- New partnership to accelerate pathways to tech careers and
increase pipeline for black professionals in financial
services
TORONTO and CHICAGO, July 5, 2022
/CNW/ - BMO today announced the deepening of its partnership with
the Black Professionals in Technology Network Inc. (BPTN) to focus
on developing and hiring Black talent for career opportunities in
the financial services industry. BPTN is North America's largest organization dedicated
to supporting Black tech and business professionals. As one of the
BFUTR Global Tech Summit 2022 founding level partner. The
partnership will also create a greater opportunity to engage with
over 50,000 Black professionals who are transforming tech through
innovation and who will deliver leading employee and customer
experiences for the bank.
BMO's Zero Barriers to Inclusion Strategy outlines bold goals
within the bank, including hiring targets and equitable access to
career development opportunities. Partnering with BPTN represents
one of several ways that BMO will build upon its partnership with
the Black community to increase representation of Black colleagues
and live the bank's commitment to its Purpose, to Boldly Grow the
Good, in business and life.
Alongside the BMO Black Professionals Network employee resource
group, along with the career advancement programs for Black and
Latino employees, this partnership represents an expansion of BMO's
work to build and support a diverse workforce.
"In order to build a digitally enabled, future-ready bank with
leading efficiency, profitability and loyalty and in order to
continue to progress, we need the best team, which is a diverse and
inclusive team" said Rebecca
Tascona, Head, B2C Platform Strategy & Operations, BMO
Financial Group. "As a founding level partner at the BFUTR Global
Tech Summit 2022, we will expand our talent reach within the Black
tech community to offer meaningful careers building products and
experiences that reflect the diversity of our customers and the
communities we operate in."
"We are proud to welcome BMO back to the BPTN community and we
look forward to growing our partnership over the next three years.
We are also very happy to see BMO showing up in such a meaningful
way, at the BFUTR Summit 2022, at the Summit Founding Partnership
level" said Lekan Olawoye, BPTN
founder and CEO. "We look forward to helping BMO build the tools
required to attract, hire, retain and promote Black talent
throughout their organization."
Through the partnership, BMO senior executives will participate
in BPTN's Masterclass events, which offer members insights on
important topics within the tech industry. BMO will be presenting
multiple events annually in partnership with BPTN to the Black tech
community, which will include thought leadership in technology and
business, while also enabling hiring of Black tech talent. This
partnership will also include presence at future events and access
to BPTN's job board and Obsidi community.
"Creating a more inclusive society is foundational to who we are
as a company," said Vanessa
Lewerentz, Chief Inclusion Officer, BMO Financial Group.
"Marginalized people have long faced systemic barriers in and out
of the workforce and we are committed to accelerating initiatives
that will create meaningful and sustainable change."
This announcement builds on BMO's commitment to an inclusive
society with zero barriers. The bank's support for Black Canadians
and Americans includes:
- BMO committed $100 million to launch
the Business Within Reach: BMO for Black
Entrepreneurs lending program.
- Launch of BMO EMpower, a five-year, US$5
billion pledge aimed at addressing key barriers faced by
minority businesses, communities and families in the
United States. EMpower is a series
of long-term commitments designed to drive meaningful change and
champion racial equity.
- Creation of the Black and Latino Advisory Council (BLAC),
focused on employee experience, advancement, and engagement of
Black and Latino talent through dedicated taskforces and
partnerships with BMO's Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
- Zero Barriers to Inclusion 2025 commitment to increase
BIPOC employee representation at all levels in Canada and
the U.S., including increasing representation of People of Colour
in senior leadership roles to 30 per cent or greater
in Canada and U.S., respectively.
- Launch of BMORE, a workforce development program,
with Chicago non-profit Cara to recruit individuals from
underserved and diverse communities into financial services
careers.
- Establishment of BMO's Black & Bold series, a series of
interviews that highlight trendsetting Black women
entrepreneurs.
- Support for The Canadian Journalism Foundation's Black
Journalism Fellowship to amplify Black voices and cultivate future
leaders.
- Major sponsor of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network
and BlackNorth Initiative signatory.
- BMO has partnered with the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) – a
community-led organization committed to removing financial barriers
for Black-led businesses.
SOURCE BMO Financial Group