Navigating a complicated home life
When I Iooked to return to the workforce after spending six years at home with my three children, the most important factors for me when searching for firms were culture and fit. I did quite a bit of due diligence and received a great deal of feedback about the firms I was looking at, especially from senior professional women. In the end, Vanguard stood out for its values as well as its focus on supporting women in the workplace.
Not long after I joined Vanguard three years ago, my husband was diagnosed with ALS. Since it was early in the diagnosis and his particular form of the diseases was rather slow moving, there was not much we needed to do to adjust the way in which we managed our home life with our kids. For this reason, I chose not to share my husband’s diagnosis broadly with colleagues in work situations. It wasn’t because I thought there would be any negative perception, I just wanted to keep it private. That being said, my supervisor and my team were aware of the situation and I knew I had flexibility in case of emergencies or other obligations, which was important to me.
Last fall, it became increasingly difficult to keep my husband’s diagnosis, and how it was affecting our family, to myself. It felt more and more like I was hiding something instead of simply being honest about everything, so I decided to share my story more broadly. Below is an excerpt from an e-mail I sent to my department, comprised of over 90 teammates:
“Early on in my tenure in [this department], I was asked to participate in a Culture and Inclusion panel on “covering,” which is a way of toning down part of your identity to fit into the mainstream. It is related to “passing” which is to be in the closet about your true identity. Both require energy and both should not be necessary in a culture of inclusion. Since becoming the [department] sponsor of Culture and Inclusion, I’ve given a great deal of thought to these concepts. While I’ve embraced parts of my identity as a mother, a woman, an Asian, and someone from the “outside,” there is one part of my identity that I have sought to hide. Nearly two years ago my husband was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Many of you may have participated in the ice bucket challenge a few years ago in support of ALS. It is a progressive, degenerative neuromuscular disease where victims lose the ability to control their muscles including eventually those needed for breathing. This past week my 10-year old daughter agreed to speak at her school assembly about her dad in an effort to raise awareness as part of her year-long “Think Care Act” project. When the principal asked her why she wanted an opportunity to speak at an assembly she said that while she is nervous about public speaking, she wanted to “try something outside of her comfort zone.” Which leads me to why I am writing this email. I wanted to try to get out of my own comfort zone and walk the talk of culture and inclusion. I believe strongly that there is a culture of inclusion and empathy here in [at Vanguard] and I hope each of you will find the courage to be your authentic self at work.”
The outpouring of support I received after sending that email was stunning. The best and most unexpected outcome was that so many people reached out with their own stories of health or family struggles. It was a gift to be able to connect with others on a more personal level.
Since becoming more open about my personal journey, I was recently asked to lead a session called “Navigating a Complicated Home Life.” The session was one of several “Candid Conversations” that were being orchestrated by the divisional organizers of Vanguard’s Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success (WILS) program. It was a small session of about twenty women of all ages and demographics, many of whom I did not know. I expressed with the group how I was trying to manage my home life, and the more I shared, the more others were willing to tell their own stories. No two stories were the same. The only common thread was the authenticity of the struggle. Some people spoke and others just listened with open hearts and minds. There was empathy, advice, tears and strong emotions. I left realizing this is why I had come to Vanguard. Work is not just work. Work is a community. Work is where we spend the majority of our time, time that could be spent with family, friends and other communities. I’m thankful to work at Vanguard where I believe everyone can be their authentic selves and feel supported by those they work with.
– Liz F.
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National Intern Day – Recognizing our 2019 summer Vanguard interns
To celebrate National Intern Day, we wanted to recognize some of the interns who have been participating in our College to Corporate (C2C) and MBA Internship Programs. Students from across the country joined us in our Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Arizona offices for an immersive 10 week program. During this time, they became part of a Vanguard team and supported projects and initiatives throughout the company. We asked interns from programs across the business to share what they’ve worked on and what they have taken away from this experience.
Arizona Intern Expo
C2C Advice – Allison F. (AZ)
My internship with Vanguard has been filled with research projects, financial advisor role plays, exploration of the company, hours of advisor shadowing, and asking about a million questions! As I’ve worked to use my time at Vanguard to the fullest, I’ve come to value curiosity more than I would have ever expected. My curiosity has driven me to connect with people and resources at Vanguard to learn more about opportunities to contribute as a fiduciary within the financial planning industry and to develop new skills such as client relationship management, market knowledge, and behavioral coaching. This connection to new knowledge and fresh perspectives has been energizing and extremely rewarding, and has opened my mind to lessons I won’t soon forget.
C2C Business – Brianna M. (AZ)
My experience in the C2C Business Internship has given me the incredible chance to develop myself personally and professionally, in an environment where I was able to take risks, challenge myself, and receive regular feedback.
The projects I worked on over the summer were focused on using Visual Management—digital, physical, and interactive—to create transparency for crew around what is taking place in the Senior Manager and Manager meetings. These projects challenged me to create visual content that aligns to Vanguard’s brand and understand what information is most important to crew. I was able to leverage my marketing background to add an outside perspective and successfully create a sustainable framework for the department. This experience gave me the chance to manage several projects, network effectively and create numerous relationships, and develop leadership skills.
I am extremely grateful to have been an intern at Vanguard. It was very easy to immerse myself into the culture here, largely because of the willingness of the many individuals I interacted with, to assist in giving me the best chance for success.
Pennsylvania Corporate Challenge
C2C Corporate Finance and Accounting – Sarah C. (PA)
I am thankful I had the opportunity to intern with the Global Investment Data Management (GIDM) team on the Equity Trading Floor this summer. I was tasked with designing a new role to combine some of the GIDM Index and Reference teams’ tasks to increase efficiency, broaden investment acumen, and free up time to improve the ways that GIDM provides security and index data to the Equity Index Group. Even in ten short weeks here, I have grown professionally and personally. I developed meaningful relationships, learned and implemented project management best practices, and deepened my knowledge of the systems that ensure accurate and timely data for stakeholders. I have made this summer count by remaining open-minded and self-reflective. The approachability of leaders and the focus on development is genuine at Vanguard, which has encouraged me to truly make the most of every experience this summer.
C2C Investment Management – Tom Z. (PA)
This summer I was placed within Vanguard’s Investment Risk team covering the Quantitative Equity Group. Working with my manager, we have managed to strike what I think is the perfect balance of learning new, intellectually challenging things while also helping solve real-world business problems. In this sense, I have made my time at Vanguard count for both my personal development and the betterment of my team. Going from minimal knowledge about quantitative equity risk management to completing and presenting projects that involve creating frameworks for advanced risk analytics (used in regular meetings, ad-hoc analysis, and presentations to the CIO) has been a truly rewarding experience. These projects have not only helped me develop my technical skills in finance, math, and programming, but have also refined my ability to effectively communicate my project concepts, challenges, and ideas. Overall, my experience at Vanguard has offered me an engaging workplace where I can form terrific professional relationships to help hone and apply the skills I learn.
MBA Internship – Nancy M. (PA)
I have spent my summer working with the International Americas team on developing a competitive intelligence framework for the region. I had the opportunity to learn about various North and South American markets and the complexities Vanguard faces in those countries. Coming from a non-finance background, I valued the opportunity to learn about the asset management industry and gain an international perspective of the company. The MBA Leadership Development Internship Program provided access to senior leadership to ask questions about Vanguard’s strategic priorities and crew member development. I’m happy to come out of my internship experience with a better understanding of how Vanguard is able to play a leading role in global finance and how much they value everyone’s voice.
North Carolina Classroom Central
C2C IT – Abby H. (NC)
This summer, I have been on the Mighty dUX team, which is part of the Enterprise Advice pillar. Our team is working to build a batch application that can check a client’s investment portfolio daily and rebalance them as necessary to best help clients meet their investment goals. I joined dUX right before its first major milestone in development, which meant that I had a very short learning period before I began working on issues vital to the team. This helped me develop my ability to think on my feet and be flexible and adaptable. I learned to take on big challenges and to collaborate with my teammates to quickly and efficiently find solutions to problems as they arose. I enjoyed my internship so much this summer that I applied for a full-time position and will join the 2019 TLP Cadre this fall, so I truly believe that I made it count!
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Serving families who have served for us
I left the military three years ago, nine years after taking my first Oath of Office. Transitioning from serving in an organization that was so core to my identity turned out to be no small task. Over the next two years in business school, I often wondered if I would be able to find that sense of service in my future workplace. When I came to Vanguard after graduation, I quickly found my answer. VetsConnect Joins Forces with ACP Crew Respond in a Big Way White House Military Spouses Summit – Bill F.
Shortly after coming aboard, I was asked if I would be interested in working to stand up a new partnership with American Corporate Partners (ACP), a nonprofit aimed at pairing corporate leaders with veterans transitioning to the private sector. The goal of the partnership was to respond to the broader desire of the Vanguard community to more visibly support our nation’s veterans. The VetsConnect / ACP partnership would act as a gateway to connect Vanguard Crew with service members outside the organization.
I had familiarity with ACP, as I had taken part as a protégé (mentee) myself during my transition out of the military. This opportunity would now allow me the chance to give back on the corporate side of the relationship. Needless to say, I was ecstatic.
Our first priority was to create a community of corporate mentors here at Vanguard. Initially, we were hoping to identify a total of fifty crew members who would like to take part. Within the first day of sign ups we had exceeded our initial goal, and by the end of the week we had more than 90 mentors involved. In fact, after benchmarking against other corporate sign up rates, Vanguard crew were 23x more likely to sign up to mentor a veteran. This tremendous response was an incredible testament to the authenticity of the culture, and I was able to witness firsthand something I had heard a lot about as a new hire: Vanguard’s commitment to mission and willingness to give back.
Several months later, ACP was invited to attend a Military Spouses Summit at the White House. Representing Vanguard, I traveled to Washington DC along with representatives from 45 other businesses to discuss the unique employment challenges that military spouses face. At present, there are more than 600,000 military spouses and 16% (4x the national average) are unemployed. They face a myriad of unique challenges, including a lack of license and certification transferability across state lines and fragmented resumes due to constant relocation and deployments. Our goal was to ask how corporations and non-profits could help. How can we do more? What opportunities exist? The chance to work with corporate partners to address (and continue addressing) these questions is an extremely rewarding experience. For me, it represents an evolution of my desire to serve, aided by the mission and crew of Vanguard. Although I no longer serve on active duty, I’m extremely proud to say that I work at Vanguard, where we serve families who have served for us.
Additional testimonials from ACP protégé’s and Vanguard mentors
“The program helps our organization as it helps veterans – win/win. The matching of protégé to mentor is quite good and the seamless accountability is a big plus!”
“I think the connection is great. I wish I had the same kind of opportunity when I departed active duty back in 2011 and could have skipped some of my early mistakes in my civilian career. You don’t know what you don’t know and it’s easy for veterans just to take the path of least resistance without being challenged by someone who is already there.”
If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
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kkilgarriff2019-07-19 12:57:412019-09-12 20:08:12Serving families who have served for us
Building a network on the softball field
I have been playing sports since I could walk. Growing up I was heavily involved in tournament, club, and school softball, and I played college-level field hockey. My athleticism defined me. When I began my full time job working in a cubicle, I found the transition to be pretty difficult. Sure, I would go to the gym in the morning or evening, but I missed organized sports. Enter the Vanguard recreational softball league—a league that consisted of at least 16 different teams, all composed of Vanguard crew members. The captain organizing the team in my department was admiring this year’s players and their skillsets—noting that they were going to have a great season. This was my chance to become involved with organized sports again! I joined the team and made the starting line-up as the first baseman. Little did I know that playing in the Vanguard softball league and building relationships with my teammates would prepare me for playing in the big leagues at work too.
As I’ve progressed in my career at Vanguard, I’ve seen how the friendships I made on the softball field have progressed as well. I joined the team while part of the Fund Financial Services department, where my role focused on pricing the individual stocks and bonds held in Vanguard mutual funds. I knew there were many directions in which my career could go, but I had no idea where to start. I didn’t know many people outside of my department, and I wasn’t sure if I should go back to school for further education. It was through my softball team that I learned about the many opportunities that existed at Vanguard. It might sound nerdy, but at team happy hours after the softball games, I picked the brains of my teammates. There was the Institutional Relationship Manager that played the outfield, the Investment Analyst that played short stop, the Fixed Income Trader that pitched, the list goes on. And to my surprise, they actually enjoyed talking about their roles outside of work!
The networking that resulted from the softball team extends far beyond the softball field. As the years went on I got to know people from all across Vanguard, and I met with them over coffee or lunch. It was with the guidance of these crew members, teammates, and friends that I landed a job in my dream department doing investment research, and decided to work towards attaining the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (I’m 2/3 of the way there!). Now, as new crew members join the softball team, they ask me about my job. They ask me to grab coffee or lunch with them to provide career guidance.
After six years on the team, I can say quite a few things about what the experience has done for me. It’s helped me transition from an active athletic lifestyle to a healthy work/life balance. It’s made me realize that the confidence I have on the softball field can carry through to the work that I do in the office. And just like in softball—or any sport for that matter—hard work and dedication will pay off over time. The same thing can be said when it comes to your role and career.
I’ve realized how to take the lessons that I’ve learned over the past few years and impart wisdom on newer crew members. I value the importance of a network, and learned that building a network doesn’t just happen in the office. Lastly, I proved to myself that I’ve still got it when it comes to organized sports! How do I know that? We’ve won the softball league championship every year since I’ve joined the team ;).
-Jenna M.
If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
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Family comes first
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
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Global technology leader shares career perspectives
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.”
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Celebrating Global Accessibility
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.
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mfield
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mfield2019-10-30 12:00:532019-11-05 16:39:16Vanguard’s support in my family’s adoption experience
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marcin
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marcin2019-10-23 17:53:022019-10-28 11:02:05Engaging, honest conversations foster positive results
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jortega
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jortega2019-10-09 11:46:172019-10-17 12:24:27Vanguard crew member shares coming out story
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kkilgarriff
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kkilgarriff2019-08-14 13:22:422019-08-14 13:37:41Bringing your authentic self to work
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kkilgarriff
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kkilgarriff2019-07-31 12:54:122019-07-31 15:39:15Navigating a complicated home life
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kkilgarriff2019-07-19 12:57:412019-09-12 20:08:12Serving families who have served for us
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manjunath
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manjunath2019-05-29 18:51:512019-09-12 13:35:14Global technology leader shares career perspectives
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manjunath
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manjunath2019-05-22 13:51:242019-07-26 21:44:57Celebrating Global Accessibility
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manjunath
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manjunath2019-03-08 06:00:422019-09-12 13:37:13Make a choice and take a chance
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manjunath
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manjunath2019-02-28 19:15:222019-07-26 20:34:26Celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth at Vanguard
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2019-02-08 13:48:062019-07-25 22:25:41Everyday Inclusion
That company down the street that doesn’t give advice? Think again.
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:
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More stories from our crew
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2019-09-25 06:00:462019-11-05 10:51:48Meeting Vanguard at the Grace Hopper conference
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marcin
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marcin2019-09-04 14:29:412019-09-10 00:23:08Kicking off my Vanguard career in Client Services
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kkilgarriff
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kkilgarriff2019-08-14 13:22:422019-08-14 13:37:41Bringing your authentic self to work
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manjunath
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manjunath2019-05-15 10:42:302019-09-12 13:35:57That company down the street that doesn’t give advice? Think again.
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manjunath
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manjunath2019-03-28 06:00:572019-10-18 12:39:21What a career as a financial advisor looks like at Vanguard
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2019-01-10 14:02:512019-07-25 21:46:50Serving in both my day job and night job
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-12-06 14:23:412019-07-26 22:37:49Tips and advice when interviewing for data & analytics jobs
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-10-17 18:19:452018-10-17 18:19:45Why I value Vanguard’s reputation and investment approach as an advisor
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-10-01 07:00:362019-07-26 22:48:533 tips from my midlife start at Vanguard
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-09-10 06:00:552019-10-14 17:22:52Studying for the CFP® exam? Don’t run out of gas
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-08-10 15:40:032018-08-10 15:40:03Redefining success at Vanguard
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-07-18 06:00:182018-07-27 15:59:37From designing buildings to building financial plans
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-07-13 06:00:202018-07-26 17:30:04The brain of an engineer, the heart of an advisor
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fdoerr2018-07-05 06:00:402018-07-26 17:30:05One company, multiple careers
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fdoerr2018-06-27 06:00:492018-07-26 17:30:06My family motto brought me to Vanguard
Vanguard leaders share what inclusion means to them
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.
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).
Why you should raise your hand for that volunteer opportunity at work
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.
More crew stories about giving back
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dbasavapatna
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dbasavapatna2019-11-05 20:06:142019-11-05 20:06:14Making a difference across multiple regions
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manjunath
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manjunath2019-06-19 15:52:502019-07-25 22:21:34From preschool teacher to program officer
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manjunath
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manjunath2019-04-18 13:24:412019-11-21 21:39:53Why you should raise your hand for that volunteer opportunity at work
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2019-01-10 14:02:512019-07-25 21:46:50Serving in both my day job and night job
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-12-13 06:00:492018-12-12 14:44:34It’s the season of giving at Vanguard
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-09-07 06:00:342018-09-04 18:02:08Finding the support I needed at Vanguard
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-08-24 06:00:102018-08-22 21:46:54What is a VTO day?
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fdoerr2018-04-11 13:08:002018-07-26 17:30:52From Gardening to Taxes: My Volunteer Journey
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-03-14 15:51:412018-07-26 17:30:533 things they said I’d never find in a company culture
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-03-12 14:33:502018-07-26 17:30:53National Girl Scout Day: Inspiring and empowering the next generation
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-02-23 14:29:422018-07-26 17:30:55The Power of Rice
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-01-31 16:47:292018-07-26 17:31:12Roll up a sleeve, save a life
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-01-16 19:04:182018-07-26 17:31:13Meet a leader, be a leader: Inspiring and empowering the next generation
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fdoerr
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fdoerr2018-01-12 11:43:472018-07-26 17:31:14Building financial literacy through My Classroom Economy
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fdoerr2017-12-22 07:00:582018-07-26 17:31:15Wrapping up the giving season (VIDEO)
