FSP Accelerate and Korn Ferry
Supporting the Development, Advancement and Retention of African-American and Latinx Professionals in the Financial Industry
Program Description
FSP Accelerate is a 10 – month professional leadership development program created in partnership with Korn Ferry for Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx talent across FSP firms. Over the course of the program, mid-career and mature professionals considered high potentials are exposed to leadership development programming and specialized sessions with key financial services concepts, case studies and best practices. Participants are provided with the support of a talent champion from their firm during the 10 – month program, scheduling regular check in points to evaluate and support their progress. Participants are provided with tools to help them navigate their career trajectory focusing on the systematic and personal factors that uniquely affect members of the Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx community in the financial services industry.
FSP convenes a cohort of 16+ African-American and Hispanic/Latinx employees across FSP member firms to create the following:
- Stronger networks and support, accelerate development
- Explore the systemic and personal factors that uniquely affect members of the Hispanic/ Latinx and Black community in the local financial services industry
- It also aims to provide skillsets, tools and confidence for participants to succeed
- Personalized support from company Champions
Sessions Overview
Over the course of the program participants identified ways to drive their career path and overcome systematic and personal headwinds that uniquely affect members of the Hispanic/Latinx and Black/African-American community. In addition, they had the opportunity to improve industry awareness through specialized sessions exposing them to key financial service concepts and knowledgeable leaders.
Sessions facilitators included experts in the leadership development field, diversity equity and inclusion strategists, and financial firm experts.
Participant Benefits
- Networking opportunities – Participants had the opportunity to meet and share ideas with another professionals of color as well as discussed sensitive issues with liked minded individuals.
- Personalized assessments – The program offered the opportunity to evaluate participants leaderships styles.
- Capstone Presentation – The program allowed participants to accelerate their impact throughout the program by conducting research and presenting on specific topics related to bridging the diversity gap.
Additional Testimonials
Korn Ferry alongside with FSP conducted an anonymous mid-point assessment to evaluate the success of FSP Accelerate. The results showcased that participants would recommend the program to others who are looking to learn more about challenges that might be holding them back. In addition, they felt the program provided business development as well as professional.
“I have become more aware of my own and others world views and have begun to think more critically about the personal growth and development that I need to achieve the long-term professional goals that I have for myself.”
–Alex Piñon | Senior CRSB Examiner – Supervision & Regulation Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
“This is a unique, and a most needed, platform to increase awareness and visibility into the lack of minority leadership representation in financial services.”
-Anonymous
Graduating Cohort 2021 – 2022
BMO Wealth Management
Jeffrey Allent – Director, Economic Development Equity Advisor
Kesi Reed – Senior Manger
Cboe
Denise Bent – Sr. Director, Regulation
Sharon Stanciel – Sr. Director, Political and Civic Affairs
CIBC
Samuel Martin – Assets Manager
Yvenson Cyprien – Associate
Federal Home Loan Bank
Charmayne Beverly – AVP/ Senior HR Business Partner
Rochelle Davis – VP/Systems Implementation Manager
Leslie Drish – AVP/ Director of DEI
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Jeffrey Lewis – Sr. Statistical Reports Analyst
Mari Espinal – Lead IT Auditor
Alex Pinon – Senior Examiner
LGIMA
Jason Ivy – Sr. Internal Audit Manager
The Options Clearing Corp.
Tracey Maxwell – Director, Enterprise Architecture
Wintrust
Erica Martinez – Beverly Bank & Trust, Branch Manager
Cheyenita Allen – Beverly Bank & Trust, Branch Manger
Johan Sanchez – Old Plank Trail Bank & Trust, Regional Branch Manager
James Harrist, JR. – Wintrust Mortgage, VP Strategic Markets