Culture Archives - Vanguard Careers

What a career on our Client Experience and Digital team looks like

Career opportunities, Diversity & inclusion

Managing it all while working from home with small children

Personal Advisor Services establishes essential partnerships with Vanguard’s Crew Resource Groups

Reflections of an Oversight and Manager Search Analyst

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Diversity & inclusion, In the community

Managing it all while working from home

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Managing it all while working from home with small children

Everyone sees the perfect parents on social media. They create schedules, bake banana bread, and plan creative activities for their children every day. But that might not look like your household. Vanguard’s Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success (WILS), an employee resource group, sponsored a virtual chat to discuss the realities of working from home with small children as part of its “Managing it All” series. Panelists included Theresa Westwood, a department head in Vanguard’s Financial Advisor Services, Tiffany Haley, Principal and Senior Human Resources Business Partner, Rashanda Perryman, Program Officer of Vanguard Community Stewardship, and Liz Waldron, Head of Digital and Marketing in Europe.

Here are some of the tips they shared:

You’re not alone in this. What I learned fairly early on was that despite what I was seeing on Pinterest and Instagram, this is not going to be the moment when I become the best ever version of myself – not as a wife, mother, a friend, etc. I made all of these plans – set up a fancy home school in the living room, build a family command center complete with a whiteboard, and finally make those meal plans – but literally none of this is happening, and it’s ok. You know why? There’s a pandemic. It’s hard out here. They make it look so easy on Instagram, but that’s just not my life. I had to set a better standard for myself.
— Tiffany

In my home, we practice “I need a minute” moments. Everyone from adults to children can call a time-out and take a breather…alone. To collect themselves, to go to a quiet space, to play alone – whatever they need – and we all have learned to respect that time each of us needs. Even my four year old has learned what it means “to need a minute.”
— Rashanda

Don’t compare yourself to others. Comparison often leads to discontentment at the best of times – but now it can be even worse. Live your own story and know that your best is good enough. Your children’s mental health and happiness is more important than doing that extra piece of work. Focus on achieving the key things, like numeracy and literacy, and don’t stress about the rest. Accept that perfection is impossible and learn to let go.
— Liz

I’d offer the guidance to just be kind to yourself and try to stick to a routine. It’s not possible to be a full-time parent/teacher and full-time worker and be 100% at both at all times. What I’ve found that works for me is to try to keep the kids on a schedule. We get up and eat breakfast at the same time we normally would, start and end school around the same time, etc. And, I block chunks of time early in the day before meetings, at lunch, or where I can to help them with homework and to engage with them. On weekends, I try to spend as much time as possible with them and be present. It’s hard to juggle it all, and every day isn’t a good day, but we’re all doing our best during this time.
— Theresa

Tiffany Haley

Rashanda Perryman

Liz Waldron

Theresa Westwood

For those without children, the group discussed how they could support those trying to work from home with small children amid the pandemic. Tips shared include checking in with their employees with children, providing flexibility to get work done at the time and in a way that worked for their schedule, and showing empathy during this difficult time.

Theresa shared, “I feel fortunate to work for a company that has offered a lot of flexibility and benefits to allow me to still achieve my personal goals and to be there for my family.”

Further, Rashanda chimed in, “We’re all struggling to figure out what this new normal means. I think there’s an opportunity in this situation for us all to show empathy to each other, whether we are parents or not.”

Interested in reading more from the WILS Managing it All series? Click here for the first installment.

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A voyage of discovery

June 17, 2020/in Culture, Diversity & inclusion d&i, diversity, diversity and inclusion, employee, employee resource, europe, european, group, inclusion, journey, knew, learn, learning, open, resource, role, role in inclusion, team, work, world /by kkilgarriff

A voyage of discovery

My inclusion journey at Vanguard began about three years ago when I was working in marketing. The European business was in the process of setting up a local branch of the employee resource group, Out Professional Engagement Network (OPEN), and one of my friends on my team, Alice, encouraged me to get involved. I jumped at the chance because, while I think of myself as forward-thinking and educated, I also knew there was so much more I could learn.

And my goodness, I have learnt a lot. I moved into Human Resources in 2018 to take up my current job as Learning and Development Manager for Europe in the U.K. and, in this role, I get to dive a lot deeper into the world of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I). I’ve since helped to set up a group dedicated to mental health awareness, which has proven to be very timely, given where we are today. Additionally, I also chair our European Diversity and Inclusion Council, which helps to ensure all of our work on this topic is consistent.

It’s been a steep learning curve for me. But although I have picked up many new skills and D&I terminology, what I have really found is something I knew all along: that the world is a much better place if we are curious to learn about others and respectful of each other’s differences. That’s a mantra that I hope I have passed on to my children as well as those that I lead, both formally and informally.

Thinking about today’s unique circumstances, inclusion has never been more important. Often, it’s the small things that count. I’m fortunate to have a comfortable house and a lovely family to help me through lockdown, but I always try to remember that others may not be so lucky. So I’ve made a point of reaching out to people that I miss from the office who may be struggling. It only takes a few minutes to have a quick video exchange and it can brighten my day and, hopefully, theirs.

It’s also been an honour to be part of the team that has re-shaped Vanguard’s course for crew, Your Role in Inclusion, for a virtual world. It’s a great example of how combining different perspectives can create a better outcome.

By the time this is published, I will have facilitated the first pilot session alongside my friend Cathy, who is the chair of OPEN Europe and has put such a lot of positive energy into our D&I work in Europe. She deserves a lot of credit for role-modelling inclusion in her daily work.

I often muse that, with London being one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, D&I is a different challenge here compared with the U.S. The past couple of months have brought out the best in the UK population, but they have also reminded us that there is still tension lurking below the surface. We all have further to go on our D&I journey, and I’m looking forward to taking the next steps as I continue to work with our employee resource groups in Europe to roll out the global Your Role in Inclusion virtual sessions more broadly.

—James B.

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Managing it all while working from home

June 3, 2020/in Culture, Diversity & inclusion all amber, amber c, best practices, home, laura, laura s, members, panel, principal, shared, time, vanguard, virtual, virtual panel, wils, wils members, work, work from home, working, working from home /by fanwar

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. I had the opportunity to facilitate the first virtual panel discussion with Amber Czonstka, Principal of Institutional Large Market Sales, and Laura Symon Browne, Principal of Broker Dealer Strategic Sales, both of whom have worked from home offices for several years. These two fantastic leaders shared their insights and best practices with nearly 1,200 Vanguard crew members from around the globe and talked about how life and work are different now during the pandemic.

While I was nervous to facilitate an event with so many coworkers eager for advice (wifi don’t fail me now!), supporting WILS members is very important to me as a program lead for Vanguard’s retail division. I also know how challenging the shift to work from home has been for many, myself included.

Since mid-March, my husband and I have both been working from home. During the day, we barricade ourselves in our shared workspace – a spare bedroom in the attic. We feel very lucky that we have assistance during the day with our two-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, who get the run of the rest of the house. At first, my children hated us being home without having access to us all day. Now that we have a loose routine, we all look forward to lunch together and I can check in on them throughout the day without triggering a meltdown. I shared with the virtual panel attendees that it has been much harder for me to focus now that life isn’t “compartmentalized” into work and home. As I’m sitting in virtual meetings, I might be thinking about the laundry piling up. As I’m eating dinner with my family, I might be tempted to send a few work emails. The way that I’ve combatted the distraction is by taking a little extra time in the morning to do the house chores worrying me and making really strong to-do lists for the workday so that I know what I need to accomplish before I leave “the attic.”

Amber also talked to the panelists about the importance of “preserving the morning commute” and taking that time to get active or do something for yourself. This really resonated for me. When I begin my day by going for a long walk with the dog, I’m just much more grounded. I also find that I’m more productive if I get out of the sweatpants and put on a blouse and jeans at a minimum. It boosts my confidence, makes me feel like I am dressed for my day, and separates the week from the weekend.

Laura had great advice for those who are trying to maintain and deepen team connection remotely during this very challenging time. She emphasized how critical communication is when working from home, and shared that she supports her teams by encouraging cross-sharing about the frustrations, challenges and concerns everyone is facing.

Laura S. with her work from home companions

Amber C. in her home workspace

Speaking with the panelists personally following the event, here is what they had to share:

Amber C: As I talked with Laura, Danielle, and our WILS members, the power of community became clear – particularly during a time like this. It might feel like we are all facing different challenges, from caring for young children while working, to worrying about family members on the front lines, to professionally advocating for ourselves in a virtual working environment. But there are members of our tribe who are dealing with similar issues. Sharing best practices, ideas, and stories with each other and creating a safe space to be vulnerable makes us all stronger, healthier, and more productive. The WILS network matters now more than ever; we can learn so much from one another.

Laura S.: The opportunity to connect with my female and male colleagues across Vanguard who are facing many of the same issues was special. It’s a reassuring feeling that we have each other’s back during these times, and that we’ll all emerge stronger and more convicted in our passion for investors as a result of this.

I’m looking forward to this two part series expanding in the future as we all support one another during this unprecedented time!
—Danielle C.

Stay tuned for a recap on the second panel focused specifically on parents managing small children and work from the home. It features Theresa Westwood, a department head in Vanguard’s Financial Advisor Services, Tiffany Haley, Principal and Senior Human Resources Business Partner, Rashanda Perryman, Program Officer of Vanguard Community Stewardship, and Liz Waldron, Head of Digital and Marketing in Europe.

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Three steps for breaking the mold

May 20, 2020/in Advice from crew, Culture build, career, challenge, crew, feedback, group, hiring, hiring process, leader, leaders, leadership, leadership team, people, people leadership, process, role, senior, technology, understand, vision /by kkilgarriff

Three steps for breaking the mold

I began my school career with a passion for building things and anything involving numbers. The spread of computers and the Internet led me to study Engineering and Math. I hold a Bachelor of Technology degree from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Madras) and a Master of Science from Pennsylvania State University (University Park). I joined Vanguard in 2001, and after several roles, I am now a Senior IT Program Manager supporting Vanguard’s Office of General Counsel, responsible for providing technology solutions for Legal and Compliance teams. Additionally, I am a member of Vanguard’s crew resource group, Leadership and Engagement for Asian Professionals (LEAP).

Posing with colleagues.

Beliefs, values and cultural stereotypes can keep you from seeing how far you might go in your career. If you choose, it is possible to change your perspective and challenge preconceived notions about what you can do. As someone who never considered people leadership as a viable career option, I have learned a few things along the way which allowed me to break out of the mold. Growing up in an Asian culture, I focused more on building subject matter expertise only, always deferring to authority and never speaking up unless asked. These rules influenced how I saw my career options, especially in an American corporate culture where my strengths didn’t necessarily align with typical leadership traits.

Looking back on my journey, here are three approaches that helped me:

1. Use Feedback

I’ve always stayed open to feedback, whether it was from my leaders, peers or crew reporting to me. Feedback enables you to figure out how to create a concrete path forward to achieve your professional goals and prepare for your next role. I give credit to my leaders and peers for providing ongoing feedback that helped me grow into the leader I am today, despite my somewhat limited view of my career trajectory. I still vividly recall when I was seeking advice from a leader and he brought up the idea of pursuing a people leadership opportunity. My immediate response was, “No way! What makes you think I can do that?” The thought had never occurred to me. When I reflected on the recommendation, I realized I had mentally blocked the idea as I hadn’t seen a senior leader who looked or acted like me.

Being able to observe someone who has similar experiences and background enables you to see outside the mold. But role models are not always readily available. My recommendation would be to build a strong support network and actively seek feedback from that group to understand the opportunities that might be available to you. Remember, feedback is a gift.

2. Be Fearless in Taking Risks

My career has taught me it can be transformative to experience discomfort. Even if it feels scary, taking a leap of faith can move you into new realms. Having the courage to speak up and express my thoughts was a big challenge for me. I appreciated how my leaders encouraged me throughout my career to share my thinking and put forth my ideas for tackling problems.

An example I can share is from my role as the Head of Workforce Planning for Information Technology (IT). When I was first asked to consider the position, I was reluctant since it didn’t align with my strengths. The job responsibilities were completely out of my comfort zone, not requiring any direct IT skillsets, like using technology to build products. After my initial hesitation, I decided to take it on as a way to build additional skills. For one of my early challenges, I was tasked with scaling up our crew hiring from 30 people per year to over 300 per year. At the same time, I wanted to modernize our hiring process so it fit the needs of the new, fast-moving IT group. Working with the IT Senior Leadership team and HR, I created a new hiring process. This included real-time programming tests, as well as hiring managers asking more deliberate, open-ended questions to truly understand the candidate’s thinking process. My leadership team stood behind me, and the new approach proved successful at identifying the right people as we continued to meet our growing hiring needs while keeping the bar high for talent.

3. Expand Your Vision

I believe a critical skill for being a successful leader is to have a strong vision. As your career journey evolves, you need to look farther afield for strategic advantages that can help define a future state for your business and assure its success for years to come. To build this vision, it is important to understand how the world is changing, from both a business and a technology perspective. At Vanguard, by setting our sights beyond the technology and financial services industries, new inspiration can bring innovative solutions and new ways of working. I find it equally vital to have the conviction to follow your vision, even if it is unconventional.

I believe that with an open mind and a willingness to take risks, you can challenge and break out of molds.

—Srinath C.

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May 6, 2020/in Advice from crew, Culture all call, calls, change, check, enjoyed, enlightening and empowering, meeting, mentors, network, office, personal, skip-level, thanks, time, together, touch, video, video call, working, working remotely /by fanwar

Expanding my network shrunk my world

A few weeks ago, I ended the week on a high. Why? Two video calls boosted my spirits and prompted me to make a simple change.

Two calls sparked the change

The first was a morning skip-level video call with my manager’s manager to discuss a new assignment. I was surprised when he asked a personal question: “How are you doing?” My short reply (“very well, thanks”) didn’t cut it; I realized that this meeting was also a “check in” with me. I elaborated on what it was like working among my new office mates (my family) and enjoyed sharing how I let my teen know when she could enter my office. Less than five minutes was all it took to set the stage for good feelings throughout the day.

The second call I had was with one of my mentors, someone I’ve known for most of my career. She and I worked together and have stayed in touch, although it has been difficult lately with living in different time zones. Receiving her call, out of the blue, and catching up was a nice boost.

These two calls made me realize that now, more than ever, I needed to stay close to those in my own network. I recalled how last year a former colleague posted on LinkedIn immediately after I had connected with him. He wrote, “Check in with your mentors, I guarantee you they can help. Just checked in with one of mine; it was enlightening and empowering.” I knew I needed to get in touch with my network and be “enlightening and empowering” to others.

Small changes, big results

I reached out to someone who was new to my company. Working remotely when you’re four months into a new job likely wasn’t easy! Taking a page out of my skip-level meeting, I started our call by asking how she was doing and used the opportunity to share a little about myself. The time flew by and together we came up with a plan to build her network.

I recently had another week end on a high as well. I had a video call with another senior leader at my company, as suggested by a mutual colleague. We’d done the “schedule shuffle” for a few months. It was energizing to make a personal connection and discover both educational and professional parallels.

This may not seem like a lot, but making personal connections has been positive for me during these past few weeks. Along with many at Vanguard, I have embraced our strong networking culture and enjoyed with individuals in person in our galleys (cafeterias). In this “virtual new world,” I’m making new connections and rekindling with colleagues from the past, without an impact on my schedule.

This change has strengthened and expanded my network and has made the world seem a bit smaller.

Note: I’ve been thinking of writing an article on networking and this COVID-19 era of working remotely seemed like the right time to publish it. Thanks for following!

—Lynn E.

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Vanguard’s ShipShape trainers help crew cope at home

Staying active, focusing on a healthy diet, and getting adequate sleep are essential to maintaining optimal health. However, as we settle into our new working environment, we recognize this can be a challenge for times when we might feel anxious or don’t have access to typical resources like gyms or group exercise classes. We asked our trainers with EXOS, the company behind Vanguard’s ShipShape fitness facilities, to provide insights into the current service offering for crew and to share tips for getting creative with incorporating healthy habits into your daily routine at home. Further, Vanguard crew have also weighed in to share feedback about their recent wellness experiences.

EXOS Senior Program Manager Andrew B. touches on Vanguard’s virtual wellness offer

At EXOS, our goal is to upgrade lives through our four pillars of performance: mindset, nutrition, movement and recovery. Now more than ever, our ShipShape members and the crew at Vanguard need a sense of normalcy to get through this unprecedented time. When ShipShape centers closed in mid-March, our team quickly responded to pull together the following fitness service offering that has been made available to all crew:

22 live group exercise classes available virtually each week.
Healthy breaks, designed to reenergize or de-stress during the workday, and to allow crew to learn more about physical and emotional well-being.
EXOS Live Well blog: this page offers great tips and resources to support your brain and body.
Access to a wellness app, which provides over 500 on-demand workout videos, including no-equipment options for every age, interest, and ability.

Vanguard crew open up about their fitness regimens

Working out is a part of my daily routine, so I’m pretty set here at home in the way of space and equipment. But having access to the home workouts has really helped to add variety and motivation. It’s a great way to take that necessary break, and the coaches do an excellent job.
—Kim U.

Staying active was a major concern for me when I realized we’d be working remotely for an extended time. I take advantage of our ShipShape fitness center as much as I can, but now I’m on my own! What I’ve been trying to do is exercise before I open up my laptop in the morning, and then again in late afternoon after closing up shop. It’s a great way to clear my head and refocus. Usually I walk around the neighborhood, or if I’m lucky, I can play basketball with my teenage sons or get a family backyard volleyball game going. I’ve also been working with a ShipShape specialist who customized a workout plan that I can do without a ton of equipment. Her input has been fabulous! Now, if I can just stay away from the fridge . . .
—Jeff B.

Because our family is usually on the go, we have really had to make sure we are squeezing in daily workouts during this long work/school from home period. I have been taking advantage of our awesome virtual Ship Shape classes, online yoga sessions through my local studio, and completing my daughter’s assigned soccer workouts with her. I also try to take a quick walk during the day to get fresh air and, if I am lucky, I can slip outside to shoot a quick round of HORSE with the whole family. While we all want to stay physically fit during this time, the one thing we quickly realized is the importance of maintaining this physical activity as a way to maintain good mental health, too—both are so important!
—Kym G.

ShipShape’s EXOS trainers share tips that can help you cope

Mindset

Stay Active. It’s a slow process, but quitting will not speed it up. Dedicate this time to reach the goals that you’ve set for yourself. Drink lots of water, make healthy choices and exercise!
—Gianna T., Health Fitness Specialist, ShipShape PA

Spend 10 minutes each day doing something you enjoy: reading, journaling, listening to music, or going for a walk.
—Jess H., Health Fitness Specialist, ShipShape PA

Nutrition

Portion out snacks for the day for yourself and your family to control over-snacking. Designate a bowl or basket for each family member’s snacks. When planning out snacks, think about including all the colors of the rainbow like green apples, yellow peppers, red tomatoes and more!
—Becky M., Program Manager, ShipShape NC

Movement

Set a timer every 20-30 minutes throughout your work day to get up and either stretch or walk around the house for 2-3 minutes at a time. This way, you can come back fresh and more focused for your work day.
—Shannon O., Health Fitness Specialist, ShipShape AZ

Set a reoccurring alarm on your phone 3-5 times/day and label it as 10-20 repetitions of a specific movement i.e. squats, pushups, plank hold, lunges, etc. Movement is medicine!
—Brandon K., Program Manager, ShipShape PA

Recovery

Sleep is essential to having a healthy immune system. Dropping the thermostat between 65 and 72 degrees can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, allowing your body to naturally recover.
—Melissa K., Health Fitness Specialist, ShipShape PA

Group exercize

Regardless of your situation, you can set up a great workout space wherever you are! Whether it’s your bedroom or your backyard, make sure your area is clear of obstacles and distractions. Gather any equipment you need, grab water, and turn on some music to set your space and your intentions for your workout!
—Noah G., Program Manager, ShipShape PA

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A look at Internal Sales in the Financial Advisor Services division

We recently sat down with Heidi Spilotros, who leads the Broker-Dealer Internal Sales team in the Financial Advisor Services (FAS) division at Vanguard. In this blog, she highlights key components of her role, the broad impact FAS has on our advisors and personal investors, as well as advice for candidates who may be considering applying for an opportunity on her team.

Why did you become a Vanguard crew member?

I have been in sales my entire 24-year career and I have been in financial services sales in one form or another for most of that time. One of the biggest draws for me coming to Vanguard was the culture, and what I mean by that is the focus on collaboration and crew. There was a positive collegiality that I felt when I came here. Many of the environments I have experienced have been male-dominated and highly competitive, and without a willingness to share information or help others. The inclusive nature of Vanguard came through in the interview process. Every single person I met really wanted to ensure I was a culture fit who could help strengthen the collaborative, collegial environment where all voices are heard, everyone is encouraged to bring his or her best ideas to the table, and everyone wins together. I’ll be honest, I didn’t really believe it at first, but after being here for 18 months, it’s true. I have a great team that cares for each other, promotes a sense of belonging, and iterates with one another on everything, even when we dissent and disagree. No feelings are hurt because it’s all in the spirit of trying to do what’s right for our clients and what’s right for Vanguard.

How does your team directly contribute to the client experience and doing what is right by our investors?

It is important for our sales force in FAS to always keep the end client, investors, top of mind, even though we deal directly with Financial Advisors. We have to understand both the Advisors’ business as well as the client perspective, which can get complicated at times. But when you think about the impact you have if you effectively communicate our mission and offer to the Advisors, and help them achieve the goals they have for their clients, it’s really something. One advisor can reach hundreds of clients, so if we set them up for success, a multitude of investors benefit. For every generation our sales team can touch and every subsequent generation of advisors they teach and train, the impact can be exponential. In FAS, we want to make sure that everyone has the best chance for investment success.

How is the sales organization in FAS evolving?

There is a transformation underway called distribution enablement and it is exactly as it sounds. It is a variety of tools, processes and resources that will help our sales people be more effective. There are ways in which we can approach the market more efficiently and a variety of enablement tools, technology and techniques that will allow us to do so.

We are starting to deploy these tools, and one example I’ll share is around our ability to deal with sales opportunities. Our teams haven’t previously been able to answer key questions that would allow one to determine and track success measures. With this new methodology centered on gathering information and involving all players to make better-informed decisions, we now have a shared language and approach that will help us accomplish our goals in a more streamlined way. Going forward, we need to ask ourselves the following questions: How do we go to market with something unique? How do we see more clients? How do we see them more often and further our relationships?

What are you looking for in a candidate to join the FAS sales team?

The first thing I would say is that sales is one of those words that can be viewed in a variety of ways. Sometimes people can be intimidated. What sales really means, especially in FAS at Vanguard, is that you are able to make connections with people. Are you curious? Are you interested in uncovering what an advisor’s business is all about? If you’re curious, love building relationships, and enjoy solving problems, this could really be a great path for you. Sales is one of the most fascinating professions as it is truly filled with philosophical conversation using psychology and human behavior to understand why people make the decisions they do and how you might be able to influence and guide them to a mutually beneficial outcome. Ultimately, this is all about empathetically navigating a conversation in order to identify what’s most important to that person. When asking our sales folks what the best part of their day is, more often than not, they’ll say it’s when they have had great client interactions with financial advisors and brought value to the relationship.

Interested in a career in Sales? Please click here to view available opportunities.

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