Cate Luzio

Bravo for this ground breaking work on what it will take to achieve economic parity, by my man Shelley Stewart III and his partners at McKinsey. I'm particularly inspired by two powerful excerpts: "Solutions need different forms in different communities, but getting to parity requires more speed and scale than ever before." And for those of us in the real estate industry, here's a call to action. " Adding affordable housing in low-poverty (high opportunity) neighborhoods and mixed-income developments could improve economic mobility for the next generation." #EconomicParity #Equality #UrbanRevitalization

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Centuries to parity for Black Americans ���The nation’s suburbs and exurbs have the highest overall Black outcome scores. They come out on top or as runner-up across seven of our eight aspirations, leading in metrics such as median household income ($79,000), workers in management roles (36 percent), life expectancy (78 years), and bachelor’s degree attainment (29 percent). But less than 12 percent of Black Americans live in the urban periphery, five percentage points lower than the share of the total US population in this community profile.” McKinsey does not do normative analysis but we do and so do hundreds of scholars and policy wonks. The way to improving the situation for Black people in America is not opaque and unknowable. We need to get to work. Link to the Levers of Change in the comments and the McKinsey Juneteenth newsletter

Solidarity Required Attacks by racists are not new Or surprising The way forward has been articulated over and over again. These are not new or open questions and when the response centers the views of women racialized as white, it is not particularly inspiring. As the lollipop woman said in 2017, we’ve been telling y’all for a long time. Here is a comprehensive research study with an action agenda that provides root cause analysis and ways to move forward. For those interested in actually making change not talking about skirmishes. https://lnkd.in/eym2tDQx

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Networking and building relationships is everything. Be bold and go first. Introduce yourself to others and get to know them on a personal level. The human connection is powerful! ⭐️🎈

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In today's world, the conversation around diversity has reached a crescendo. Countless firms proudly tout their diversity initiatives, setting targets and signing charters, promising a brighter, more diverse future. Yet, amidst the fervour to increase representation, a critical element often gets lost in the shuffle: inclusion. We have all been asked to and expected to drive diversity when in reality it is only the  recruitment, promotion, and policy-making arms of organisations that have the power to accelerate change. As evidenced by recent studies and surveys, this approach is proving to be insufficient and, in some cases, counterproductive. The needle is not moving and the backlash is real. A survey by Kings College revealed a surprising sentiment among women, with a significant portion feeling that equal rights have reached a plateau and even perceiving a shift towards discrimination against men. This underscores the need for a paradigm shift in our approach to diversity and inclusion. The question then arises: Is there a viable business case for diversity without inclusion? Increasingly, the answer appears to be a resounding no. Research indicates that while diversity may be the goal, without a supportive and inclusive environment, the full potential of diverse talent remains unrealized. Enter inclusion—the oft-neglected yet essential counterpart to diversity. Unlike diversity, whose needle can only be moved by those recruiting, hiring and promoting talent, inclusion is a muscle that every member of an organization can flex daily. It is the catalyst for fostering workplace cultures, behaviours, and values that empower individuals to thrive. Men for Inclusion's research highlights the stark reality that many from underrepresented groups face within organisational settings—a reality shaped by workplace culture, behaviours, and values. We define these as the Lived Experience Gap.  Addressing these barriers is not only a moral imperative but a strategic one, as it directly impacts performance and potential. Inclusion transcends demographics and job titles—it is a collective responsibility that benefits everyone, irrespective of gender or background. By nurturing inclusive environments, organisations can unleash the full spectrum of talent, driving innovation, creativity, and ultimately, business success. It's time to pivot the narrative from a singular focus on diversity quotas and targets to a broader, more holistic approach centred on inclusion. While diversity initiatives may be necessary, they are insufficient without a parallel commitment to fostering inclusive cultures. Inclusion isn't a zero-sum game—it's a win-win for all of us and organizations alike. By prioritizing inclusion, we can create workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, ensuring that diversity isn't just a buzzword, but a lived reality.

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"Age matters – and it’s high time we address it...Let's foster a job market that values #diversity in experience, knowledge, and perspective." Elly Walsh #InspiredByYou & #OnRepeat from this post: https://lnkd.in/eZFWfcBs “The ridiculousness level of ageism is jaw-dropping for me. 𝗜𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁…𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀.” Jingjin Liu repost: https://lnkd.in/eRgBM2fW "🌎 Globally, 1 in 2 people are ageist against older people. (United Nations) ❤️‍🩹Discrimination based on age increased #healthcare costs by $63 billion annually. (Yale School of Public Health study by Dr. Becca Levy) 🇺🇸The lost economic activity from older Americans not being able to find work, change careers or earn promotions because of age discrimination cost the U.S. #economy $850 billion in lost gross domestic product in 2018...By 2050, that figure could climb to $3.9 trillion. (AARP) 'People say when they see it, they can’t unsee it. You have to talk about it' Jess Maurer" excerpts from article by Jessica Hall in MarketWatch here: https://lnkd.in/eeqEiFe5 "We all lose out when we don’t listen to others...resist the urge to decide what someone thinks when you discover their (+fill in the blank)....You simply never know who’s inside." Excert from article by Lois Tuffin here: https://lnkd.in/egqCYG-2 "You can’t fix a problem you won’t admit is there." Excerpt from study "Women in #Leadership Face Ageism at Every Age" link in repost: https://lnkd.in/eMqRafkk "You don't need eternal optimism and #hope to fight for what's right, that knowledge & information rarely shift #power structures....#community organizing is a critical (maybe the critical) part of addressing intractable social problems.” Amy Westervelt in repost: https://lnkd.in/ekByVhJ9 🤔Does division fuel our economy? #Talent is an asset class & #together we fail at #investing in. #InvestDifferent #business #innovation #hiring #jobs #equity #inclusion #MEI #DEI #entrepreneurship #money #cultureofmoney

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Released today: Colorful Capital's new report on “Outsized Impact: How Investment Can Address the Systemic Risk of LGBTQIA+ Inequity," co-authored by Lloyd He and me. This comprehensive report delves into how historic inequities were established and persist in the societal structures of the United States. It offers actionable frameworks for investors, managers, and allocators to address and assess progress toward rectifying the longstanding exclusion of the #LGBTQIA+ community.   As “Outsized Impact” explains, LQBTQIA+ inequity is nothing short of a systemic challenge that presents obvious societal concerns and poses considerable risks to the U.S. economy and financial system. Detailing the origins of these issues and the structures and approaches that have allowed this inequity to calcify, the report then outlines how investors can extend existing portfolio management tools by developing investment belief statements, establishing shareholder engagement programs, and incorporating system-level considerations in manager selection and assessment. Beyond the portfolio level, the report also discusses how investors can adopt advanced techniques promoting collaborative action, building shared knowledge bases, and setting industry standards. This body of work is possible in large part thanks to the efforts of several key organizations that are helping to advance LGBTQIA+ equity, which we highlight in the report, including (but certainly not limited to): - The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law (hat tip to M.V. Lee Badgett) - StartOut (hat tip to Brian Richardson) - Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors (hat tip to Fabrice C Houdart) - Out in Finance (hat tip to Eric Krull, MBA and Michael Maldonado, CFA) - Open For Business - National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) - Movement Advancement Project (MAP) Want to learn more about how this foundational research has informed the design of Colorful Capital's impact measurement and management framework? Drop me a DM here or email the Colorful Capital team at contact@colorful-capital.com Cc'ing my TIIP - The Investment Integration Project colleagues Monique Aiken, Jessica Ziegler, Melissa Eng, Billy Gridley, and Laura Wells. Cc'ing my Sustainable Investing Research Initiative (SIRI) at Columbia | SIPA colleagues Caroline Flammer, Chandana Yelkur, C. Sara L. Minard, Ph.D., and Tanya Khotin Cc'ing Jon Lukomnik separately because he cuts across all of these things haha #impactinvesting #sustainableinvesting #systemschange

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I'm proud to share my participation in the @U.S. Department of the Treasury's task force for the 2024 Racial Equity Report, helping make a historic leap forward in advancing justice and combating income inequities for Black and Hispanic communities. @Policylink, in collaboration with our movement partners and the Treasury, has made significant progress, but there's still much more to do. Addressing barriers to home and business ownership while conducting new racial analyses on tax policy will ultimately expand job opportunities outside of government. #EquityInAction #AdvancingJustice #OpportunityForAll #BuildingEquity Check out the report: https://lnkd.in/gQ27wAXD

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Last night, alongside my co-chairs Ariel B. and Kristel Philogene, we had the privilege of hosting a dynamic #firesidechat at the Financial Women's Association (FWA) Pacesetters event with Nancy Ancowitz, a valued longtime #FWA speaker and career advancement coach, a career Director at #NYU and the acclaimed author of "Self Promotion For Introverts". Nancy's shared insights on 'Present Like a Pro - Online and In-Person' were just invaluable. As the host of this fireside chat, supported by Ariel & Kristel as my indispensable 'wing-people' - a strategy Nancy endorses for effective presentations - we explored into techniques to enhance our public speaking confidence, whether online or in-person. Some key learnings worth sharing with my LinkedIn family: 🎯 Understanding and adapting to your audience: It’s all about knowing who you're speaking to and adjusting your style to their needs. Surveys and pre-event briefings can be crucial. 🎯 Handling questions and engagement: Nancy's tips on tackling unexpected questions and using silence as a thoughtful tool were eye-opening. And if you feel the audience drifting away, don't hesitate to re-engage them with direct questions or interactive methods. 🎯 Collaboration and personal branding: Practice with a trusted colleague or friend. Record yourselves and review together to refine your performance. 🎯 Body Language, voice, and visuals: Your gestures and voice tone can either distract or enhance your message. Use open gestures and do vocal warm-ups before you start. 🎯 Managing nervousness and tech issues: Techniques like positive self-talk and having wing people for tech backup were emphasized. 🎯And my personal favorite: The power of #improvisation. Taking an improv class can immensely boost your ability to think on your feet - a vital skill in any presentation scenario. Fun Fact: Reflecting on my role as the "host" of this fireside chat, I can't help but think - maybe my LinkedIn title, 'Channeling the Collaborative Genius of #OprahWinfrey with Financial Wizardry,' isn't too far off the mark after all! A special note of thanks to Nancy - a true ally of FWA and a wizard in empowering introverts and crafting powerful personal brands - for her ongoing support to the FWA community and the Pacesetters program. Her commitment to helping #womeninfinance elevate their careers and her genuine care for our growth and success have been truly inspiring. For anyone looking to create a powerful #personalbrand or sharpen their presentation skills, Nancy's insights and coaching can be transformative. To our Pacesetters team, your enthusiasm and participation truly made this event impactful! How do you adapt your presentation style for online versus in-person settings? Share your tips and challenges. Annette Stewart Albana Theka, MBA Alissa Desmarais Alexandra Voskoboynikov Mary Beth Dunn Robert Brown Jennifer Doyle, J.D. #pacesettersevent #publicspeaking #presentationskills #leadership #networking #FWA

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Today on #DisruptiveCEONation with @allisonsummerschicago #PatrickHardy #DisasterPatrick Here are highlights of our conversation: - His journey from a single letter launching his career in emergency response, to founding his company, to stepping out as Disaster Patrick taking the culture of preparedness to the masses. - He explains the chronology of an incident and what you need to know about command, communicate, and carry out. - He uses the example of the chaotic aftermath of the false missile alert in Hawaii highlighted to demonstrate the cracks in a top down approach to disaster preparedness and the importance of empowering individuals at all levels to understand the proper emergency response plans. - He shares how he is now taking on ‘disaster challenges’ where he is receiving challenges to go into scenarios with little knowledge and design and carry out an emergency response plan. Such as evacuating 300 cats from a cat sanctuary in a timed situation. - He explains how launching emergency response scenarios is something every business leader should do to educate teams and eliminating dependencies on there must be ‘a boss around to tell us what to do’ thinking. This is crucial for business resilience and disaster prevention. Listen Now: https://loom.ly/8WGHA_8

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Currently, only 3% of investment capital goes towards women and people of color. By failing to support diverse-led initiatives, the world misses out on unique and innovative solutions. Inspire Access aims to reshape the investment landscape, closing the racial and gender wealth gap by funneling philanthropic dollars into diverse-led companies. Patrice Brickman, founder and CEO of Inspire Access, shared insights on this topic at the Milken Institute Conference earlier this month. Check out more videos from the conference: https://lnkd.in/eK6X53cj A recent BCG article, "In Private Investment, Diverse Fund Management Teams Have Opened Doors," explores how diverse leaders are fundamental to asset management: https://lnkd.in/eNut5RAW.

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How does EBRP make an impact with your donations? Venture Philanthropy. Learn more about this innovative model below and here: https://lnkd.in/eATqrwEm 📈 Our Venture Philanthropy model leverages concepts from principal investing and applies them towards achieving philanthropic goals. 🔎 Instead of simply making grants, EBRP searches the globe to strengthen and accelerate the most promising research projects. ✅ These projects are vetted through EBRP’s world-class Scientific Advisory Board. 🔄 In exchange for funding, EBRP takes a financial interest in the innovative work we fund. 🦋 If those projects succeed, the returns are reinvested back into other promising EB research initiatives 🧬 The science we fund and our model can create a butterfly effect for thousands of other rare diseases. #VenturePhilanthropy #RareDisease #Research

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“If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on.” – Sheryl Sandberg Reflecting on my recent experience working on the Providus Bank ‘THE HIVE’ inaugural edition, I can confidently say it was a journey that illuminated both my strengths and weaknesses. Leading my exceptional team, we brought our A-game, meticulously curating designers, coordinating fashion show vendors, and handling all the in-betweens. What struck me most was how this opportunity materialized in the first place. In the pursuit of dream projects and industry solutions, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of not leaving myself behind. Continuously building expertise and gaining diverse experiences across different value chains within the industry has become my compass. The fear of not meeting qualifications can be paralyzing, but sometimes, all it takes is that first step—weighing the potential regret of not seizing an opportunity against the fear of failure. PS: I'm open to working on fashion projects especially those in line with the SDGs So here’s to embracing new horizons, stepping onto that rocket ship, and soaring toward our aspirations! Have a wonderful week! #fashioncareercoach #fashionbusinessinnigeria #Africafashionindustry

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It was a blast chatting with Sangeeta Moorjani, Randelle Lenoir, and ⭐THE VIOLA DAVIS⭐ (I'm still super starstruck) in March during one of our Women Talk Money Women's History Month events. It was another empowering conversation about taking control of your finances, cultivating personal wellbeing, and building a thriving career. I'm still reflecting on the insights and stories that were shared by this amazing group of women: 1. "Follow your inner GPS" - Viola kicked-off the conversation by sharing how she maintains her drive and motivation in her work. She said that today, she is driven by following her passion and inner voice. Viola encouraged us to find value in not just serving others, but serving ourselves, too! Viola's emphasis on self-love is a critical foundation to building confidence and achieving success in both our personal and professional lives. 2. "Money is MORE" - I LOVED this quote from Randelle. Money is more than JUST transactions, balances, and accounts - it's the fabric of our lives that can accelerate our dreams or emphasize our fears. Viola double-downed on this by sharing that for her, money means access AND choices. It's an important reminder that we make intentional choices with our money to sustain our present needs and plan for the future. 3. "You can't give out of an empty cup" - I couldn't agree more with Sangeeta when it comes to the importance of being your own advocate. One piece of advice she said she would give to her younger self is to bring her voice to the table. Don't be afraid to showcase the value you bring, highlight how you are achieving business goals, and ask for what you want! Go after that promotion, raise, or opportunity - the answer is always no if you don't ask. And most importantly - you deserve to give yourself every chance to advance your financial and economic mobility - so don't sell yourself short! In case you missed it, you can watch the full replay here 👇

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It’s here! The report “2024 Insights and Perspectives from Black Leaders in the Middle Market” is the first of its kind, examining in depth what it is like for Black-owned middle market businesses within the American economy. The report details four eye-opening key insights: · Diversity initiatives and programs are shifting away from Black-owned businesses. · Programs that contribute to the initial success of Black-owned businesses often end up limiting future growth. · Discrimination is a universal experience not likely to go away anytime soon, but it does not define Black business owners or their paths forward. · Maintaining a separate network and economy is viewed as key to generating opportunity and overcoming challenges. The report is brainchild of Moses Harris, something he poignantly articulates in the blog post I shared yesterday. Turning his vision into reality required an incredible group of collaborators, including Doug Farren, Kimberly (Roseler) Barnhart, Dr. James Hill and the entire team at the National Center for the Middle Market. You’ve been the PERFECT partners for this work. Huge thanks to my Wells Fargo colleagues Gabriel Boehmer, Jennifer Doll, Matt Hurwitz, Angelica Favela, Anita Gidwani Baker, Jason Hungerford and so many more. Without your expertise and commitment, this report would not have happened. Ruth Jacks Georgette "Gigi" Dixon, PhD Erica Miles Ruben Barrales Maggie Shortes Caroline White Robert Sumner

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The U.S. economy is leaving $16 trillion on the table by ignoring Black-owned companies. That’s the national conversation now underway, thanks to the newest story on the issue from Fortune leadership editor Ruth Uhmo. She intreviewed Moses Harris, head of the Black/African American segment at Wells Fargo Commercial Banking, which funded the first-ever focused research with the National Center for the Middle Market on Black-owned companies with $25MM-$500MM in annual revenue. (Download free report here: https://lnkd.in/gGmHaMq8) Moses told Ruth: “We don’t really ask white people, ‘What has racism stolen from you?’ And I think unequivocally, as American citizens, we can say that this cost us all $16 trillion due to the lack of inclusion for diverse businesses… It’s better schools, better roads, better transportation. It’s all the things we can do with all that extra capital. That’s why this matters.” https://lnkd.in/gtzA6w7F Kristy Williams Fercho Matt Hurwitz Ruth Jacks Jud Murchie U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Department of Commerce National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Doug Farren Kim (Roseler) Barnhart The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business

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It was amazing to be at the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund convening in NYC, where we met grantees and funders who are doing truly transformative, community-led work. We were honored to receive a grant through the inaugural cohort focused on our work to increase oversight of pharmaceutical direct-to-consumer advertising on social media, which helped give us the capacity to fully engage in this issue, including publishing an opinion article and helping with a letter sent by Senators Durbin and Braun requesting more information from the FDA. As we see an increase in direct-to-consumer advertising, particularly through influencers and micro-influencers, it is crucial that regulatory agencies also address the advertising practices of telehealth companies (i.e., Hims and Hers. Medicines are not easy fixes. For many of us, prescription medicines are life-saving and enable us to live in a way we can thrive. These services have the potential to increase the accessibility of meds for people who need them. However, how the way they are advertised and communicated is urgently troubling - medicines can also have serious consequences, and they must be appropriately and adequately communicated to help patients make informed decisions. Currently, this is far from the case. We need our regulatory agencies to coordinate more (FDA 🤝 FTC), address the potential for serious harm, and update the specific Code of Federal Regulations to include social media and drafting new guidance that includes its features. We look forward to continuing this work and helping promote actions to create more responsible advertising practices on social media for young adult patients. Please reach out if you are working in a similar space or have any questions about our work!

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I was DELIGHTED to attend the second annual Black Economic Alliance (BEA) Solutions Summit (the "BEA Solutions Summit") yesterday! The Black Economic Alliance is a non-partisan alliance of Black business leaders and allies focused on driving economic progress for the Black community through public policy, advocacy and engagement with government and business leaders. The BEA Solutions Summit underscored the importance of ACTION in critical areas such as housing, entrepreneurship, jobs, and workforce development. The discussions emphasized the need to transform Black economic opportunity from the EXCEPTION into the NORM. The speakers provided a wealth of INSIGHT, shedding light on ACTIONABLE strategies for promoting economic GROWTH within the Black community! The event featured DISTINGUISHED speakers including: #EricHolder, former United States Attorney General, #LetitiaJames, New York State Attorney General; MARC MORIAL, President and CEO, National Urban League; our very own -- Deloitte Chief Purpose and DEI Officer, Kwasi Mitchell; and many, many other OUTSTANDING LEADERS. The summit also featured Vice President #KamalaHarris in a special video message to the attendees. Additionally, the Summit served as a forum to address the ongoing discussions on corporate racial diversity initiatives. The dialogue revolved around the COLLECTIVE role we ALL play in REINFORCING the IMPORTANCE of diversity, equity and inclusion in EVERY business strategy. As we move forward, the insights from the BEA Solutions Summit will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping our strategies. The conversations were both COMPELLING and INSPIRING, REAFFIRMING the necessity and the urgency of the work ahead. I extend my HEARTIEST congratulations to Samantha Tweedy, CEO, Black Economic Alliance and the entire Black Economic Alliance team on organizing yet another OUTSTANDING event!! #BlackEconomicAlliance #BEA #SolutionsSummit #Deloitte #TeamNewYork

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