Day in the Life Archives - Vanguard Careers

The winding path to an analytics career

October 14, 2020/in Day in the Life able to draw, analyst, analytics, career, company, data, data analyst, data analytics, decisions, engineering, financial, help, help our clients, looking, looking at data, new tools, people, work, work with a group, world /by jortega

The winding path to an analytics career

Fifteen years ago, I switched from a career in engineering to enter the world of business analytics. Luckily for me, despite a few hiccups during the first-year transition, analytics as a discipline was growing rapidly, and there were many critical skills that I could bring with me to solve countless problems facing businesses. There were some obvious advantages that this new career path in data analytics offered over engineering. First, the number of companies and job openings in the engineering world was limited and concentrated in a few tech hot spots in the country, whereas it seemed as if every company was going to have a need for an analytics department. Secondly, and more importantly, it seemed as if the number and types of challenges that businesses faced that could be addressed and solved by looking at data was going to be a lot more fun and keep me much more interested and engaged in my job than I could hope.

Interestingly, when I made the switch to analytics, I had always envisioned myself working in the financial services industry. It was easy to see the data they were working with, and compared to what I was doing in engineering, looking at financial data seemed like a natural next step. Little did I know that I was actually going to be drawn into the human side of analytics, and rather than looking at data capturing prices, I’d be looking at how people made decisions and evaluated financial decisions. My first job in analytics took me to a firm that used behavioral finance, A/B testing and terabits of data to make decisions on how to optimally extend credit terms to customers. My next destination took me to a marketing agency that used data to evaluate how people selected health care and insurance plans. Without knowing it, I had managed to get pulled into the world of marketing. I still had to think like an analyst, and use my training as a scientist, but I also wound up realizing that to be a complete data analyst, one had to be more of a Renaissance man, and be able to draw upon multiple disciplines to be really successful in this space.

During my time at Vanguard, I’ve switched from the role as a data analyst, to an analytics manager, back to an analyst again. Recently I moved to our Institutional Investor Group to be a data analyst, helping redesign the website for our retirement plan participants. Part of the reason I stepped down as a manager was because I saw the rapid changes occurring in our field, and had the chance to work with a group of data analysts who got to work with some great new tools. I had the privilege to work with a group of talented young analysts, who all demonstrated the critical growth mindset, and I saw them all develop so quickly into amazing contributors who really unlocked their potential. It reminded me why I chose to go into analytics in the first place – the new challenges, the need to continuously learn new tools, new problems to solve, and new people to work with.

Constantly learning and growing should be part of any successful data analyst’s career development. It took me 20 years to find a career and a company that has made me truly satisfied in my work, but Vanguard has been the perfect place for me to call home the past eight years. A company with a supportive culture that values development, that also has a growing need for using data to improve decision making – that’s what I had been searching for from the beginning! There’s nothing more rewarding in a career than actually being able to draw upon your skills and experience to help people make smarter decisions to help our clients. I couldn’t be happier that I wound up at Vanguard, getting the chance to do what I’m best at, to help make our company do what it does best – help our clients achieve financial success.

– Jeff W.

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.

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Solving problems and innovating through data science

September 16, 2020/in Advice from crew, Career opportunities, Day in the Life artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence and data, artificial intelligence and data science, artificial intelligence and machine, artificial intelligence and machine learning, captured in 2018, data, data science, intelligence and data, intelligence and data science, intelligence and machine, intelligence and machine learning, machine learning, people all over the world, photo captured in 2018, reach their financial, street firms, vanguard, wall street, wall street firms /by mfield

Solving problems and innovating through data science

I graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2002 with a Computer Engineering degree. The Institute was very close to Wall Street, and upon graduation, many of my classmates received offers from top Wall Street firms and investment banks. I too fell into the allure of working on Wall Street. I received a few offers from some of the top firms in New York—and I also received one from Vanguard, who was making it a priority to recruit from my school at the time. However, this was when the dot-com bubble burst and most of the Wall Street firms rescinded their offers for all of my classmates including me. Vanguard was the only firm that honored their commitment and did not rescind their offer. I am thankful to this day.

At Vanguard, I have the opportunity to do what I always dreamt of doing and much, much more at a firm where doing right by clients and crew is the guiding principle. I joined Vanguard as a software engineer and never looked back. At the time, all I wanted to do was to apply what I had learned in school to real life problems, but didn’t have much thought about where I applied them. As time went on, I realized how fortunate I was to be at Vanguard, whose main mission was to help people all over the world reach their financial dreams. Knowing you’re doing well for others is incredibly rewarding. I got the best of both worlds: I could apply my passion in technology and apply it at a company whose mission is to lift people up. I also got to work on our trading systems, sales systems, mobility (iOS) systems, customer relationship management systems and so on, all while learning about and applying analytics to everything we did.

From a career perspective, Vanguard invested in my professional development. Today, I’m the Head of AI & Machine Learning for Enterprise Advice. focused on artificial intelligence and data science. About 7 years ago, with the advent of big data technology and infrastructure, I started to focus on advanced analytics and data science exclusively. I saw an opportunity to use data science and artificial intelligence to provide better, more personalized, and smarter services to our investors.

Vanguard now wants to do for financial advice what we did for Exchange Traded Funds and mutual funds: make top notch, holistic advice accessible to anyone who needs it at an incredibly low price. That’s where my team comes in. I now help lead our advanced analytics and artificial intelligence team for Vanguard’s advice program. My department is comprised of data engineers, data scientists and artificial intelligence and machine learning scientists who collaborate closely with our investment experts and economists. And they come from diverse educational backgrounds—some have computer science or engineering backgrounds, while others studied physics or statistics.

Group of workers standing in office hallway

Photo captured in 2018

In order to create highly personalized advice experiences, we seek to incorporate behavioral economics to better personalize the advice needed. To that end we are utilizing artificial intelligence and other data science techniques on a variety of financial advice projects. Our goal is to create experiences and services that will help more people than ever before reach their financial goals. My team is directly empowering Vanguard’s mission and I personally feel inspired every day to come to work. Being able to learn about cutting edge technology in artificial intelligence and data science and use it to help as many people as possible is extremely rewarding.

Investing is complex, and sometimes, it’s a challenge for people to know how to make wise investment and financial decisions. Vanguard is committed to giving investors all over the world a fair shake, and is investing in services—such as advice—to do so. I am passionate about trail blazing artificial intelligence and machine learning at Vanguard, which is enabling us to fulfill our mission and help millions of people all over the world reach financial independence.

Now, who will join us on this noble mission?

-Amir A.

Man and woman talking in an office setting

Photo captured in 2018

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.

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Knowing your customers is the best way to serve them

September 8, 2020/in Career opportunities, Day in the Life Mid-level specialist career, chat, client, client experience, cxd, daily, digital, experience, ground, julie, julie k, know, life, people, research, research team, researcher, team, vanguard, working /by mfield

In this blog, Julie K. shares her experience working on the Client Exeprience and Digital team as a User Experience Researcher.

Knowing your customers is the best way to serve them

In this blog, Julie K. shares her experience working on the Client Experience and Digital team as a User Experience Researcher.

I never expected to be saying ‘I’m a researcher at Vanguard,’ but I’m so glad I said yes to this opportunity over a year ago.

In my interviews, the hiring managers expressed that they wanted a ‘creative ethnographer’ to round out the skill set of the research team. I was skeptical, but it certainly piqued my interest as many large companies don’t appreciate the value of listening to and being with their customers in real life.

Vanguard is on a trajectory of change and we know that to modernize, we have to keep an ear to the ground when it comes to clients and prospects. I’m incredibly proud to be part of the Client Experience & Digital (CXD) team.

Oh, and daily life at Vanguard is pretty stellar.

A few things worth noting to help paint the picture:

The ‘Vanguard nice’ cliché is no joke. People actually care about you as a human. I’m from Wisconsin, so Midwest nice is in my bones. This feels very much the same and it is genuine. When I chat people up in the hall, they actually want to chat back!
If you’re a researcher, you know we’re a special breed of hyper-curious nerds that thrive in a hive. If you were a fly on the research team wall you’d hear us making corny Likert scale jokes, having heated methodology discussions, and helping each other analyze and present our data. It’s a seriously comfortable environment.
Big changes, happening daily. If you like seeing legacy problems being wrangled to the ground, CXD is your scene. Yes, it takes a long time. Yes, there are plenty of obstacles. But when you crack one of the old systems wide open, it’s an amazing feeling.
Career growth. If you want to develop a niche in your UX repertoire, it’s likely you can do it here. For example, we have a researcher advancing her career in accessibility through coursework, Vanguard trainings, and running live studies.
We like to innovate across all of Vanguard. We evolve our presence by training on important topics like radical candor in the workplace, cognitive bias workshops, and a speaker series to discuss methods/approaches/outcomes.
No one is on an island. It’s a reciprocal mentorship system where new and senior researchers enjoy learning from each other. We recognize the unique talents and perspectives each of us offer, and foster them.

If there is one ‘must have’ for working in CXD, I’d say it’s pioneering spirit. There is a level of patience with the old and enthusiasm for the new that will keep you happy and inspired. There is plenty to do! Put Vanguard on your radar. You may be pleasantly surprised with what transpires.

-Julie K.

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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.

The programs provide a fast-tracked path to leadership opportunities for motivated and aspirational undergraduates and MBA graduates. They offer targeted rotations that educate participants about our business and provide them with personal development opportunities, including feedback, coaching, and mentoring. Talented professionals can hone their leadership skills, have a functional focus, and build a supportive professional network.

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.

Lisa H., Program Manager for the Emerging Leadership Development Program (ELDP)

sits down with Marcos V., a member of the 2018 cadre about his experience with ELDP and Vanguard. Marcos shares, “The culture here at Vanguard is built around our 3 C’s – Clients, Crew, and Community – and how all three work together is the key to our success! Being a participant in a rotational program has provided me with broad and unique experiences that have prepared me to contribute to the company in many ways. In addition to my program and rotation responsibilities, I have the opportunity to get involved in on-campus clubs such as Toastmasters and CRG’s (crew resource groups), including the Hispanic/Latino Organization for Leadership and Advancement (HOLA). These opportunities to build relationships and skills outside of your day job are what makes working at a company like Vanguard truly rewarding.”

Click here to read Marcos’s full story

Elijah A., Program Manager for the Technology Leadership Program (TLP)

shares Natasha M.’s story. Natasha is an Early Start TLP in the 2020 cadre on the Application Development track who says, “The most important pieces of advice I can give are pretty cliché: be yourself and have a purpose. Vanguard is always striving for a diverse set of crew members from all backgrounds, as that’s how we cultivate new ideas and appreciations. But Vanguard is also very compassionate towards its clients and crew members. We have a purpose and care about that purpose, so it helps if you do, too.”

Click here to read Natasha’s full story.

Lynn M., Program Manager for the Acceleration into Financial Professional Program (AFP)

connected with program participant, Kiara K. about her Vanguard journey. Kiara shares, “Aside from the great reputation Vanguard has, the benefits and the rotational culture throughout the enterprise, this is what set Vanguard apart from other companies I was looking to join. Fast forward to my role as an AFP program participant, my rotation manager and program manager still continue to express that same interest in making sure my rotation is an impactful learning experience and that I am growing as a professional.”

Click here to read Kiara’s full story.

Jillian C., Program Manager for the Investment Management Development Program (IMDP)

sits down with program alumnus, Max W., who is now publishing research as a member of Vanguard’s economics team. Speaking of the IMDP offer, Max says, “IMDP is a unique offer because it affords you subject matter depth and breadth as well as the chance to build a network and learn from different leaders as you rotate. IMDP’s rotational structure means you can become a specialist four times in two years and ensures you never stop learning. During each rotation, you will be trained to be a fully-fledged member of the team. The advantage is a deep skillset you develop in each role while having the unique opportunity to learn about four areas of the investment management trade. Each rotation will also grow your network and afford you the chance to learn from different leadership styles and team dynamics as you think about your own leadership ambitions.”

Click here to read Max’s full story.

Daniel S., Program Manager for the Financial Advisor Development Program (FADP)

shares Brittney H.’s story. Brittney attended a Vanguard EXPLORE Day, completed the College to Corporate Advice Internship, and later accepted an offer to join FADP. She says, “My favorite part of being a member of FADP is my team. No matter if it’s studying or taking client phone calls, I have the chance to go through this whole experience with like-minded individuals who I don’t see as just coworkers, but friends. We are there to support each other through anything, both work and non-work related, and love hanging out inside and outside of the office. I am very lucky to have them. The transition from college to corporate life can be tough, but being surrounded by people going through the same thing makes it easier.”

Click here to read Brittney’s full story.

Interested in exploring VSP career opportunities? Click here to learn more.

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My rad year

August 12, 2020/in Advice from crew, Career opportunities, Day in the Life acronyms, actually expanded, comfort, comfort zone, expanded, experience, grow, help, helped, know, learn, learned, lingo, lynn, lynn e, opportunity to learn, peers, questions, role, zone /by marcin

My rad year

In this blog, Lynn E. shares her experience taking a role that was out of her comfort zone, and how it actually expanded and further developed her skillset.

A year ago, I was asked to take on a role that was outside my comfort zone. I said yes, and here’s what I learned.

Last year I was in a good spot. I enjoyed my work and was learning a division of our business that I hadn’t worked in before, and was building and growing my team. I was working for a great leader who supported me and helped me grow. In short, I was happy and things were going well. Then, I was asked to consider a leadership role on a firm-wide transformational program working in a deeply technical environment where I hadn’t worked before. I was both flattered and hesitant. I was asked to take on the role because of my expertise and skill, but I’d need to navigate the new environment….and quickly! As I thought it through and discussed the role with my sounding board, I realized that this role would stretch me. I could bring what I do best and I would have an opportunity to learn and grow.

Immediately, I was challenged. Within days of starting the role, I was told of a firm-wide tabletop exercise, scheduled for four weeks away. It sounded interesting and I was thrilled to participate. My “Hunt for the Red October” moment came when I asked who was leading it. “…you are!” was the answer! It was a long four weeks spent quickly coming up to speed and leaning on peers whom I had just met, but the result was a very successful event. It was a great experience and a good way to get my feet wet.

Soon after, my days were filled with meetings that were jam-packed with jargon and lingo that was foreign to me. As I took notes, I circled what I didn’t understand and forced myself to ask for an explanation. It wasn’t easy; I was used to being the “go to” person with answers and it was uncomfortable to admit when I didn’t know something. But, as I asked for explanations, my knowledge grew…and I started to build relationships. While I was worried about being a burden, my peers actually liked answering my questions. In meetings, I saw the same peers shift to start to explain concepts and acronyms as part of discussions.

What was surprising to me was how rich the conversations became. I discovered that others had similar questions, and those with the answers started to ask me questions about the expertise I brought to the role. I was happy that I could help my peers learn, too.

It would have been easier to ignore things, both about the role and what I didn’t know. Getting out of my comfort zone actually expanded it. I’ve learned a great deal and am indebted to those who helped me along the way, and it’s gratifying to know that I’ve helped them, too.

So, here’s what I learned (beyond the acronyms and lingo!):

Don’t be afraid to jump into a role that stretches you. A position that may not seem to be a good fit at first may actually be a great role. Dig in to see if you have an opportunity to learn and can bring unique perspectives that help others to grow too.
You’re likely not the only one with questions. I developed key phrases I could use to ask my question and was judicious about when and where I asked.
If you’re speaking, assess your audience’s level of understanding, especially when you’re the one using acronyms and technical lingo. You may want or need to weave in explanations to help your peers.

Thank you to everyone who’s helped me and has answered my questions…and my follow up questions. You have expanded my world! If I can help you out, even in a small way, give me a shout.

-Lynn E.

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National Intern Day 2020

College to Corporate internships looked different for students joining the crew at Vanguard this year– but the foundation remained the same. Whether it was teamwork, community outreach, or bonding with peers, interns were virtually welcomed into departments across the company, where they made lasting contributions. In this video, a few of our interns share insights from their experiences:

Camila: Hi everyone my name is Camila, I attend the University of Texas at El Paso. I am a College to Corporate Business Intern, and I am currently working with the Vanguard Retirement Plan Access Department this summer.

Alex: Hello everyone, my name is Alex I am a rising junior studying computer science engineering at the University of Michigan and I am a College to Corporate Application Development Intern, working with the Enterprise Advice division at Vanguard.

Natasha: Hi! My name is Natasha and I am C2C Investment Management intern this summer under the Transaction Cost Analysis team. I’m a rising junior at the University of Michigan, pursuing a dual degree in finance and computer science, with a minor in Music.

Camila: And I’m going to show you what a virtual intern does on a day-to-day basis. So since I am a virtual intern I am working remotely from my hometown and I basically made my kitchen into an office. This is my kitchen table.

Natasha: Welcome to my room converted into an office.

Alex: Due to the remote nature of our internship, we use Microsoft Team and Outlook mainly, to stay connected with each other.

Camila: I get to meet with leaders, I get to talk to my managers, really cool things that I didn’t know I was going to be able to do from home.

Natasha: I can still stay fully connected with rest of Vanguard. We have a lot of different events like game shows and community service.

Alex: Even though the internship is remote, the company has also done a great job to make sure we’re still able to network and connect with the other interns. Two weeks ago, we had a virtual team building session where we bonded with all the other interns remotely.

Camila: I have been able to participate in Vanguard events, and trainings, and so many things virtually.

Alex: Later today I have an intern project meeting around lunchtime, to update our technical leads on our progress. I am currently working on a project team with four other interns to develop an internal web application.

Natasha: For some of my project so far, I’ve been working mostly in the FX and Treasury Future space.

Camila: So for my project I am actually working in my department of Vanguard Retirement Plan Access. And I’m helping with the Sales Territory Map Analysis. As you can see I have a lot of meetings so I do my project work in between.

Alex: Vanguard also assigns each of us a buddy and a pod leader that acts as mentors, and we have regular meetings with them as well.

Natasha: As part of the internship, I get two buddies. One of them is on my team, and then the other one is in the rotational program. Having a buddy helps me to get acclimated to both the company as well as my team, and acts as a resource that I can just ask quick questions to.

Alex: Overall, the College to Corporate Internship gives us a view into how Vanguard uses technology to solve business problems, and to help people achieve their financial goals. Right now is also a very interesting time to work for Vanguard, because technology is a key strategic focus for the company. This provides ample opportunities for us to work on cool projects, which will be used by real customers and/or business functions.

Camila: My experience so far has been an amazing one. I have been able to connect with leadership, I’ve been able to connect with my interns that have really enhanced my experience here. I feel so fortunate to be a part of a company that really goes out of their way in making sure that their interns get an amazing virtual experience.

Natasha: As you can see, despite the virtual internship experience, everyone at Vanguard can still stay fully connected with each other. I hope you enjoy this little insight into a Vanguard intern’s life.

Alex: Thanks for watching.

Natasha: Don’t forget to follow @lifeatvanguard.

Camila: On Instagram and all other social media. Thank you.

Alex

Camila

Natasha

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

The Retail Investor Group’s (RIG) Client Experience & Digital (CXD) sub-division was formed in summer 2019 to provide Vanguard clients and crew with meaningful, world-class digital experiences. While CXD currently has variety of team structures, it primarily uses cross-functional teams called Journey Labs that implement an iterative approach to improve a client journey – The end-to-end process when completing a task, such as opening an account. CXD also uses Product Teams, which are nearly identical to Journey Labs except that they are aligned to a particular channel or capability, such as mobile. This multi-faceted approach allows CXD to provide world-class experiences for all clients, no matter how they interact with us. CXD crew recently shared their personal experiences working in the RIG sub-division. Here are excerpts from their stories:

Brandon P., Head of Content Strategy in CXD:

As writers and content strategists in the age of digital marketing and user experience (UX), most of us have spent a lot of time doing two things:

Wearing multiple hats at once.
Trying to convince people (outside of content) that content strategy is actually important.

We’ve all been there. In the Client Experience & Digital (CXD) group at Vanguard, every one of our content strategists has the opportunity to work as an integral and equal part of a dedicated UX team alongside visual designers, UX strategists, researchers, and more.

Cick here to read Brandon’s full story.

Gavin C., Head of Design in CXD:

My career at Vanguard has been a unique journey. I started as a user experience (UX) designer in 2001 and then left to pursue a graduate degree full-time in 2003. After graduate school, I spent 10+ years working for myself as well as teaching design and digital strategy at a few universities. I came back to Vanguard in 2014 to help evolve the UX practices within the firm. Since returning, I am often asked two questions – Why did you come back, and what is it like being a designer at Vanguard?

Click here to read Gavin’s full story.

Jason L., Senior Product Manager in CXD:

I have been a Journey Owner at Vanguard for three years. When I was offered the job initially, I had no idea what to expect, and neither did anyone else. I was the first to assume this role, and one of the scariest (read: exciting) things about taking the job was not really knowing what I was getting into. So my hope is that I can help answer the question: What is it like being a Journey Owner at Vanguard?

Things change hour to hour… and that’s a good thing.
The learning never stops.
The most useful skill is leadership.

Click here to read Jason’s full story.

Mark D., Senior Scrum Master in CXD:

Before I joined Vanguard in late 2018 as a scrum master for a Client Experience lab team, I spent many years working with more traditional, enterprise-agile software development teams – typically seven to nine people comprised of one product owner, five to seven full stack developers, and one scrum master. Upon joining Vanguard, it felt a bit overwhelming to have the additional expertise on each team for disciplines like client research, user experience design, content writing, and data analytics. It didn’t take long, however, for me to begin appreciating the simplicity, power and effectiveness of this one-team approach.

Click here to read Mark’s full story.

Rehana V., Software Engineering Manager in CXD:

If you’re anything like me, you were drawn to technology and software development because of the problem-solving nature of the work; the opportunity to piece together a puzzle that starts off as an idea and ends with a tangible product. You yearn for those moments when you think you’ve hit a brick wall with no path forward, only to have an epiphany at the remotest of hours that just might work. Now take all of that, the challenge and adrenaline of breaking through that brick wall, and make it core to what you do day in and day out, not just when your fingers are on the keyboard. Within the Client Experience and Digital (CXD) group, developers, strategists, designers, scrum masters, business SMEs, data analysts, and researchers come together to form product teams working to offer best-in-class web experiences to our investors.

Click here to read Rehana’s full story.

CXD collaboration at our Malvern facility

Interested in reading more about our CXD team? Click here for Jane M.’s story.

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Reflections of an Oversight and Manager Search Analyst

Breaking the “Investment Analyst” mold

“Could you describe the qualities that you look for in a new hire?” I ask, noting the expression and body language of the portfolio manager across from me. I listen to her thoughtful answer, jotting down her points and indicating in the notes my personal assessment of the quality of the response given. The conversation moves on to the origins of the team’s investment philosophy and then the nuances of her stock selection process. After the meeting is over, I’ll stop in the hallway and discuss with my teammates one topic: do we think this advisor has what it takes to manage one of Vanguard’s funds?

For almost four decades, the Oversight and Manager Search (O&MS) team, which sits within Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department, has been tasked with the dual mandate of overseeing Vanguard’s current investment advisors and searching for new talent. O&MS acts as the eyes and ears of Vanguard’s Board of Directors, and by extension, every investor in our products. Although an important aspect of the job is to evaluate each fund’s performance, traditionally what you might think of as “investment analysis”, an equally critical component of the job is assessing what we call the “drivers” of investment returns: firm, people, philosophy, and process. How stable is the firm? What is the caliber of the investment team, including the portfolio manager? What inefficiency in the market is the team trying to take advantage of? How long has the team been investing this way? These are the types of questions that help to uncover whether a partner will be successful at managing portfolios over the long-term.

Prior to working on the Oversight and Manager Search team, I would never have guessed that this was what an Investment Analyst did. My expectation was that analysts were “heads down”, buried in spreadsheets and research papers, working with numbers rather than other people. The reality? While there are certainly days where we spend one-on-one quality time with Factset and Excel, a critical aspect of the job (and I think the most enjoyable part) is the frequent face-to-face communication. On the O&MS team, we meet with advisors external to Vanguard on a regular basis and have conversations that help to shape our opinions and support analysis that we conduct behind the scenes. When it comes to team collaboration, critical conversations often take place at our weekly research meeting. Analysts are expected to bring forth their work and points of view, only to have those views challenged by team members and debated until we are left with the sharpest, most well-supported version of the original analysis. Outside of those formal gatherings, it’s not uncommon to find the team engaging in hallway chatter and heated over-the-cube debates. The culture of the O&MS certainly breaks the mold of your typical investment team, but that’s what makes it fun to be a part of.

The new normal of “face-to-face”

Devon works in her home office.

“Sorry, I interrupted- you go ahead.” “If you have a question, feel free to message the group.” “Can we pause, I have to put my 3-year-old in the living room.” Several weeks ago, it became apparent that our new remote work-life presented a novel set of challenges. Lines between the “office” and “home” were not just blurred – they were obliterated. Our team was accustomed to sitting in a room and facing one another at weekly meetings, stopping by anyone’s desk with a question or idea, and enjoying each other’s company. What’s more, our meetings with investment advisors were also relegated to video chats. Amid those critical conversations that help to build or break our conviction in a manager’s skill, we now had our family members and roommates roaming around in the background of our video chats. During that first week of working remotely while quarantined, my expectations were admittedly low. I was skeptical that we could replicate the type and quality of conversations – the human connection – that we would have in the office, sitting across from one another.

What I did not expect was the Oversight and Manager Search team, and every team that we’ve interacted with, taking on the challenge in stride. The weekly research meeting moved from the big conference room to a big virtual conference meeting, where the punchy dynamic is largely preserved through speaking up if a point needs to be discussed broadly, chatting direct questions or observations, and liberally utilizing emoji’s and GIFs. Collaboration still happens through video working sessions and one-on-one catch up calls. The over-the-cube conversations are missed, but in their stead, my teammates and I have put in effort to schedule virtual lunches, optional after-work Quizzo nights, and evening yoga sessions to keep us connected.

Our advisor meetings have continued without missing a beat. It’s been a fairly seamless transition, and funnily enough, a great way to connect with our portfolio advisors on a human level. Maybe it’s because, for the first time ever, we are all going through the same thing, experiencing the same Internet glitches and family interruptions.

Transitioning to working from home has certainly challenged us to be flexible, patient, and adaptable to new modes of communication, but in reality, it has not changed how we build working relationships with one another. If anything, this has been a chance to be intentional about how we connect with others, regardless of whether we are sitting across from one another in a conference room, or speaking face-to-face from one home office to another.

—Devon N.

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

April 1, 2020/in Day in the Life all children, find, friends, gym, home, learn, local, media, news, offering, online, online classes, see, social, social media, support, time, virtual, watch, work /by ldoyle

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

In my last blog, A week in the life of a newly remote worker: Part one, I touched on my experience adapting to a new work environment, focusing on my first three days at home. Now I’d like leave you with some additional thoughts that came to me at the end of that work week.

Day 4—You’re not alone

I’m a social media addict, but it can be intimidating tuning in when so much news is being reported. That said, I have enjoyed seeing how my friends are using social media as a distraction. For those with children, I love to see how parents are setting up mini-classrooms, planning pajama days and scheduling break times with pets. Who doesn’t want to see photos of dogs? I’m also enjoying suggestions friends are sharing to stave off boredom and keep everyone productive, as well as reminders to support local businesses. Yes, we all stockpiled food, but many of us can get pick-up or delivery at local establishments. The support across multiple communities has been inspiring.

Useful tips for your mind and body:

Silence can be painful, but so can the news. Find a fun playlist to add some sound to your day.
Read a book, watch a movie (some services are even offering virtual watch parties!), and relax with a bath.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn? Find an online class—it doesn’t have to be work related.
Keep moving. Our gym at work is offering online classes each day while the gym is closed.
Walk around the block, if possible. I challenged myself to take my dog for a longer walk each time we go outside and have run into neighbors along the way.

Day 5—Being thankful

Not everyone has the option of working from home. My company has done everything they can to do right by employees, just as they do for investors. Our mission stays the same—we’re working to provide our clients with the best chance of investing success. This is as important as ever right now!

My final message is to take some time for yourself. Make sure to separate work and personal time. My teammates compiled a list of free resources for you to explore. You can do a quick internet search on these topics to learn more:

Museum virtual tours.
Online Workouts.
Online Concerts.
Online classes offered by universities.
Virtual Zoo tours.
Creative lessons for children.
Volunteer opportunities (in person and virtual).

Thank you, and be safe!

—Laura B.

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

March 26, 2020/in Day in the Life all challenge, connected, friends, home, new work, see, set, share, sharing, space, team, tips, useful, useful tips, vanguard, virtual, work, working, working from home, working remotely /by ldoyle

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

I’ve got this. I enjoy working from home on occasion, maybe once a week. Working from home for at least a month is going to be a challenge to the way I work, the way I think, and the way I live. My team, and Vanguard as a whole, had been preparing for the possibility of being quarantined, but can you ever be fully ready for such a change to your way of working? In part one of this two-part series, I am going to share lessons learned from my first week at home.

Day 1—The set up

Everyone is upbeat, sharing photos of their new work space. Additionally, they’re sharing articles about a remote lifestyle, juggling children and spouses/partners at home, and how to communicate with teammates. I have an office at my house, but decided to set up shop downstairs on the dining room table so I could keep my dog company. I have notebooks, pens, two computer screens, as well as a webcam. Luckily, Vanguard recently implemented new software that our entire team can use to meet virtually. To ensure we are keeping up with one another and communicating work stream updates, our team scheduled a daily check-in call, which has been very valuable.

Useful tips:

Set a schedule and stick to it.
Preserve a space just for work. Bedroom doesn’t count.
Take breaks to stretch your legs and eat.

Day 2—Adjustments

Remember how positive everyone was yesterday? We were excited about our new work environment, but we soon saw that everything didn’t go as planned. That’s ok. This is a learning experience for all.

Useful tips for communication:

While my team has familiarity with working remotely and communicating with team members in different parts of the country, it can still be difficult reading someone’s tone in an e-mail, or articulating what you’re trying to say. As virtual team meetings become the norm, we are focused on making certain that all voices are heard, project updates are communicated effectively, and we are banding together to reach common goals.
Read emails thoroughly before jumping to conclusions.
Ask for clarification if something doesn’t make sense—this will help you avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary frustration.
Make sure your co-worker has finished his/her thought before starting to speak in a virtual meeting.
Use video, if possible. Participants will be more engaged and less likely to multitask.

Day 3—Staying connected

Useful tips to stay connected:

These themes have extended outside of Vanguard as well. I’ve had family members call to see how I’m doing, and I’ve tried to do the same. Personal connections can make a difference when you’re alone all day. I’m in a curling league—yes, that strange sport where you throw stones down the ice—and a large part of the game is socializing afterwards. We had a virtual gathering last night for those of us who wanted to “hang out.” My advice: Reach out to someone you haven’t talked to recently. I’m sure they’ll be happy to hear a familiar voice.
I’ve also observed other teams adopt new means to stay connected. One planned a “walk and talk” meeting to get everyone up and moving. Others have used internal message boards to share everything from technical tips for computer equipment, ways to communicate better with co-workers, and general messages of encouragement to everyone company-wide.
Since hallway talk is no longer an option, our team has set aside time each week to catch up on non-work-related items. It’s always fun to see a pet or child running around in the background and how home wardrobe styles differ.
Set up non-work “dates” with peers, as well as friends outside of work. It helps to see smiling faces if you’re used to being around groups, but are now at home.
Use your friends for motivation! I have an app on my phone that reminds me to keep moving, whether it’s steps, exercise, or just movement. You can even challenge your friends. We’re in this together.
Start group documents, such as your own tips for working remotely, allowing teammates to share suggestions. You can even share your favorite television shows to watch.

Stay tuned as I’ll be sharing more insights and tips in the next installment of A week in the life of a newly remote worker.

—Laura B.

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