Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders

SPECIAL EPISODE: Diversity Matters in the Middle Market, brought to you by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and Connection Builders.

In today's episode, we are joined by Thomas Bohn, President and CEO of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), and Martin Okner, President and COO of dpHUE and past chair of the ACG Global Board of Directors, for a discussion around the key elements that need to be cultivated within an organization in order to attract and retain diverse talent. These include mitigating biases in the hiring process, facilitating open conversations, and maintaining accountability at all levels. Diverse talent is out there if you're willing to put in the work to find it. 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Some key statistics which highlight the benefits of a diverse workforce.
• The trajectory of diversity in the consumer goods industry.
• Why our society is far behind where it should be in terms of diversity within organizations.
• How executives need to change their thinking in order to ensure they build a more diverse team.
• Examples of how to create an inclusive company culture.
• How inherent bias exists in the hiring process, and the tool ACG uses to mitigate some of that bias.
• What Marty and Tom see as the most important elements of company culture.
• Tom shares the life lessons he and his family have learned through sharing their home with a person of color.
• Why empathy is a prerequisite for being a good leader.

Martin Okner on LinkedIn
dpHUE
Thomas Bohn on LinkedIn
Association for Corporate Growth
Parity.org
ACG DEI Committee Mission and Resources
Connection Builders
Alex Drost on LinkedIn

SPECIAL EPISODE: Diversity Matters in the Middle Market, brought to you by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and Connection Builders.

Today we are joined by Leon Brujus, a Partner at Palladium Equity Partners. Leon shares his three-pronged approach to diversity that he and his firm use. We discuss the importance of cognitive diversity and how it drives decision-making and creates alpha. Leon also shares his personal experiences of feeling like an outsider and the challenges he overcame to become his authentic self.  

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Value that lies in cognitive diversity.
• The problem with the way diversity is viewed by many organizations.
• Findings from studies which highlight the value of diversity. 
• Leon’s personal experience as an outsider.
• Limitations of homogeneity within organizations.
• Benefits that come from being your authentic self.
• Leon runs through the three-pronged approach to diversity that he has developed.
• One step that everyone can and should take in the direction of enhanced diversity.
• Some of the diversity-focused organizations that Palladium Equity Partners supports. 
• The importance of understanding that finding diverse talent is a challenging task because it takes you out of your comfort zone.

Leon Brujis on LinkedIn
Palladium Equity Partners
ACG DEI Committee Mission and Resources
Connection Builders
Alex Drost on LinkedIn

SPECIAL EPISODE: Diversity Matters in the Middle Market, brought to you by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and Connection Builders.

One of the easiest ways to drive diversity equity and inclusion is to reach out to the youth, show them that they can do it too, or give them the opportunities to enter the field. Talking to us today about how to inspire the next generation is Marcia Nelson, co-founder of Triple C Advisory. Marcia has had an eclectic career, from fashion publishing to a family office to serving on the board of ACG. Her early career placed her in female-dominated teams, and so it wasn't until she entered the world of finance that she realized the impact of the lack of diversity on company culture and value. She talks us through her experiences and how having role models made a world of difference. 

 Key Points From This Episode:

•  Marcia's eclectic career path: from fashion to family office. 
• How starting her career in a female-dominated team inspired Marcia to get involved in DEI.
• The surprising question Marcia was asked on entering the world of finance and how it showed her the impact of a lack of diversity. 
• Why creating opportunities for ourselves creates value. 
• How diversity within corporations increases their value. 
• Marcia's tips on how to make a change to incorporate more diversity. 
• How you can do simple things like helping your alma mater with interviews allows you to share your expertise and inspire the next generation. 
• Why we need to educate communities about the important work of private equity. 
• Marcia's advice to people early in their career: get smarter about what you're interested in. 
• The importance of networking in getting a foot in the door. 

Marcia Nelson on LinkedIn
ACG DEI Committee Mission and Resources
Connection Builders
Alex Drost on LinkedIn

SPECIAL EPISODE: Diversity Matters in the Middle Market, brought to you by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and Connection Builders.

Building a career without coming from a background rich in resources can lead to many challenges and struggles. But it can also develop unique qualities that bring perspective and diversity into the workplace and sets you apart as someone with unique value to your team. Today's guest, Charmone Adams, a senior manager with Grant Thornton, is the youngest of seven children and the first person in his family to have pursued tertiary education. During our conversation, Charmone gets candid about feeling like he was behind and how lacking resources can hold people back from reaching success. We also discuss why diversity is a tool to grow your perspective and can often strengthen your team. 

 Key Points From This Episode: 

• Some of the challenges that came with being the first person in his family to complete higher education.
• How having a lack of resources prevents people from being successful.
• The gratitude and appreciation he has as someone who did not come from resources.
• How the mentality of working harder and smarter has enabled him to be successful.
• Why diversity is an essential tool to grow your perspective. 
• The importance of understanding that everyone comes from a different background.
• Why Charmone believes it is not sustainable to be traditional in your approach.
• Why it is vital to create a welcoming environment.
• Where you should look for talent outside of the conventional pathways.
• Why Charmone would recommend that young students study accounting to understand business.
• Why Charmone believes resilience is the most important quality to create success. 

Charmone Adams on LinkedIn
Charmone Adams on Email
Grant Thornton
ACG DEI Committee Mission and Resources
Connection Builders
Alex Drost on LinkedIn

SPECIAL EPISODE: Diversity Matters in the Middle Market, brought to you by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and Connection Builders.

In today’s conversation, we are joined by Ariail Barker, Senior Director of Business Development & Sponsor Coverage with 7 Mile Advisors, a boutique middle-market investment banking firm. She is also the host of the Deal Us In Podcast, which promotes the advancement of women in private equity and finance. We talk about the changing landscape of work and life and how the pandemic has helped people realize that ‘butt in seat’ time is not as necessary as they once believed. You’ll hear about the importance of empathy and advocating for your own group’s needs, and we unpack some of the main misconceptions about women in the workplace and why they are damaging. Ariail shares how she believes having a child can be a huge catalyst for a woman’s career and urges listeners to ignore feedback outside of their chosen circle.  

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Ariail shares what she has learned hosting the Deal Us In podcast.
• Her observation that work-life is normalizing, but home life is still in a pandemic situation.
• Why there has always been a sense of flexibility built into 7 Mile’s way of doing things.
• How the pandemic helped them to realize that butt-in-seat time is not necessary.
• The importance of empathy and advocating for your own group’s needs.
• Misconceptions about women in the workplace and why they are damaging.
• How having a child can be a huge catalyst for someone’s career.
• The myth of ‘having it all’ and why you have to understand there are trade-offs.
• How the mindset of not internalizing people’s feedback helped her.
• How being happy is the most important thing to bring to your work and family life. 

Ariail Barker on LinkedIn
Deal Us In Podcast
7 Mile Advisors
ACG DEI Committee Mission and Resources
Connection Builders
Alex Drost on LinkedIn

SPECIAL EPISODE: Diversity Matters in the Middle Market, brought to you by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and Connection Builders.

Being financially literate does more than help your bottom line: it also improves your mental health. Today’s guest has experienced this firsthand… Join us to hear from Karen A. Clark, SVP Multicultural Strategies with City Nation Bank, a community activist and financial literacy volunteer. Karen talks us through how the positive attitude at the bank that she works at inspired her to make a difference in those around her and what her first experience educating kids about savings was like. Find out about the obstacles throughout history that black and brown Americans have had to overcome to gain wealth and how financial literacy is linked to societal turmoil. Tune in to learn how, where, and why you should be volunteering your financial expertise and so much more in this inspirational episode.

 Key Points From This Episode: 

• How Karen got to where she is now.
• How black and brown Americans have historically been left out of financial education and savings and investment opportunities. 
• Redlining and the collapse of the Freedman’s Bank: how the wealth gap has widened throughout history. 
• How financial literacy improves emotional wellness and subsequently reduces turmoil in the world. 
• The link between mental health and sound financial decisions.
• How Karen’s experience of bankruptcy showed her the impact of financial stress on her mental health.
• How you can contribute to improving financial literacy: who to volunteer with, and what makes you qualified. 
• Karen’s experience with kindergartners and how she started her volunteering journey. 

Karen A. Clark on LinkedIn
Operation Hope
ACG DEI Committee Mission and Resources
Connection Builders
Alex Drost on LinkedIn

SPECIAL EPISODE: Diversity Matters in the Middle Market, brought to you by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and Connection Builders.

No matter your educational background or where you start out in your career, if you have support, an open mind, and are willing to put in the effort, there is no limit on which direction you can go! Nobody epitomizes this truth better than today’s guest, Michelle Chao. 14 years ago, after receiving a master’s in child education, Michelle started working at Bertram Capital as an Executive Assistant and today she is the Senior Vice President of Business Development and the head of Investor Relations at the firm. In this episode Michelle shares what this journey of hers has looked like, and how Bertram creates an environment that facilitates these kinds of growth opportunities. You’ll hear about the importance of advocating for people who you see potential in, and the value of putting out into the universe what you hope to get back. 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• What Michelle’s 14-year journey with Bertram has looked like.
• How Michelle learned about business development. 
• Some of the key lessons that Michelle has learned through her time at Bertram.
• Examples of the different facets that exist within a private equity firm.
• Bertram Capital’s approach to exposing people to opportunities.
• How Bertram’s recruiting strategy has changed over the years. 
• Characteristics that Michelle looks for in potential hires.
• The value of advocating for people whom you see potential in. 
• How Michelle learned to balance work and family life.
• Advice for leaders who are eager to build a more diverse team.

Michelle Chao on LinkedIn
Bertram Capital
Peninsula Bridge 
ACG DEI Committee Mission and Resources
Connection Builders
Alex Drost on LinkedIn

SPECIAL EPISODE: Diversity Matters in the Middle Market, brought to you by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and Connection Builders.

Ernie Lyles was always incredibly ambitious, and at the Howard University School of Law, Ernie gained the confidence which made him realize what he was capable of. Starting his finance career with a summer internship at a bulge-bracket investment banking firm, he excelled. Ernie Lyles is the founder and CEO of The HiGro Group, a New York-based private equity firm focusing on middle-market companies. Ernie shares his view on how diversity offers organizations a competitive advantage and why properly understanding and embracing this complex concept is the best way to optimize success.

Key Points From This Episode:

• What Ernie's path to investment banking looked like, and the success his company, The HiGro Group, has experienced over the past five years.
• The complexity of the concept of diversity, and the importance of having a universal understanding of it.
• Why having diversity in your organization gives you a competitive advantage.
• Limits of having a homogenous workforce.
• The history of Howard University, and what Ernie gained through being educated there.
• Disadvantages of not being exposed to the achievements of people who look like you. 
• The summer internship that changed the course of Ernie's life.
• Examples of the many different layers of diversity.
• Advice for leaders who want to enhance diversity within their organizations.

The HiGro Group
Ernie Lyles on LinkedIn
ACG DEI Committee Mission and Resources
Connection Builders
Alex Drost on LinkedIn

SPECIAL EPISODE: Diversity Matters in the Middle Market, brought to you by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and Connection Builders.

For today’s conversation, we are joined by Brandon Hawkins, Chief Revenue Officer at CFO Hub. Brandon shares the story of how he benefits from having a diverse pool of people in his corner, both professionally and in life, and what motivates him to implement diversity within companies. In addition, he shares with us which characteristics he looks for in staff that go beyond technical skills, and why ultimately, he is just looking to work with good people. Brandon’s message around diversity is a hopeful one, but he also shares the struggles he faces in the form of finding buy-in from companies and finding the right messaging to implement effective change.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why Brandon is committed to hiring, recommending, and referring diverse employees.
• How having multiple sets of eyes on a problem can eliminate some of your blind spots.
• What they are learning as a result of their hiring practices and why diversity creates magic.
• The effect of having a diverse pool of people in all aspects of your life.
• Which characteristics he looks for in staff that goes beyond technical skillsets.
• Why, ultimately, he’s just looking to work with good people.
• What we can do to get organizations thinking more about diversity.
• The struggle of finding the right messaging around diversity for effective change.
• Why putting in the time is such a powerful tool to improve who you are as a person.
• Why it is so important to choose to keep up with the new ever-evolving generation.
• How every time you leave the house, you’re on stage, and why you should make the most of it.

Brandon Hawkins on LinkedIn
CFO Hub
ACG DEI Committee Mission and Resources
Connection Builders
Alex Drost on LinkedIn 

Many of us could not readily answer if you asked us what we had for lunch yesterday or how we spent our time last week. Talking to us today about making time for growth is Ryan Cutter, senior associate with CID Capital and positive intentions and actions enthusiast. Ryan tells us how he manages a full-time job yet still gives himself time to read books, exercise, and meditate. He breaks down the benefits of taking time to do the things you love, including being more productive and less resentful of those taking up your time. We find out why we should have the work ethic of a lion (short bursts of intense concentration) compared to that of a cow (prolonged, less intense effort) and why you owe it to yourself to make time to grow. We discover the creative benefits of relaxing and how looking back at previous journal entries can show you how much you've grown.  

Key Points From This Episode: 

• The importance of finding time to yourself in being intentional in your daily life. 
• How meditating for as little as 10 minutes a day can set you up for success. 
• Looking back at previous journaling and observing how you've grown.
• Owing it to yourself: giving yourself space to do the things you love.
• The Lion vs Cow work ethic: why being highly productive for a shorter period is better than being less productive over a longer period. 
• Taking ownership of your time to avoid resentment. 
• How spending time in your thoughts can help you grow. 

Ryan Cutter on LinkedIn
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

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