DEIB - Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
Here’s how we’re trying to positively impact the finance world.
“We strive for an innovative technology-driven financial industry that better reflects and serves our diverse society.”
Alastair Matchett - Financial Edge Founder & Instructor
Progress towards diversity and equity in the finance industry has long been slow and difficult, but it needn’t be so. Time and time again, it has been proven that encouraging equal opportunities and a more diverse hiring landscape is crucial, not only socially, but economically too.
The finance industry can be as tough as it gets, so it matters even more that we maximize people’s well-being, motivation, and engagement. We want our talented employees to feel trusted to contribute their unique perspectives, and collaborate effectively, which we can achieve if we all make steps towards diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
What we’re doing about it
Our mission is to empower professionals and students by combining world-class teaching with industry-leading technology to foster a stronger, more diverse future for the world of finance. This mission guides our efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Client initiatives
We support all our clients in implementing their own unique and effective initiatives.
OUR PRINCIPLE
The first step in any finance career is a solid educational foundation. We work on a variety of client programs, designed to highlight pathways into banking to students from non-traditional backgrounds.
CLIENT PROGRAMS
These programs, such as J.P. Morgan’s fellowship program, democratize access to careers at some of the biggest names in finance. For more examples of initiatives we’ve worked on, please get in touch.
Internal commitments
We make efforts every day to be fair and provide equal opportunities to our employees and associates.
INTERVIEW PROCESS
We ensure interviews are not just top-down to encourage as many perspectives as possible. Trainers are interviewed by trainers and non-teaching staff are interviewed by their peers.
MANDATORY BIAS TRAINING
To encourage employees to recognize their bias, and to take steps to reduce the ways in which this bias impacts their decisions, we are making bias training mandatory for all staff.
INTERVIEW TRAINING
Hiring managers are at the forefront of efforts to create a more diverse workplace. We are introducing policies to ensure internal recruiters have the skills needed to attract and support diverse talent.
EMPLOYER-SUPPORTED VOLUNTEERING
We support volunteering by giving our team paid leave each year, which they can use to support a charity or initiative of their choice in the education space.
Charitable contributions
We extend the reach of our top-tier training to those who might previously not have had access.
10,000 Interns Foundation
10,000 Interns Foundation unlocks access to paid internship opportunities across finance, technology and 25+ industry sectors for black students and graduates in the UK.
Since their inaugural year in 2021 we have partnered with this program to provide world-class training and resources to help their candidates succeed in their internships.
GEARUP
GearUp Africa is a non-profit organization dedicated to unlocking the full potential of Africa’s youth through initiatives such as the 3-year Gear Up Analyst program.
We’ve provided their analysts with free access to Felix, helping them gain technical and professional skills in preparation for successful careers in finance.
INTOUNIVERSITY
IntoUniversity are a UK-based charity who specialize in helping disadvantaged young people gain places in higher education.
As well as making donations, each summer, we run training sessions for students selected from across their network of centres, to introduce them to
Excel coding in preparation for university applications.
FRESH YOUTH INITIATIVES
Based in Washington Heights, Fresh Youth Initiatives is a non-profit youth development organization providing young people ages 9-18 with the support, encouragement, and skills needed for secure futures, healthy lives, and strong academic achievement.
We’ve provided financial support to help their work using evidence-based curricula to strengthen children’s reading and math skills at all grade levels.
Our partnerships
At Financial Edge, we understand that the future of finance must be more representative of society as a whole. As part of our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion, we recognize our responsibility to extend the reach of our top-tier training to those who might previously not have had access. Below are just some of the organizations we have partnered with to help democratize education
and access to the finance industry.
IntoUniversity
IntoUniversity are a UK-based charity who specialize in helping disadvantaged young people gain places in higher education. As well as making donations, each summer, we run training sessions for students selected from across their network of centres, to introduce them to Excel coding in preparation for university applications. We also run yearly boot camps on Excel Fundamentals for their Big City Bright Future program.
10,000 Interns Foundation
10,000 Interns Foundation unlocks access to paid internship opportunities across finance, technology and 25+ industry sectors for black students and graduates in the UK.
Since their inaugural year in 2021 we have partnered with this program to provide world-class training and resources to help their candidates succeed in their
internships.
Female x Finance
Launched in 2021, Female x Finance are the first and fastest-growing job and educational platform that actively connects female talent with the financial sector. Their aim is to make gender diversity in Finance the norm, not a trend.
In 2023, we ran a highly successful event together, dedicated to empowering women in finance by sharing the stories and insights both our cohorts have.
Blackelm Equity
Blackelm Equity are a student-run ESG investment club with a commitment to fostering innovation, diversity, and transparency in the finance sector. They have secured
exclusive Partnerships with Bloomberg LP and Financial Edge Training.
In 2023, Blackelm Equity joined us as part of our ‘Knowledge Partnership’ program, sharing our unique resources to drive innovation and diversity in the finance world for the new generation of finance professionals.
Financial Edge celebrates diversity, supports inclusiveness and encourages individual expression in our workplace. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination towards any of our applicants, employees, or clients. We are an equal opportunity employer.
Financial Edge is an LGBT+ Business Enterprise
Set up by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce®, the LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) is a company-level diversity certification for LGBT majority-owned businesses. This standard helps connect LGBTBE-owned businesses with company decision-makers at federal, state, and local levels.
Platforming diverse talent in finance
Cutting Edge: Inspiring career insights from the new generation of ambitious talent in finance
Financial Edge’s official podcast is a platform where we spotlight finance professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives as they share their career journeys and offer valuable insights to those actively pursuing a career in finance.
Ahmed Abdel Rahman
Hear this driven final-year student at the University of York describe his journey to landing a competitive internship at a top global asset management firm.
Tolu Osisanwo
Hear from this talented Private Equity Analyst at Hamilton Lane. Discover her journey with 10K Black Interns and her dedication to giving opportunities to under-represented talent.
Vincent Wihardjo
Hear this former intern at Avant-garde Capital share his story of breaking into the finance industry, and his tips on how to get your foot in the door.
Alicia John
Hear this LSE student describe her experience at PJT Partners., and as Co-President of the Alternative Investments Conference, plus the importance of industry diversity.
