Why I started a book club with my daughter
Has the universe ever given you a sign? An unmistakable, it’s-time-to-act type of signal? Well, as I was sitting at Vanguard’s Leadership Symposium in Philadelphia last fall, a topic hit my radar for the third time in the span of a few months. And since good things come in threes (right?), I committed then and there to take action – and my kids and I are glad I did. Yup, in this Vanguard blog, I’m talking about my kids. Let me explain… I started my Vanguard career in April 2001 working in our Legal department in Malvern, PA. A lawyer by training, I was initially our “intellectual property guy,” though over the course of 9 years, my responsibilities grew and evolved until I was leading our Corporate Legal Services group and reporting to our General Counsel. Because Vanguard encourages its crew to have a breadth of experiences, I had begun exploring leadership opportunities outside of our Legal department and outside of our PA campus. So in 2010, I moved to Vanguard’s Institutional business and, at the same time, my family and I (wife, four kids, one dog) moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. I’m very grateful to Vanguard for the fantastic opportunity to grow! Moving outside of my comfort zone work-wise and moving across the country were huge changes for us as a family. In many ways, these shared experiences of change brought us closer together.
Of course, I’ve always been involved in my kids’ lives – reading to them, playing games, doing yard work together, teaching them to drive (two so far!), etc. And I’ve coached all four of them on various youth soccer teams – I’ve lost count, but something like 18 teams overall. My work at Vanguard was always flexible enough that I could do these. But as the kids were growing older, I was getting worried that I was missing something. Enter Stew Friedman…
Stewart Friedman is a professor at Wharton and author of several books on the topic of having a richer life by integrating elements of home and work. I’m summarizing, but his view is that you can do real-world exercises that improve performance and increase your leadership capacity by better integrating all parts of your life. It’s a powerful and motivating message. I knew Vanguard wanted me (and all its leaders and crew) to have a richer life. I remember receiving this message three distinct times – at a Vanguard executive development program, during a conversation with other Vanguard leaders, and at the Leadership Symposium (where Professor Friedman himself presented!). It was time to act.
One of the things I did was ask each of my children to write down a handful of things they would like to do with me, just the two of us. They all came up with fantastic ideas, fun and interesting things – why hadn’t I done this sooner?!? My 17 year-old daughter, Maddie, had a few ideas – among them were to learn about money and investing, and for the two of us to read a book together and then discuss, like a book club. So with Stew Friedman’s guidance, we “integrated” these two ideas and decided to read a book together about money and investing!
Maddie and I read The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko. Though written in the mid-1990s, its core lessons still ring true – the keys to financial independence involve living within your means, being frugal, and spending time on budgeting and planning, among others. They were great lessons for Maddie and helpful reminders for me. And wonderfully aligned to Vanguard’s investment philosophy and mission as an organization.
Here’s what Maddie had to say about the experience: “I’ve had a lot of fun doing the book club with Dad. When he asked what we could do together, I thought of books because we both like to read, and thought about financial things because I don’t know a lot about it and he works at Vanguard. Now, not only has he taught me about managing money, but we’ve had some meaningful and grown-up conversations beyond that, too. It brought us closer together and, to me, reinforced the value of reaching out to those you love.”
It worked so well that Maddie and I are now on our 3rd book, Mindset by Carol S. Dweck. We are having a wonderful time exploring and connecting over these books – and discussing life in general. I’m a lucky and super-proud dad, and I’m glad for the opportunity to reflect on that with Father’s Day just around the corner. Thank you universe (okay, really thank you Stew Friedman and Vanguard) for giving me that unmistakable sign!
-Matt W.
If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
How LEAP made me feel at home
My parents emigrated from the Philippines to the United States before I was born. My siblings and I are the lucky recipients of their courageous American dream – for their future children to become the first generation of American-born children in the family. They settled down in New York City, in Stuyvesant Town, on New York’s Lower East Side. As a young girl, I always knew I wanted to work amidst the hustle and bustle of NYC. But limited income, spread across a growing family, meant my parents had little savings for me to attend undergrad without incurring significant debt. I buckled down and was fortunate to earn a full-ride scholarship towards an undergraduate degree that allowed me to achieve my dream – and experiences across a variety of different NYC institutions: a Japanese investment firm, a publicly-traded global investment bank, and UK-based index company.
Needing a career move
My life transitioned when I gave birth to my daughter. She made me pause and look at everything in a new way. Unfortunately, my time with her was limited – this time in my career often had me traveling cross country, entertaining client relationships or commuting over one and a half hours to-and-from the office.
Then along came Vanguard. Now, I had been an investor in Vanguard funds for years. And I was Vanguard’s key account manager while at my last firm. But I never truly got to know the culture until getting to know the crew. Could it be true – a company that cared as much for its people as it did its clients? It was refreshing to hear that employees would be empowered to make decisions with a different core mission in mind, one which had a sense of purpose, of thinking beyond short term gains.
So we took the leap. I joined Vanguard and relocated my family to the Philly suburbs. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t foresee how much I would miss my family, how much my daughter, and only child, would miss her weekend play dates with cousins. I found it hard to network with crew whose relationships spanned over the course of years of family ties, neighborhood block parties, and high school relationships. I didn’t follow the Phillies or the Eagles, and I didn’t know what a tomato pie was! Only with the support of my husband could I have ever made the move. For the first time, I was out of my comfort zone – the figurative and literal new kid in the neighborhood.
Finding my Vanguard family
By chance, shortly after joining Vanguard, I attended a full-day conference sponsored by the Crew Resource Group “Leadership and Engagement for Asian Professionals” (LEAP). The inaugural event – focused on connecting, inspiring, and elevating crew of Asian descent – was motivating to see. Hundreds of crew members who, like myself, were transplants from different cities worldwide gathered together to celebrate our shared culture. The energy and the vibe of foreign-born or second-generation immigrants who work hard to embrace the opportunities they’ve been given is palpable if you’re familiar with it – I was inspired and reminded of the resilience my parents faced as transplants into NYC. But hearing leaders speak to the value of inclusion, of diversity of cultures, and of thought, I knew I made the right choice coming to Vanguard. I reached out to the LEAP leadership team after the conference to volunteer my time – and give back the sense of community and inclusion LEAP gave to me.
As we look back on Asian/Pacific American Heritage month, three years after being an audience member, I am proud to be one of a 100-crew member volunteer group that dedicated over six months of their hard work, creativity, and time to put on our third, now global LEAP conference. I am proud of working for compassionate leaders who genuinely support crew in their desires to give back, through Vanguard’s Crew Resource Groups (CRGs) or community-based programs. And I am proud to call Vanguard home.
If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
Vanguard pushes to increase diversity
Omar S. heads the U.S. Investment Grade Taxable Research effort at Vanguard and was selected as a Toigo Fellow while getting his MBA at Columbia Business School. In this blog, he shares what the Toigo Foundation means to him as well as a recap of a recent event.
As an advocate of efforts to enact change and build diversity, the mission of the Robert Toigo Foundation© – to “foster the career advancement and increased leadership of underrepresented talent in Finance and allied industries and to create mechanisms for greater inclusion from the classroom to the boardroom” – resonated with me right away. Vanguard’s promising partnership with the Toigo Foundation combines my connection with the organization as an alum with my desire to drive a more inclusive environment in the Finance industry. Vanguard recently hosted the opening events of Toigo MBA Catapult – an annual event hosted in Philadelphia that offers an opportunity for the 250+ Toigo MBA Fellowship finalists to learn more about financial services firms as they pursue careers in finance. The event incorporates industry panels, workshops, as well as a career expo.
During Catapult, I was one of three panelists in the Investment Management Career webinar, where we talked about our respective career journeys, including my journey at Vanguard. We heard from Vanguard leaders, including CEO Tim Buckley and CIO Greg Davis, who shared their personal Vanguard stories, their perspective on the markets and the importance of diverse thought and talent. Additionally, the audience had the opportunity to learn more about careers in finance, particularly at Vanguard, whether it be full-time positions or prominent MBA programs.
The evening reception was a great way for participants to connect and hear testimonials from crew across various Vanguard divisions and learn how Vanguard is much more than an investment management firm. For Vanguard crew, it served as an avenue to learn the past, present, and future aspirations of an impressive group of applicants with deep, varied experience across the top business schools in the country. I often tell people that, financial assistance aside, the more valuable aspects of the Toigo Fellowship throughout my MBA experience were the small, intimate gatherings with leading corporate sponsors. I’ve long felt it offered a chance to have meaningful connections and conversations with potential employers, and these impactful discussions increased the chance to secure summer internships and full-time positions. We worked toward replicating that experience at Vanguard for the Toigo finalists, and I believe we succeeded.
The second day of Catapult saw several panel discussions and afforded Vanguard an opportunity to not only continue engaging with Toigo, but also for staff panelists for the Investment Management, Social Impact Investing, Emerging Markets, FinTech and Foundations & Endowment panels to hear perspectives from those on the front lines in those specialties. The day also included a Career Connections segment, where Toigo members heard insights from the co-head of Vanguard’s MBA Development Program and two current MBA rotation candidates. Vanguard’s final day of involvement included a Career Expo and Career Coaching Panel where we could, again, talk more to Toigo Fellow finalists and alums about Vanguard’s MBA opportunities as well as our culture, philosophy, and exciting growth.
I was humbled by everyone’s willingness to help, and the coordinated effort between Human Resources and the businesses solidified a great few days with Toigo and served as a foundation from which we can certainly grow. I thought it was a wonderful collective effort and we received a lot of positive feedback.
-Omar S.
If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, learn about our MBA careers opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
Vanguard crew member shares coming out story
Pride month is celebrated every June to recognize and support the LGBT community in cities around the world. Vanguard’s Out Professional Engagement Network (OPEN) works to create an inclusive environment for LGBT individuals and their allies, and plays an active role in Pride festivities. In recognition of Pride month, and to further our goal of creating an inclusive workplace, we share crew member Jason N.’s coming out story: “I heard you are a poof,” Simon announced to everybody around me. I was 18 years old and in a group outside a lecture theatre. Simon and I were embarking on a friendship. Or at least I thought we were. Even if you haven’t heard the word poof, you can easily guess that it isn’t flattering. I wasn’t entirely sure of my sexuality but I knew that I wasn’t straight. When Simon levelled his accusation, years of shame bubbled to the surface. I stood humiliated and exposed as everyone filed into the classroom. I was alone on the precipice of a lifetime of coming out. In coming out, I expected to lose Simon. I expected to lose all of my friends. I expected to lose my family. I firmly believed that I’d lose everyone close to me. I would no longer be a friend, a son, or a brother. I thought I would be alone. I went home and cried. The next day was a new beginning for me. When I found Simon at university, he said he wanted to talk. He told me that he went home and considered whether he could be gay. He told me that he just couldn’t conceive of it. But he also realized how unnatural it would be for me to ignore my own sexuality. He told me that nothing had changed between us. Little did he know, everything had changed for me! I was liberated. I was no longer in hiding. It was my first step on a path to self-acceptance. Of course, you don’t always come out, but the assumptions and the choice to come out never goes away. The relevance isn’t immediately obvious but if I choose to come out to you, it’s because I’ve decided not to censor myself with you – I’ve decided to let you know who I am. It allows me talk as freely about my weekend or my family life as you can to me. It allows me to be me, and it allows us to have an authentic relationship. So here goes – my name is Jason. I am a friend, a brother, a son, and a colleague. I’m also gay. Jason N. is a Project Manager in IT in our Australian office and is on the committee of the Australian OPEN Crew Resource Group. He is an advocate for bringing your whole self to work. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, camping, and playing squash (with great enthusiasm but much less skill).
I followed everyone into class and considered what I was going to do next. It was just a remark but it cut deep enough to make me shake. Boys call each other gay all the time. I could have just let it go. As the lecturer’s words washed over me, it was clear that I wanted to come out. I had to. Although I hadn’t yet acted on these feelings with anything other than shame, I knew it was riskier for me to not share my secret. I couldn’t remain hidden any longer. The burden had become too great. It was time. I told Simon that I was gay.
I didn’t lose Simon. Coming out to him brought us closer together. But coming out isn’t just telling one friend in the hallways at university and then you’re done. It’s an ongoing experience. Your sexuality isn’t apparent in the same way that something like skin color is. While being gay is not a choice, coming out is a choice that you have to face every day. When your colleague assumes you have a wife. When a taxi driver asks if you have any kids. When you start a new job. When you move to a new house. When you get too friendly with your local grocer. When you check into a hotel with your partner. When you make a new friend.
If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
Vanguard daughters join Mom at the office
In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re featuring a series of blogs dedicated to working mothers and their experience at Vanguard. In this video, Caroline C. and her daughter Allie share their insights from a special “Bring Your Daughter to Work Day” event, including how they’re planning for the future and why Caroline feels she “doesn’t have to separate being a mom from working.”
If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
A conversation with a Vanguard Sales Executive
We recently sat down with Anthony W., a Sales Executive in Vanguard’s Financial Advisor Services. Anthony’s role is unique in that he spends his time “in the field” with advisors, and does not work in a Vanguard office. Anthony shares his thoughts on why he loves sales, how he makes a difference, and how football prepared him for his role at Vanguard. I partner with wire house and independent financial advisors through the broker dealer channel. I spend my days learning about the landscape of their firms, each advisor or team’s business model, their investment philosophy, types of clients they serve, service model, and their growth strategies. From there, I focus on creating value for them, which includes: providing Vanguard products and resources to give their clients the best chance for investment success, sharing perspectives that are new or different, and offering actionable ideas to help grow their businesses. My goal is to ensure Vanguard is a part of their future growth and success. You don’t get to spend a lot of time with co-workers, but Vanguard has a very collaborative culture. Working remote, is it hard to stay connected with your team when you don’t sit near them? We’re still connected, it’s just a different type of connection. We catch up over video and group text rather than going out to lunch or meeting in person. You have to be proactive to stay connected and exchange information. The camaraderie is there, it’s just digital. Commuting in Los Angeles provides plenty of windshield time to call and speak with peers. So it’s fair to say this is a very independent role. Autonomy is huge – I liken our work to running a business inside of a business. It’s a big ask to run a territory, and there is less oversight, which means you have to be disciplined and trustworthy. Working well with your management team and internal partners is key. I enjoy the opportunity, but it’s not for everyone. Learn more about our Financial Advisor Services sales careers in the video below!
Thanks for joining us, Anthony. Your role is different compared to many of our crew. Can you talk about a day in the life covering financial advisors in Los Angeles?
What drew you to being a sales professional?
I played football at the University of Arizona and I enjoyed the competition and adrenaline rush of the game. For me, sales was a natural transition from sports. You have to set a goal, analyze the industry and competitive landscape, and execute a game plan. Football taught me the importance of a highly functioning team that works together towards a win. Instead of defending opponents on the field, we’re using Vanguard resources to give advisors an advantage in the marketplace.
Sales is also about helping people arrive at a conclusion they hadn’t considered. Some of my favorite advisors are the ones who have never partnered with Vanguard. I like the challenge of establishing a new relationship, building credibility, and helping advisors manage their assets. When you’ve made a difference for a client, it can feel like making a big play in a big game.
You’ve worked in sales in other roles at Vanguard. How did these previous roles prepare you for this one?
I started in our Business Development Group (BDG), a department that specializes in bringing new clients into Vanguard and introducing them to our advice capabilities. This was a tremendous opportunity as it allowed me to hear thousands of investor’s stories, understand the issues they were facing, and support them through the global financial crisis.
Working in BDG was like going to sales university–it taught me how to have a consultative sales conversation. Talking to someone who trusts you with their financial life is powerful and humbling. There can be a lot of uncertainty and we were able to help clients financially and emotionally through the investing process. After you master these skills, you are ready to move on to a different level of client, with different needs.
So obviously you like sales, but why sales at Vanguard instead of another firm?
I’ve been at Vanguard for eleven years and the culture is very different from other firms where I’ve worked. Vanguard puts clients first. We have no outside shareholders to answer to. No conflicting interests. It’s gratifying to walk into an advisor’s office and know that I can do good and do well at the same time.
What advice would you give someone who’s interested in a sales career here?
Be a good listener and learn how to disagree well with those who hold opposing views. Both of these take time and practice, but give you the ability to connect with others and overcome real objections.
Being successful at sales is more than identifying current needs and providing solutions. Deepening your business and investment acumen will help you deliver differentiated perspectives that add value. Clients need us to offer something that enhances what they’re already doing and make them more successful.
It’s also key to remember our guiding values – focus on doing the right thing and giving all investors a fair shake. It’s truly why we’re here.
If you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our career opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
National Girl Scout Day: Inspiring and empowering the next generation
March 12th is National Girl Scout Day, a day celebrating the organization’s empowerment of girls and its positive impacts to communities across the country. To recognize the day, Vanguard shares this story of how our leaders inspired the next generation at a special Girl Scout event. A common bond that many Vanguard crew members share is the desire to connect with and make a difference in our local communities. Vanguard encourages crew to prioritize community outreach through volunteer service and inspiring the next generation of talent. Susan M., a graphic design manager in International Marketing Services, saw an opportunity to do just this through her daughter’s Girl Scouts troop. “After comparing the Girl Scout organization’s core values with Vanguard’s, I noticed many similarities. I realized that there was an opportunity to help young women take their first step in their journey as a leader by leveraging my talented colleagues.” said Susan. Sharing our journey Susan worked closely with the Girl Scouts organization to create an event where the girls were treated to a panel of talented women from various Vanguard departments, who shared their leadership journeys. The panel included leaders from Investment Management, Marketing & Communications, and International Marketing. In addition, the audience received a step-by-step how-to guide, and, of course, a custom Girl Scouts patch. During the panel discussion, each leader explained their unique career path and what steps they took to become the leader they are today. This helped the girls think more deeply about what qualities they possess. The panel members were sure to highlight some of the less obvious leadership qualities like observation and listening skills. The discussion was interactive, complete with time dedicated to Q&A. Envisioning their future Following the panel discussion, the girls were broken into small groups and asked to create a “dream board.” This helped the girls conceptualize and express their dreams and aspirations through images and words—emphasizing the important lesson to the girls that their goals are attainable. Along with creating the boards, the girls were also tasked with looking at their dream jobs at a 360 degree angle: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Throughout the activity, the leaders circulated around the room and asked questions to help the girls envision a logical path towards their goals. One of the women on the panel, Stephanie G., said, “The dream board activity was an amazing way to get the girls thinking about how they could be a leader in the future. There was one girl who aspires to be an author. Another girl talked about being a scientist. And another about photography and traveling the world. I think everyone was smiling by the end of the night.” A passion for development When I asked the panel to reflect on the event, their responses spoke volumes about how passionate they are about developing talent and sharing their knowledge and experience. The members of the panel seemed to benefit from the event just as much as the attendees. Rachel C. also shared her positive thoughts about the event. “I enjoyed the event both personally and professionally. I was able to stand beside some of my favorite peers and represent female leadership at Vanguard. An event like this one shows that Vanguard cares about the development of young women.” -Allison G. Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published on January 16, 2018.
Sharing our expertise with the next generation is one way Vanguard crew connect with our communities. Learn more about how Vanguard helps communities have the best chance for success. And if you’re seeking an environment where you can make a difference and develop professionally, check out our career opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
International Women’s Day and Vanguard
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity and focuses on unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action. Carolyn S., a program manager in our International division currently located in Tokyo, shares her Vanguard journey, and why she chooses to stay for the long term. This International Women’s Day feels like a good time to reflect on my experiences and how the values of this unofficial holiday coincide with many values held by Vanguard. It is also an important day to me as I have been a part of WILS (Women’s Initiative for Leadership Success) for many years. I’ve been inspired by Vanguard’s commitment to WILS and its mission: WILS is committed to inspiring and preparing women for leadership positions at Vanguard. To achieve this, Vanguard seeks to create a culture that supports and encourages women’s professional growth. While IWD focuses on ten values to guide the direction of this globally-recognized day, I want to share three that stand out for me: Collaboration Simply put, collaboration is a must at Vanguard. Of course, there are tasks and small projects you can complete on your own, but overall we are structured to work together. Here’s an example: in school and during internships, I would almost finish an entire project before sharing results with key stakeholders. Occasionally, I would discover new information and have to redo my work. While working in Vanguard’s Corporate Strategy department, however, I learned a refreshing style: I tackled only about 40% of a project, usually in partnership with my peers, then reviewed the approach with leaders, teammates, and internal partners. This allowed for much more timely feedback and ensured we were on the right track. It’s not about micromanaging, it’s about working together to deliver amazing results. In addition, it offers multiple opportunities to be coached and stay informed. Appreciation Throughout my time at Vanguard, my leaders have consistently expressed their appreciation for my work – whether it’s a quick email, stopping by my desk, an IM after a meeting, or during an annual performance review. And sometimes the gratitude isn’t explicit – I know Vanguard highly regards my work because they trust me with significant responsibilities. For example, in 2017 I was on a small team charged with planning an IT Leadership Conference session – a demanding project that was outside of my typical responsibilities. While being asked to support this event was appreciation in and of itself, it didn’t stop there. After the event, the executive who sponsored the team gave me a handwritten note of thanks detailing why she appreciated my efforts. That really made me feel valued. Respect From the beginning, it was clear that there’s a basic level of respect at Vanguard no matter your position. I can vividly recall attending a meeting with the head of our department early on in my career. During the meeting, I decided to take a risk and offer my opinion on a decision the team had made. This leader paused, acknowledged my comment, and asked me questions. That moment may have felt small to others, but for me it was hugely impactful. To have someone so tenured respect my opinion and even ask me for further thoughts meant a lot as a newer crew member. Now that I’m in a leadership role, I make it a priority to do the same for others. In fact, as a leader at Vanguard I am expected to engage and advocate for my co-workers and ensure they feel included and can tell their ideas are respected. A truly international IWD this year I recently moved to a position in our Tokyo office – a huge transition both personally and professionally. I feel very grateful that Vanguard trusted me with this opportunity and responsibility. Consistent with the themes I mentioned, I felt supported and valued by my new leadership team and teammates during the transition. It’s yet another testament to the variety of things you can do at this company when you work hard and commit to personal growth. I could go on about the many ways Vanguard exemplifies the other seven IWD themes, but, that would be a very long blog post…
Vanguard was my first “real” job after college – I started in the Scottsdale office serving Retail clients. After interning at other financial firms, I realized Vanguard was a very different kind of employer, one who offered something unique to crew and was a place where women could succeed. I’ve held a variety of roles during the past nine years, and most of my bosses have been women. Having several senior level women to look up to made it easy for me to imagine possibilities for my own career.
If you enjoyed this post, check out more from our #LifeatVanguard Blog. And if you’re ready for a more rewarding, engaging, meaningful career, search our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.
The Power of Rice
One of the best parts of working at Vanguard is our fervent passion to give back to the communities where we live and work. But for one very special event, it was a community across the globe that needed our support – the children of the Philippines. Recently, crew members from Human Resources and the Vanguard Black Professional Network (VBPN) partnered together for a volunteer event for Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit that provides malnourished children with nutritionally complete meals. Over 41 crew members arrived to pack boxes of MannaPack Rice – a product that provides a single nutritious meal for children all over the world. In the spirit of friendly competition, the entire group moved as fast as possible to pack the food. Laughter and joy filled the room as crew shouted out the next cheer “table 7, box 10!”– both to alert volunteer movers where to pick up the next box and so the entire room would know who was taking the lead in packing the meals. Cups of rice, veggies, and soy whizzed down the assembly lines, bags of rice piled high at the end of the tables, and the packers scrambled to keep up with how fast everything moved. Anthony D. recalls, “The camaraderie and free spirited fun were on full display as crew raced against one another to hold the title (bragging rights) of most meals made.” The final tally In just a little over an hour, 240 boxes were packed. This means that 51,840 meals were prepared and packed that will feed 142 children for a single year. Vanguard’s volunteers pushed out $11,404.80 of meals for children in need. Best of all, we’re contributing to the efforts to feed those in poverty-stricken areas and helping these communities heal and rebuild. There’s something about stepping outside your own neighborhood to focus on the needs of others that inspires you to help again and again. At the end of the day, we had the opportunity to learn about the recipients of our volunteer efforts. We saw a picture of Anna, who at one year old weighed just nine pounds, and had sunken eyes, a distended belly, and swollen cheeks. After seven months on a nutritional program of MannaPack rice, she had gained 36 pounds. The updated photo of this little girl, now healthy and vibrant, is something we will never forget. She is the reason we give back.
Giving back and having fun
As crew worked, you could feel the Vanguard culture in the room – it truly extends past the buildings we work in. The positive atmosphere was contagious, whether it was the vocal encouragement from the team, the networking with crew we don’t get to see often, or the funny chants we yelled to energize each other. Another crew member shared, “This was a nice change of pace, as most events are a little more formal in setting. It was great to be more hands on.”
It’s not just about rice
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Inclusion – It’s more than the workplace
In my last blog, I discussed Vanguard’s high score on The HRC Corporate Equality Index survey. This score reflects our dedication to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies. But these endeavors extend beyond just creating an inclusive workplace – they can alleviate challenges in our personal lives as well. “I specifically asked whether Vanguard provided same-sex domestic partner benefits before I joined in November 2011. My partner, Julie, and I had just gotten married in August and I had covered Julie under my benefits plan at my previous employer. At the time, I knew that Pennsylvania and the Federal government would not recognize our marriage. However, because I could cover Julie under the Vanguard health and welfare plans, I knew we would be okay.” – Kathleen R. “When I came out to my parents, one of the things they were concerned with was the possibility of losing my job because I am gay. A few months later when I joined Vanguard, I could point to Vanguard’s non-discrimination policy to reassure them that members of the LGBT community were valued here. Years later, there was a time when my husband’s company was going through bankruptcy. We weren’t sure the company would survive and he could have been out of work. It was a comfort to know Vanguard offered domestic partner benefits, which we could take advantage of if necessary. Luckily, things worked out fine and it wasn’t necessary, but it was good to know we had it if we needed it.” – Mark O. “I am extremely thankful for the ability to enroll my partner Jon in Vanguard’s medical plan coverage. In fact, he works for a health insurance company, and our plan is more comprehensive than the one his employer offers!” – Brian F. As for me, I began my Vanguard career in the fall of 1999, and I had not come out to anyone during the recruiting stage or onboarding process. This was a purposeful decision. I wanted time to acclimate to my new job, and to learn more about Vanguard’s culture. After six months, I felt very comfortable with my team, and completely aligned to Vanguard’s mission. So I made the decision to come out to my leader and colleagues at work in early 2000. My manager and leadership team were fully supportive, and they treated me with the same level of respect, encouragement, and inclusiveness as everyone else. The way they treated me was a welcomed change, as my experience with leadership at another employer was hesitant and timid, at best. I’m now in my 19th year at Vanguard, and in many respects, this is home for me. My experiences and professional connections at Vanguard have been similar to my personal relationships with my family – welcoming, nurturing, and supportive. At Vanguard I am empowered to focus on meaningful work and career development without the burdens of guardedness and discretion that many in the LGBTQ+ community often confront. For this I feel most blessed, and so very grateful, and I am inspired to help ensure that all crew members feel just as welcomed. Consider learning more about the 2018 Corporate Equality Index – the report is free and available to anyone. (Vanguard is mentioned on pages 54, 89, and 98 of the report.) -Chris H.
If you’re looking for a role where you can be empowered to learn, grow, and make a difference, check out our opportunities at www.vanguardjobs.com.