertainty on the horizon but still being certain I wanted a long, vibrant Vanguard career, I seized opportunities to diversify my skills in ways that 1) advanced the value I could add to my teams; and 2) aligned with Vanguard’s implementation of new ways of working in the future.

Thanks to leaders in my subdivision, one such opportunity for diversification was LUMA Institute® Facilitator training. It was increasingly clear in company communications that Vanguard was encouraging more (and better) collaboration and was equipping cohorts of employees to obtain LUMA’s facilitator certification.

With a simpler approach to Human-Centered Design, LUMA facilitator training provided me with powerful tools and proven techniques for fostering collaboration in ways that generate innovative solutions after helping to identify the right problem to solve for in the first place.

I continue to bring that enriched approach to problem-solving to my present role, in addition to ad hoc facilitation opportunities that Vanguard’s LUMA-certified crew can undertake in support of other teams, in or beyond our own divisions.

Considerations for charting your own life at Vanguard
Whether you’re reading this as a fellow crew member currently working at Vanguard, or you’re reading this as a potential hire who’s thinking about applying to Vanguard, I offer these considerations from my own revelations in my first year and a half:

1. Remember that you are the captain of your career.
2. Don’t let your excuses ruin your chances.
3. Challenge your own comfort zone.
4. Look for career advocates to help you navigate.

To be candid, no organization is perfect. But in my overall 15-year career, Vanguard is exceptional in many respects, both past and present. This also makes me hopeful for its future—and mine, too— and shows that a little initiative will continue to go a long way.

-Rebecca H.

In a previous blog titled, Vanguard’s annual Collaboration Summit, we shared insights into a two-day virtual event we recently held that focused on the digital and collaboration experiences both internal and external to Vanguard. During the summit, Bridget P., a wellness coach at Vanguard’s CrewCare clinic, presented on re-evaluating your remote work routine. Here are some key takeaways:

The work set up

• Pick your schedule and stick to it. Revisit at the end of the week to make sure it’s working.
• Schedule self-care activities (meals, exercise, stress relief) and take small breaks throughout the day.
• Be clear with others about when you are available and not available.
• Create a dedicated office space that is not near the kitchen or living room, if possible. Stay away from distractions.

Think about your transition in and out of the workday. Set up a morning routine to ease the transition and prepare for the day. You probably don’t have a commute, so use the extra time wisely. Finally, decide what trigger will let you know to stop working. For example, time to feed the dog, cook dinner, or help kids with homework. When it’s that time, clock out!

Boundaries

• Set your boundaries between work and personal life – communicate these boundaries with your manager and team.
• Delegate work when needed.
• Don’t feel bad saying “no” if you don’t have time, but be prepared to be flexible.

Don’t forget about technological boundaries! You can turn off work notifications when you’re finished with the work day. Delete apps that aren’t serving a purpose and are distracting. You can also set rules for your emails if you’re an Outlook user so that you get priority messages immediatey and have others wait in a folder until you have more time. Try to stay away from your phone during meal times and put it away an hour or two before you go to sleep.

Avoid burnout

• Recognize the self-inflicted pressure of trying to “prove” you’re working when no one can see you.
• Use your paid time off. You need a break, especially if you’re feeling tired, withdrawn, angry or irritated.
• Reach out to a counselor or friend if you need to talk.
• Stick to a routine.

Sticking to a balance could be the key to feeling more “normal.” You’ll probably have more screen time, but some of it may be connecting with friends, community groups, and other organizations. Balance this with off-screen time, whether you’re enjoying the outdoors, connecting with loved ones on the phone, or simply relaxing. Embrace boredem for once! Our environment is constantly changing – take the time to think about your routines and reassess on a regular basis.

At Vanguard, we host an annual event for all crew that focuses on the digital experience and promotes awareness of collaboration practices, tools, and experiences both inside and outside of the company. 2020 marked the fourth year that the Collaboration Summit was held. In prior years, the summit was a full day, in-person conference offering keynote presentations from external speakers, interactive technology-focused sessions and soft skills, an expo hall showcasing internal and external representatives, as well as networking opportunities. In 2020, we moved to a completely virtual event given the majority of crew were working from home. To reduce virtual meeting fatigue, the summit was split into two half days, with a morning agenda for day one and an afternoon agenda for day two.

What was presented at the 2020 event?

The theme of this year’s Collaboration Summit was “Working Together in Times of Uncertainty.” Keynote presentations were provided by executive leaders from Microsoft and Deloitte and focused on Microsoft’s PowerPlatform (low/no code technology) and working remotely in the ‘new normal,’ respectively. Various sessions were held during the two-day event. Topics included:

• Back to basics using Microsoft Office 365
• Using the accessibility options in Microsoft Office 365
• Work-life balance during quarantine
• Identifying your working style to work better with your team
• Disconnecting from technology
• Getting started with no code/low code solutions

Crew were provided with breaks throughout the day where they could participate in instructor-led chair yoga and/or browse our virtual 3D Expo Hall and speak to representatives via Microsoft Teams Meetings. If crew were not able to attend the event, all content and sessions were recorded and provided for them to view after the event was complete.

Crew feedback

Response to this year’s virtual event was overwhelmingly positive. Crew feedback was collected throughout the event for keynotes and sessions. Here are a few highlights:

“Great information, I LOVED the back and forth between the two presenters, as it showed connectedness and wisdom from both. I felt it was balanced in the time spent with the two people talking. The chat interaction was GREAT! I felt engaged and took a lot out of the presentation.”

“This was a great session to remind individuals they need to disconnect. The 100% remote working environment, coupled with the lessened number of activities makes it easy to forget to focus on work/life balance.”

“I thought this was a topic that isn’t covered very often (Accessibility as a Differentiator) and was thrilled to see it here. It was very informative, and I really enjoyed it.”

One million. That is the number of students Vanguard’s My Classroom Economy (MyCE) program has reached since its launch just under a decade ago. My Classroom Economy is a free financial literacy program and classroom management system for teachers that allows students to learn financial responsibility through hands-on learning. My Classroom Economy, and its sister program My Home Economy (for parents and guardians), are entirely powered by volunteers across Vanguard. These crew dedicate time and talent outside of their “day jobs” to fuel a “passion project” that is part of Vanguard’s suite of community programs. For me, my “day job” is in our business that serves financial advisors, specifically Registered Investment Advisors. In my role as Channel Lead, my team works with our sales group and clients to develop and execute strategy for how we can best serve this important client base. Within MyCE, I’ve volunteered in a number of roles and am proud to currently serve as the Program Chair.

Anyone that knows me has heard me say that MyCE is the perfect marriage of two of my passions- education and personal finance. Before I came to Vanguard I completed the Teach for America program, teaching seventh grade math at a school in Charlotte, North Carolina. I found my way to Vanguard by following a tip received from teammates on an intramural kickball team and channeling my finance degree. I started at Vanguard in Client Services, helping clients meet their investment needs. I remember a colleague leaning over my desk and making the connection that as a former teacher, I might want to learn about this financial literacy program Vanguard offered. I went to an information session and was hooked. My Classroom Economy linked what I loved about my pre-Vanguard career with my current one, allowing me to stay deeply connected to the education community, while growing professionally with a company I love.

I’m exceptionally proud of our recent milestone of reaching one million students. But to me, it is more than just a milestone. It is a million lives impacted and put on a more responsible financial trajectory because of the dedication of their teachers and the passion of a volunteer team. In pausing to celebrate this manifestation of how volunteer hours have made a real difference, I also was struck not only by what I’ve given to the program over the years, but what it has given me. My time with MyCE not only helped me continue to feel fulfilled professionally, but it also has played a pivotal role in driving my career at Vanguard. My peers in the program would say the same about their own experiences. Again, more than just a milestone.

After seven and a half years and several different “day jobs” at Vanguard, I’ve realized that my volunteer roles allowed me to learn new skillsets and pursue interests before making career leaps. I took on a strategic assignment with MyCE, analyzing options for a potential program expansion before joining Vanguard’s Corporate Strategy group as an analyst. MyCE helped me learn how to be a people leader, first by leading the MyCE team in North Carolina and then stepping into the Program Chair seat, leading the full volunteer team of roughly 150 crew. Along the way I’ve had the chance to sharpen skills in public speaking, stakeholder management and even sales, all of which have translated to my “day jobs”.

As I think about the next million kids that My Classroom and My Home Economy will impact, I’m confident that impact will continue to extend to those volunteers behind the scenes who power the program. I think it is so important to find a place to give back that allows you to pursue a passion. That passion will be what keeps you coming back to give your time year after year. And while you’re there, embrace the opportunities to sharpen your skills and learn new things. You might not realize it at the time (I certainly didn’t), but you might just be laying the foundation for your next career move.

-Meg T.

Communities around the world faced unprecedented need in 2020. Throughout these difficult times, Vanguard crew were a constant force for good. With all of their help, we made an incredibly positive impact in our local communities. In this blog, we celebrate some of the amazing ways our crew have shown their support of the communities where we work and live. Here’s to accomplishing great things in 2021 as well.

My Classroom Economy Financial Education Program

To help students learn financial responsibility, our crew developed a free curriculum that enables teachers to build the financial literacy of K–12 students through fun, experiential learning. Through the program, students gain money management skills and learn the importance of long-term
planning, responsible budgeting, and delayed gratification.

Vanguard Strong Start for Kids Program

Our signature charitable initiative, the Vanguard Strong Start for Kids ProgramTM, gives young children growing up in poverty in Greater Philadelphia, Charlotte, Phoenix, and London the opportunity to grow, thrive, and learn, with a focus on improving school readiness. Our philanthropic program is supported by our crew’s volunteer time and talent along with generous contributions during the annual giving campaign, including a 100% company match and additional corporate dollars.

Hometown Grants Program

The Hometown Grants Program provides community grants to nonprofit agencies in the communities near where Vanguard operates. Funded by the Vanguard Group Foundation, the program is run by local Investment Committees made up of crew volunteers who select and vet the giving strategies and grantees. These grants complement the Vanguard Strong Start for Kids Program by targeting needs in a community outside our strategic focus on early childhood. The Hometown Grants Program currently operates an invitation-only grants process from Vanguard’s Greater Philadelphia, Charlotte, Phoenix, and London offices.

Matching Gift Program

The Matching Gift Program, available year-round, enhances crew’s ability to give collectively with focused impact on early childhood and to magnify personal giving to other charitable causes.

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our Data & Analytics and Information Technology & Security career opportunities.

The end of the year is often a time to reflect on all that’s been accomplished in the last twelve months. 2020 was a unique year and we pulled together the top five career stories for you. Whether it’s your first read or you’re revisiting a favorite, we hope you enjoy!

Diverse perspectives in Vanguard’s Investment Management Group

In the spirit of celebrating International Women’s Day, we partnered with women across Vanguard’s Investment Management Group (IMG) to hear their #LifeatVanguard stories. In this series, crew and leaders touch on a variety of meaningful topics, including what drew them to Vanguard, resources used for learning, company culture and advice for women looking to join IMG.

A week in the life of a newly remote worker: Part one

Laura B. opens up about her experiences working from home at the start of the pandemic. Interested in the second installment, too? Check it out here.

How to prepare for a virtual interview

A virtual interview may not differ much from an in-person meeting, but there are still things you should keep in mind. We have pulled together some tips to ensure you are prepared and camera-ready.

Managing it all while working from home

In the month of May, the Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success (WILS) crew resource group coordinated two internal webcasts focused on working from home featuring female leaders from across Vanguard. This blog highlights the first event. Interested in the recap of the second session as well? Click here.

What a career in the Leadership Development Programs looks like

The mission of the Vanguard Specialty Programs (VSPs) is to advance Vanguard’s core purpose by delivering the next generation of talented and diverse leaders through focused attraction and accelerated development. In this blog, we highlight excerpts from articles our VSP managers recently published that provide insights into the personal experiences of alumni as well as crew who are currently participating in the undergraduate programs.

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our Data & Analytics and Information Technology & Security career opportunities.

Giving Season is a time for crew to help children and families by donating time and gifts to ensure that the holiday season is bright. Although we weren’t able to host any wrapping or shopping parties in person this year, teams across Vanguard came together virtually to help children and families in need. In this blog, our crew share how they were able to uphold Vanguard traditions.

I’ve been the Operations Lead for Giving Season for the past three years.  As soon as the pandemic hit in spring, our Giving Season team pivoted to determine how this program – beloved by our crew and more important than ever to our community – could be adapted for our new reality. Running our traditional campaign was definitely not in the cards, but we were able to work with Vanguard’s Community Stewardship team to introduce an online gift giving platform that delivers to nonprofits. This allowed us to stand up a “virtual” Giving Season with our partner agencies this year. It could be described as a “gift registry” experience. We are so pleased that the Vanguard crew here in the U.S. exceeded our targets for the campaign. Crew also had the opportunity to donate money directly to Toys 4 Tots, since we couldn’t be on campus to do collection bins this year.  What’s more, Vanguard provided matching funds for all of our gifts! The spirit of giving is certainly still strong at Vanguard! – Mark O., RIG Project Manager

In lieu of our annual gift wrapping pizza party, the Office of General Counsel (OGC) Systems team met virtually over lunch to play a Thanksgiving trivia game and do some online shopping for families in need. It was convenient to have a few different options for giving this year, and the opportunity to double our gifts with Vanguard’s 100% match was wonderful! At Vanguard, Giving Season is not just about buying presents or donating money; it’s also about coming together as a team to help others in our community who need it most.
– Joy U., Technical Project Manager

In this environment, selecting a charity to give a donation to couldn’t be easier. You can purchase goods, provide a monetary donation to your favorite charity, or shop for holiday gifts for children. You can donate as an individual or work with your team to make a group contribution. Thanks to Vanguard for making it easy for us to give! – Barbara W., Change Analyst

For two decades, Vanguard crew have donated gifts for children in our communities around the holidays to deliver joy to families in need. As our 2020 virtual environment extended from winter to spring to early summer, it became clear that we were going to need to pivot quickly to ensure we could still make an impact while also keeping our crew and partners safe. Through the hard work and imagination of several dedicated crew, we developed a virtual solution in partnership with several charitable agencies that enabled crew to shop securely online in a custom registry based on wish lists provided by the children our program supports. While it felt different this year, crew were thrilled to still be able to make a difference at the holidays! – Will S., Senior Product Owner and corporate program manager for Giving Season

If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our Data & Analytics and Information Technology & Security career opportunities.

Every year, there are a number of events that we look forward to participating in with our partner, The Robert Toigo Foundation. In October, Toigo held their Groundbreakers Women in Leadership Summit and, due to its virtual offering, we had the chance to involve more crew and provide them with an opportunity to focus on their personal and professional development. In addition, we also had the pleasure of Vernita Exum, Principal and Head of Equity Index in Europe, representing Vanguard in a panel discussion focusing on Navigating the New Normal.

With the conference hosting a variety of sessions over a three day span, we wanted to capture the perspectives of our crew who were able to attend. We asked them a few questions about their experience, and we were thrilled with the positive feedback we received. Here is what they had to say:

What was your biggest takeaway from one of the sessions you attended?

Who we are and where we came from, however defined by society, is not a limit. On the contrary, our experiences offer extraordinary value and perspective to creativity, problem solving and decision-making to any organization. – Rebecca C.

I received excellent tips for seeking feedback. Positive feedback is not the same as praise. Frequent, specific, and behavioral feedback accelerates development. – Jaliya F.

Being more deliberate in creating space for storytelling and authentic conversations, while supporting others as life and work become one in this virtual environment, is key. – Christina S.

Not having enough time is not our problem. It’s distraction. – Rashanda P.

How will you apply any lessons you learned to your personal or professional life?

For me, it is not just about sharing my perspective, but about listening and being on the lookout for diverse voices that can add to the fullness of our understanding as an organization. – Rebecca C.

I plan to look for more opportunities to give my team regular feedback, especially during this time when I don’t interact with them daily. For example, sitting in on a meeting for a specific purpose of being able to provide feedback even though I don’t need to be there. Doing a better job of asking for specific, behavioral feedback about myself, rather than asking for generic feedback. – Jaliya F.

I’ll aim to be more forgiving of myself as I manage home-life and work-life all hours of the day. Further, I’ll be focusing more of our team time on diversity and inclusion topics and learning about each other – what makes us different, what makes us better working as a team because of the differences. – Christina S.

I’ve immediately implemented non-distraction signals that include hanging a stop sign on my door for others and turning off email notifications during high focus times throughout my day. — Rashanda P.

One of the reasons we so highly value our relationship with Toigo is because they are always seeking to give back. Evident from the responses of our crew, there is no doubt that what they have gained from this year’s summit will benefit them for years to come. We look forward to continue building on our relationship. To learn more about the foundation, visit its website here.

Change has been one of the biggest themes of 2020. But one thing that won’t alter this holiday season is our hope and gratitude we have for friends, family, and co-workers. Vanguard crew have been resilient, adapting to the new environment. In this blog, they share the silver linings and lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Working from home has provided extra time to connect with family members and colleagues. We asked crew what have been some of the great, unexpected outcomes of our virtual working environment.

Many things about the current work environment are challenging—my toddler has been home from daycare, my husband’s business has been shut down, and I’ve been getting ready to welcome our second child. In the beginning I struggled to feel like I was doing my best at work or at home, but one morning, I realized how special it was to have breakfast together as a family. I typically would head to the office before my husband and son were out of bed. Now it’s something I look forward to everyday! – Lindsay B.

The biggest silver-lining for me has been the personal relationships I have been able to foster with those I work with. I really pride myself on engaging with people at the human level, and this new environment has really opened the door for an entirely new level of connection. We are getting to share a more authentic version of ourselves—seeing my colleagues interact with their kids and pets has been really special. I know at times we try to hide these things because we are “working” but I love the imperfect nature of our new environments and enjoy seeing our guards lower to be more human. – Shannon M.

I have gained the commute time and can now be with family more. I also never spent so much time with my partner on a daily basis, apart from when we were on holiday. It’s actually nice to work separately, but together, everyday! – Colette v.U.

Being away from the office and the people I have worked with for so long has made me appreciate the wonderful relationships I have made over so many years. It has also reminded me of the immense value of being together on a daily basis for better collaboration in carrying out our core purpose at Vanguard: “To take a stand for all investors, treat them fairly, and give them the best chance for investment success.” – Jim C.

When asked about the best leadership lessons learned during this time, our leaders weighed in.

The best lesson I have learned during lockdown is listen to yourself and be honest with yourself and your team about how you feel. I’ve enjoyed open conversations with team members and crew from around the world on how we have all been feeling and valued the support we have all given each other. – Lisa H.

Just talking to people has become so much easier—and more important. Whether it’s chatting on video or over the phone, the power of connecting with others is unmistakably important, especially now. It’s an absolutely wonderful way to work and the entire team has taken to it very well. – Michael M.

Be patient. People are dealing with a lot of uncertainty. Be sure to connect with everyone in the department at some point and let them know you care about them. – Christine F.

Living through uncertain times can be scary and make us feel like it is new and unprecedented. However, perspective is important. Remember that those who came before us also faced adversity and moments of crisis. Talking with others about our feelings really helps in making connections and understanding that we are not alone in how we feel. – Jim C.

Just say hi. It’s so easy to reach out to someone you haven’t seen or talked to since working from home started because you’re not bumping into them in the cafeteria or between buildings. I’ve been actively trying to say hello apart from any kind of business justification for getting in touch. It’s nice to get an email in your inbox that isn’t asking for anything other than a friendly response. We’re all consumed with making sure our work gets done, but it’s refreshing to read a note about what someone did for their Father’s Day, or what summer plans they have, or what great show they’ve watched recently. It’s easy to take a few minutes to reach out to a couple people to just say, “Hi.” – Brian B.