October 17, 2023

Black Bankers ERG Executive Summary - Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Announcements

• The AAPI Bankers ERG is focused on supporting and uplifting Asian bankers across the nation. The next general meeting is Tuesday, November 14, at 4 p.m. (ET).
• The Black Bankers ERG is hosting a networking meeting on Thursday, November 16, at 2 p.m. (ET).
• The next Black Bankers ERG meeting will be Wednesday, December 6 at 3 p.m. (ET). 
• The next Women in Model Risk Management Development meeting will be on Wednesday, December 13 at 3 PM (ET).
• The next DEI Open Forum will be on Wednesday, November 15 at 3 p.m. (ET). We will be discussing the 2023 Women in the Workplace Report, recently published by McKinsey and LeanIn.org.

Introduction of Guest Speaker

Tracy J. Edmonds is the owner of TJE Coaching & Consulting, LLC, where she serves as an executive coach and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultant. She teaches her framework for mastering authenticity as the driver to creating successful careers, teams, and organizations. She specializes in coaching women – especially women of color – to bring out their best in a corporate environment, leaving their unique stamp on the roles they hold and the work that they do. A former corporate executive who served as Chief Diversity Officer at Anthem, Inc., Tracy brings a unique blend of thought leadership, strategic planning, and execution mindset to her consulting. She coaches executives and leaders to leverage their authenticity to drive meaningful DEI strategy. With over 30 years of corporate experience ranging from HR to operations and program management, Tracy brings strong business and leadership perspectives to the DEI conversation. Tracy is also an author and speaker on the topics of diversity, inclusion, authenticity, and leadership. In her book, Wild Hair, A Courageous Woman’s Guide to a Bold and Authentic Career, she achieved Amazon's international bestseller status. She believes that your authenticity is your currency for transforming yourself, your team, or your organization. Check out her website at tracyjedmonds.com.

Tracy shared some heartfelt life lessons that she has learned through her corporate and DEI journey. She highlighted how impactful having a sponsor can be, shared tips on creating your personal brand, and shed some light on how each of us can be our authentic selves in the workplace.

Q&A

Q: What is the difference between a sponsor and a mentor? How do you build authentic relationships with sponsors?
A: Mentors pour into you and give you guidance in personal or workplace situations. A sponsor supports you outwardly. A sponsor knows you and pours outwardly about you. They advocate for your next career opportunity amongst their own peers and colleagues. A sponsor needs to be able to help you with your career and must be able to support you in your career growth. You must be intentional about where you want to go and what you want to do. After finding out what your potential sponsor's role is, you can then begin to build a continuous relationship with them.

Q: How do I use my voice without being seen as defensive, rude, or argumentative?
A: Firstly, don’t be defensive, rude, or argumentative! You must ask yourself when you can “add value” to this conversation. What people think about you is not your concern because there will always be someone who doesn’t like who you are. If your intentions are good, act on your intentions.

Q: Visibility is often needed to build relationships with executives outside of your management structure. What are some suggestions for gaining that visibility?
A: You are the owner of your career. You need to have conversations with your manager and sponsors about your career. You should communicate your truth to others so they can act on your behalf. It is also important to “raise your hand” in moments when you can take on leadership opportunities. Analyze and self-assess how taking on additional assignments will aid you in your role. Also, take advantage of volunteerism and ERG opportunities within your company.

Thank you to one of our executive sponsors, Peter Gwaltney, for joining today!