Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The ACG New York Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee serves as the center of influence across the NY Middle Market M&A community by creating greater awareness of the benefits of DEI and spearheading programming, networking opportunities, mentorship of underrepresented groups, and diverse membership recruitment efforts.

ACG New York's membership fully reflects the diversity of NYC and all members have an equal voice and influence on the M&A community and its activity.  ACG New York views diversity as an asset that enriches the bottom lines and lives of everyone involved.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS
 

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ACG New York International Middle Market Cookbook ACG NY DE&I Committee announces the successful virtual launch of the ACG New York International Middle Market Cookbook.  The cookbook's formal announcement made at the ACG NY DealMaker Series - Food & Beverage Deal Market event on 5/16. Thank you to ACG NY DE&I Committee Chair, Elise Chowdhry, for speaking on the cookbook and ACG NY's DE&I initiatives.

 

Diversity Equity & Inclusion - How to Get Involved!

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We love to celebrate the different cultures and backgrounds that make-up our member community and their organizations.  Contact us to submit your information.

Diversity Equity & Inclusion - Past Events

DE&I Special Event hosted by the ACG NY Forward & DE&I Committees | 5/18/2023

Click here to read key takeaways from our most recent DE&I event.



Diversity Equity & Inclusion - News & Articles
 

DEPLOYING THE RIGHT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING STRATEGY TO DRIVE BUSINESS RESULTS - HUNT SCANLON MEDIA

"Despite research proving that companies with more diverse teams increase their productivity, reduce turnover, and increase profits, many have cut back on their efforts in this area. DHR Global recently interviewed the CEOs and CHROs of over 60 companies to get a better sense of their current diversity initiatives and how they are being used to drive business results." Read more. 
 

THE DIFFERENCES DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION CAN MAKE FOR ORGANIZATIONS TODAY

Times are finally changing, albeit at a slower pace than they should be, when it comes to DEI, says Ken Wilcox of H.I. Executive Consulting. “DEI is a subject that is finally gaining resonance throughout the globe,” he says. “And for good reason. Having a diverse workforce and an inclusive environment brings a myriad of economic and social benefits to an organization.” Read more. 


OBSERVING JUNETEENTH - 'A CELEBRATION, COMMEMORATION, OR A CALL TO ACTION?'

As this year’s holiday approaches, many leaders are asking, “How should our company be approaching this important day?” Read more. 


EVOLUTION, NOT JUST CHANGE: THE STATE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN THE VENTURE CAPITAL INDUSTRY

The desire for positive change in the venture capital (VC) industry is clear, however there is still much work to be done to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The VC industry has significant influence in driving the US economy, which is why we examine its progress related to DEI. The fourth edition of the VC Human Capital Survey, commissioned by Deloitte, Venture Forward, and the National Venture Capital Association, provides a valuable analysis of this industry. Read more.


MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR BEST PLACES TO WORK IN PRIVAT EQUITY

Mergers & Acquisitions is seeking nominations for the inaugural Best Places to Work in Private Equity Awards. This award will recognize private equity firms who demonstrate leadership and innovation in their workplace cultures, policies and internal operations. The award will go to firms that demonstrate initiative and acknowledge the changing demands in a post-pandemic world, as well as the emphasis now being placed on important topics such as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Read more. 

 

'MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE NEVER FEELS LIKE WORK'

An interview with chief DEI officer Indhira Arrington Ares Management’s first global chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer is building the company’s DEI strategy from the ground up. Here’s how she’s doing it.

In an interview with McKinsey’s Diana Ellsworth and Drew Goldstein, Arrington discusses why it’s important to listen and gather data before creating a DEI strategy and why she’s focused on building a culture of representation, especially when it comes to recruitment, retention, and talent development. As an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, Arrington feels an enormous responsibility to open doors for others, as sponsors and mentors did for her. “Making the world a better place never feels like work,” she says. Read more.

 

THREE REASONS WHY DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSIONS EFFORTS FAIL

Despite overwhelming evidence that workplaces are becoming more demographically diverse research finds over half of us feel excluded and isolated at work. A lot of companies are experiencing employee fatigue with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Workers feel exhausted, frustrated, and skeptical that their DEI efforts will result in tangible outcomes. Read more.

 

THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION BACKLASH, EXPLAINED

The business community, looking to do its part in light of civil unrest (and receive favorable media attention), went on a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring spree, bringing on highly-paid executives – mostly racial minorities – to create programs to make their workplaces more attractive for minorities. But then the economy began to slow. Want to guess what happened next? Read more.

 

SEO LAUNCHES A NEW PROGRAM TO ACCESS DIVERSE INVESTMENT TALENT

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SEO has been the largest source of the diverse talent for Wall Street investment banks for the past four decades. Building on that success, SEO created the Talent Opportunity Center to address the specific needs and resource constraints of middle-market alternative asset managers that seek to increase the diversity of their investment teams. The Talent Opportunity Center connects firms with more than 2,600 Black, Latinx, and Native American investment banking and asset management professionals, including 1,200 with one to five years’ experience, presently working at Wall Street’s leading investment banking firms and seeking buy-side roles. Click here to learn more about the offerings.ext.

 

WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAD ON DEI IN 2023 

Getting DEI right is more important, and more complicated, than ever.

A new Heidrick & Struggles survey of 420 executives from eight countries offers insights into how companies are trying to keep up with the pace of change and what questions to ask next.

 

MORE THAN LIP SERVICE: DEI IN PRIVATE EQUITY

For the transaction between Shamrock Capital and AnswerLab, commitment to DEI took center stage.

 

BIG INVESTORS ARE BETTER THAN QUOTAS AT GETTING MORE WOMEN ON BOARDS

Study finds that campaigns to improve board diversity drove a spike in female directors.

Campaigns by BlackRock Inc., Vanguard Group Inc. and State Street Corp. drove American corporations to add at least 2.5 times as many female directors in 2019 as they had in 2016, a working paper released this week by the National Bureau of Economic Research found. 

 

TRACKING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION DATA IN PRIVATE EQUITY

Institutional investors and private equity firms can implement some basic but crucial best practices to measure progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

McKinsey and Company, along with the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA), a trade association focused on serving Institutional Investors, were able to benchmark the industry’s performance on DEI data collection. 

 

THE STATE OF DIVERSITY IN GLOBAL PRIVATE MAKETS: 2022

New research captures regional differences in the state of diversity in private equity and discusses the role of institutional investors as a catalyst for change. diversity metrics Institutional Investors and PE firms on.

A new report by McKinsey & Company builds on prior  research on diversity in the workplace to explore diversity in the global private markets industry, with a focus on private equity (PE) firms and institutional investors (IIs).

EXPAND YOUR DE&I UNDERSTANDING

Now is your chance to read recommended books by Diversity Economics Institute

The mission of Diversity Economics Institute is to build the economic case for diversity and inclusion in the workplace, underpinned by evidence-based research and feedback from people on the front lines. We seek to become a trusted, credible, and objective voice in the industry — and we will be committed to bridging the gap between D&I strategy, execution and real-life experience. 

BUYOUT BARONS NEED TO KEEP DIVERSITY IN THE SPREADSHEET

Private equity can’t afford to give up on recruiting from a broader talent pool or baking diversity into performance metrics.

"Can the private equity industry’s diversity drive survive a market downturn? Non-financial initiatives that started in boom times can be vulnerable when economic conditions turn for the worse. This is one effort that needs to persist."

OVERCOMING INEQUITY IN HIRING

“Is the new-found diversity only skin deep?” - Taking a deeper look...

"Over the past few years or so, “diversity” has received consistent attention because of increased national awareness of issues broadly related to hiring practices, the criminal justice system, and economic equity. Systemic inequities have been a matter of public debate, discourse, and contention. In response, a number of organizations have initiated measures to increase their enrollment of visually diverse leaders, notably women, black and brown movers and shakers. However, as the year draws to a close, many of these same organizations are doing retroactive analyses of their progress. They are now confronted with a haunting question, “Is the new-found diversity only skin deep?”

KEYS TO DIVERSIFYING YOUR WORKPLACE

In a new report, TalentRISE offers six approaches to bringing diversity to your company’s C-suite.

"Employment branding, leveraging public relations, and embracing diverse thoughts and experiences into hiring strategies are among the suggestions that can change your organization for the better."
 

ARKVIEW CAPITAL: FILLING THE CAPITAL VACUUM TO SCALE DIVERSE BUSINESSES
Learn how ACG member, Arkview Capital, completed its first investment and took its first step toward its long-term objective of helping diversity-oriented businesses gain access to capital.

• Genesis Bank is a state-chartered, digital-first Minority Depository Institution (MDI) in Los Angeles focused on serving diverse communities in Southern California
• The transaction came by way of an oversubscribed initial capital raise of $57 million
• MDIs have competitive advantages, including access to low-cost, mission-driven deposits, regulatory and tax credits
• Genesis Bank is one of only two multi-racial MDIs in the nation
   

WHY BELONGING IS KEY TO BUILDING THE NEW WORFORCE 
Learn how by making belonging a priority, companies can boost employee retention and performance.

"Businesses are spending more money on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives than ever before. By one estimate, the global market for DEI reached $7.5 billion in 2020, and it is expected to more than double by 2026. But such financial commitments have been followed by a slew of reports questioning the results of all that spending — including ones that say such programs have 'largely failed' and often 'implode.' "
 

MARYLAND INNO - COMMITING TO DEI: 7 STAGES TO DELIVERING HIGER PERFORMANCE 
Diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces demonstrate a real commitment to understanding where the problems lie and creating new ways of working so that a truly diverse community can thrive.

"Studies have found that companies with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across the enterprise are more successful than those without. Why is there still a question regarding the value of DEI? If the goal of business is to perform, i.e., generate more revenue, raise share price, have a greater profit than last year, then having a commitment to diversity should no longer be an option. It should be as much an imperative as a strong balance sheet or growing EBITDA."
 

THE NEW DECADE CALLS FOR GREATER FIRM DIVERSITY
Want to attract the best talent, draw investors and yield greater returns? Diversity can help you achieve those goals.

Although gender diversity has come into focus within private equity over the last decade, female investment professionals continue to make up only a small share of the industry’s workforce. The stats are even worse when it comes to women-owned emerging managers.

 

CREATING AN INCLUSIVE FIRM CULTURE
Building and retaining a diverse team takes leadership prioritization, time and tenacity. Here’s how to get started.

As I wrote in “The New Decade Calls for Greater Firm Diversity,” private equity firms that have created an inclusive culture consider it a strength and competitive advantage. Few middle-market firms are too small to embark on and benefit from a diversified team. In speaking to one lower middle-market managing partner, I learned his firm has achieved age, gender and ethnic diversity across its four investment professionals and has benefited from what he described as “the different perspectives that the diversity provides.”

 

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ACG'S GROWTH TV DISCUSSES DE&I
Nearly two years after the death of George Floyd, business leaders continue to drive progress within their spheres of influence, with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Three such leaders join GrowthTV to discuss corporate finance’s pursuit of DE&I initiatives within the workplace.  

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO