In Good Companies

Diversity, equity, inclusion—these are fundamental ideals. Everybody can agree that it’s good to be diverse, equitable and inclusive. But if you don’t have the right plan, they can fall short of expectations. Plenty of companies have made commitments to DE&I in the past two years, but without a full understanding of both the benefits and challenges of the work, you might find yourself right back where you started. So, what is diversity, equity and inclusion? Why is it needed? And what does it mean for your organization specifically?

Myra Caldwell and Tori Farmer have firsthand experience answering these questions. Myra is Cadence Bank’s Chief Diversity Officer, and along with Tori, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at KPMG, she’s crafted and helmed Cadence’s DE&I strategy over the past 18 months. Myra and Tori are here to share how you can implement a plan specific to your business, no matter how big. Because your employees, suppliers, customers and partners are experiencing your culture every day, whether you have a plan or not. And when you work hard to intentionally change things for the better, those benefits can be felt across the board.

Myra and her team have not only created distinct programs to educate and uplift coworkers and community members, they’ve forged a culture where everyone is moving together towards a common purpose. But it didn’t happen overnight. Together we’ll show you how to evaluate your business, set up measurable goals, and have the hard, necessary conversations that this work entails. Plus, we’ll share how Cadence has progressed and reassessed on its DE&I journey—how far we’ve come and how far there still is to go. One company isn’t going to solve the problem, but, together, we can move the needle towards a more just, accepting world.

Highlights:

• How Tori Farmer defines DE&I (5:13)
• The business case for DE&I (10:15)
• Where to start with implementing equitable practices (12:24)
• How Cadence assessed itself and found a starting point (16:08)
• Can you make changes if your business is small? (19:09)
• The Cadence DE&I programs (25:26)
• How to extend your efforts beyond your workplace and into the community (28:47)
• DE&I and The Great Resignation (30:35)
• Trusting the Process (33:50)
• The Gift of Imperfection (35:43)

Links:

• Cadence Bank Website
• Cadence Bank Twitter
• Cadence Bank LinkedIn
• Myra Caldwell LinkedIn
• Tori Farmer LinkedIn
• KPMG – DE&I Homepage
• Cadence Bank Diversity & Inclusion Statement
• Our Stories
• Cadence Bank Corporate Social Responsibility Statement
• Cadence Bank Supplier Diversity Program

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected] or [email protected].

You’ve probably got a security system for your building, with locks on your doors and safes for your important documents. But criminals don’t just try to take what’s in your cash register anymore. As the world shifts increasingly online, there are more and more opportunities for fraudsters and cybercriminals to intercept your money and data. And it takes more than anti-virus software to keep yourself safe. But your specialty isn’t cloud computing, it’s your business. So how do you keep up with the ever-changing world of cybersecurity?

Fortunately, there are people like Lori Johnson and Tracy Dalton, from the Treasury Management Team at Cadence Bank. They make it their business to keep up with trends in cybercrime so they can best protect their clients. Through their work with a broad range of customers, they see companies’ most commonly-targeted weak points; and they’re not what you’d suspect. 

Cybercrime can be devastating, and nobody is completely safe. Companies of all sizes are targeted, and breaches can cause loss of consumer confidence, in addition to whatever is stolen. Lori and Tracy will escort us through the dangerous underbelly of fraud as we talk the size of the threat, cybersecurity best practices, and how to get employee buy-in. So keep your head on a swivel and listen to our cyber self-defense class!

Highlights:

• The types of threats you can face (3:06)
• How many businesses are affected? (6:40)
• How to evaluate your current security setup (9:04)
• A great model for cybersecurity (11:54)
• The importance of educating your employees (12:40)
• Creating internal controls (13:58)
• Cybersecurity tools offered by your bank (15:40)
• Positive Pay & ACH Positive Pay (16:43)
• Constant vigilance (19:29)

Links:

• Cadence Bank Website
• Cadence Bank Twitter
• Cadence Bank LinkedIn
• Lori Johnson LinkedIn
• Tracy Dalton LinkedIn
• Cadence Bank Business Fraud Knowledge Center

Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected]

Highlights:

• What is (and isn’t) “the economy” (1:53)
• Is inflation bad? (4:31)
• How healthy is our economy (7:32)
• What’s different about our current economy than previous ones (9:21)
• Who’s in charge of economic policy (10:57)
• Explaining federal interest rates (13:53)
• Quick and dirty quantitative easing (16:02)
• How the Fed responded to COVID (20:19)
• Understanding how economic policy will affect your business (25:21)
• Economic policy and the business lifecycle (27:50)

Links:

• Cadence Bank Website
• Cadence Bank Twitter
• Cadence Bank LinkedIn
• Tell Alessio LinkedIn
• Cadence Bank – Wealth Management Insights

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected]

Highlights:

• The definition of disruption (2:42)
• How to enter the market as a disruptive company (4:48)
• How to defend your business against disruption (7:38)
• What banks are doing to adapt to evolving technology (12:13)
• What is alternative lending (15:55)
• What makes an alternative loan different (18:39)
• Where do alternative lenders get their money (21:19)
• The pros and cons of using an alternative lender (23:03)
• Conducting due diligence as a borrower (27:01)

Links:

• Cadence Bank Website
• Cadence Bank Twitter
• Cadence Bank LinkedIn
• Cadence Bank – Personal Loans & Lines of Credit
• Cadence Bank – Commercial Loans 

Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected]

Starting a new business is one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking moments in a person’s life. The stakes are high: depending on your situation, your whole net worth could be on the line. So how can you make sure that you’re in a position to succeed? 

On this episode of In Good Companies, we’re talking business beginnings—the things you can do to prepare for what’s ahead. Guests Alan Thomes (Managing Director of SBA Banking, Cadence Bank) and Allan Adams (State Director, University of Georgia SBDC) join us to discuss bulletproof business plans, funding options, and developing relationships with key stakeholders. Together, we’ll uncover key resources, like expert consultation (for free!) from the Small Business Development Center and low-risk loans through the Small Business Administration. You’ll learn who you need to talk to and how to avoid the pitfalls of overexcited entrepreneurship. 

Business isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon—and nobody rolls out of bed and runs a marathon without training. Preparation is essential and the more prepared you are, the more confidence you’ll have as issues arise. So let us guide you to the starting line, and when the bell rings and you open your doors, you’ll be ready.       

Highlights:

• The dangers of overexcited entrepreneurship (2:07)
• Doing your homework (5:41)
• How the SBDC helps entrepreneurs (7:10)
• Crafting a business plan (11:09)
• The 5 C’s of Credit (12:11)
• How a solid business plan can open doors (14:19)
• Funding options (15:22)
• Introduction to the SBA and 7a Loans (18:24)
• Why you need to create a relationship with your lender (22:51)
• Think of your bank as a partner (24:43)

Links:

• Cadence Bank Website
• Cadence Bank Twitter
• Cadence Bank LinkedIn
• Cadence Bank – SBA Loans
• Small Business Administration Website
• SBDC (Small Business Development Center) Website
• University of Georgia SBDC Website
• University of Georgia SBDC Twitter
• Allan Adams LinkedIn 
• Alan Thomes LinkedIn

Feedback:
If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected]

Introducing In Good Companies, launching October 2021.