During the past few weeks, protests against systemic racism, prejudice and economic and social injustice have erupted across the country.
As a firm, we did not want to remain silent on these issues. At the same time, we also felt it was important to take a moment to listen, learn and look inward. We wanted to make sure that any words expressed were accompanied by meaningful action and real change.
We are proud of Modera’s long history of giving back and community involvement. We are also proud that the proportion of women in leadership roles at Modera is well ahead of the industry average. However, recent events remind us that we can do more to encourage equality, equal opportunity and greater awareness and understanding within our community and our profession.
Without question, it has always been essential to us that our workplace is one that is inclusive, safe and respectful for all. To ensure that we are doing everything we can toward this end, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, which is made up of employees across our six office locations, will implement new diversity training and educational programs for our entire staff. Additionally, we’re enhancing our diversity and inclusion efforts for recruiting, hiring, and retaining the best talent. In conjunction with our Philanthropy Committee, we’re also taking steps to promote change within our profession by seeking opportunities to provide mentorships, scholarships and other initiatives that support students and professionals from diverse backgrounds to enter and thrive in the field of financial services.
Modera is challenging itself in how we respond to what is happening around us. We know that we have more to learn but we take solace in knowing that learning is a part of who we are as a firm and what we value. If we are unsure of an answer, we are the first to admit it. We are willing to ask difficult questions of ourselves in order to find solutions and above all, do right by our staff, by our clients and by our communities.
