Difference Matters

There is a growing, important awareness of the value differing minds bring to the process of solving complex challenges.

From ethnicity and gender to age, cultural heritage, education, collective work experiences, leadership style and more, difference comes in many forms. For nearly 30 years, Toigo’s focus has been on bringing greater ethnic diversity to the field of finance.

Despite the availability of diverse talent with the academic stature, experience and a desire to lead and contribute, the percentage of under-representation individuals ascending to leadership roles remains too small.

In business sectors outside of finance, women and minorities are making gains, but progress remains lackluster within finance and finance functions, including CFOs, business unit leaders, M&A, and more. With finance institutions and finance leaders driving decisions about where billions in capital is invested, a lack of diverse leadership impacts employment, housing, educational access, retirement and more.

The current state compounds the challenges ahead. As young professionals explore and weigh their career options, the fact that too few C-Suite and senior leaders are diverse reflects poorly on a organization and industry sector. Why are so few leaders African American, Latino or Native American? Is the reason because the culture is not inclusive? Are the numbers of talented individuals insufficient to make a true mark on change? Or are processes or policies perpetuating bias?

Fellowship

“What you learn quickly is that getting into top academic institutions is merely a step in their journey, not the measure of their success.”

Bringing Diversity to Life requires that Toigo create new ways of identifying and vetting diverse talent poised for success, both in the MBA classroom and, long-term, in the workplace. Part of our mandate is to bring more aspiring leaders into finance and help them navigate a path forward.

Our Fellows background and cultural heritage is—no surprise—exceptionally diverse. From modest beginnings with more of a chance of despair and challenges than opportunity, each has a distinct and different story. Part of our work is helping each remain true to their heritage while flourishing as leaders.

In our selection process, our goal is to identify future Fellows for strong leadership potential, character and constitution.

Advancing Women

“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.”
— Gloria Steinem, Activist & Author

Toigo’s mission to support under-represented individuals extends to advancing women leaders through our Groundbreakers initiative anchored by our annual Groundbreaker’s Women in Leadership Summit—now six years running.

The Summit presents a dynamic lineup of speakers, thought leaders and professionals who bring best in class perspectives and training on professional development topics that focus on furthering success and breakthroughs to new opportunities. Our goal? Present an investment conference where the investment is in the individual. Our participants cross all dimensions of diversity—stage of career, race, industry and role—to expand networks and thinking.

In 2016, our audience of nearly 300 was riveted by the keynote conversation with Gloria Steinem, internationally known author and activist. Steinem shared a “then and now’ perspective on the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities of all women to take active control of their leadership journey. Together with other prominent speakers and workshop session leaders, Groundbreakers brings diversity to life for women. The popularity of the event has drawn interest by firms to leverage the event as an extension of their own corporate women in leadership initiatives, ensuring the Toigo brand continues to grow stronger.

“Whether it’s a speaker, session or unexpected interaction—Groundbreakers is a catalyst for insight into personal, professional, and societal considerations. There’s always a moment of illumination.”
— Toigo Alumna

Toigo Board Governance

The strategic and forward-thinking work of the professionals who serve on the Toigo Board of Directors remains a critical component of the organization’s impact.

Realizing that governance within the non-profit sector today is becoming more dynamic, layered with regulations and compliance reporting responsibilities, these individuals quickly absorb key information to identify how their individual skills and expertise will advance our vision and impact.

Each member brings a deliberate mix of viewpoints and experiences that brings diversity to life across all constituent groups we serve. Together they exchange, challenge, and stretch their thinking around Toigo today and for the future.

The organization has been tremendously fortunate to benefit from the passionate enthusiasm of an individuals for their commitment to maintain openness for healthy discourse, fiduciary care and who come together quickly on matters of greatest importance. Mostly importantly, the Board ensures that the work of the non-profit’s work continues to serve its public service.