Leave it to Julius Baer’s employees of England’s vibrant capital to keep you immersed in the array of benefits an ethnically diverse workplace offers – and we’re not just talking celebratory food and drinks.

“Diversity and inclusion (D&I) plays a huge role at Julius Baer, UK,” says Raj, Team Head, Private Banking. “We raise awareness of different cultures and aim to celebrate our differences. People often focus on diversity only, without considering inclusion – inclusion is what makes us feel a sense of belonging, irrespective of our backgrounds or views.”

That’s exactly what Julius Baer UK strives for, by encouraging all employees to participate in the Julius Baer International (JBI) community. “We work with organisations in the UK such as icanyoucantoo, which helps to create opportunities in finance for those from underprivileged backgrounds. We also support Women in Wealth, The Diversity Project, and have engaged a number of our male colleagues in forums to discuss menopause. These are just a few examples of what we do to help us to better understand our colleagues, and make everyone at JBI feel included,” says Raj.

Julius Baer’s London offices reflect reality in the UK – its bustling cities are more ethnically diverse than ever before – and increasingly so. And while this evolving ethnic composition has resulted in a positive shift in attitude towards ethnic minorities, it also offers an opportunity to learn from each other – especially in the workplace.

So, where to start? “A lot of it begins with the recruitment process,” explains JP, CRO Data Analytics & Business Management. He is careful to underscore the importance of avoiding ‘positive discrimination’, in which an organisation intentionally seeks a diverse workforce simply to tick a box. “Unlike the game of Tetris, we want many different ‘shapes’ that don’t just fit together and disappear. The true sense of being diverse is to focus on the individual and ask ourselves ‘Is this the best candidate for the role?’”

Hiring an ethnically diverse workforce is only the beginning. What about actually ensuring D&I permeates an organisation’s culture? “I believe our culture of openness, non-judgment, and integrity starts at the top,” says Aneka, Portfolio Manager. “We are fortunate that our CEO of JBI and Executive Committee support and empower employees to share their stories. It creates awareness and understanding which connects us on a human level. This goes a long way in fostering a culture of diversity and inclusivity.”

Despite having years of portfolio management experience, Aneka worried about how she would be perceived at work when she first came to the UK. “I felt this overwhelming internal pressure to excel and not make any mistakes. Thankfully, my colleagues in London embraced me, which allowed me to be myself.” Earlier this year, on International Women’s Day, Aneka had the opportunity to speak at an internal event. “I talked about how intersectionality – the two overlapping categorisations of being Black and a woman, has shaped my experiences. Many people don’t have a voice, so it is a privilege to be able to use my voice to share ideas on how we could embrace our differences,” says Aneka.

Having a platform to speak openly about D&I is only one way to further the dialogue. “Talk with your colleagues about ethnicity, about topics that might make you uncomfortable. Keep the conversation going. Ask questions,” says JP. “I’ve lived through clichés my entire life. And so, I’ve made a bit of a game out of it. In the workplace, I like to ‘shock’ people, so to speak. I’ll use slang with colleagues because I don’t want to hide – I want to share this part of me with them.”

At the core of Julius Baer’s business is undeniably its people. And as an international wealth manager with clients from across the globe, understanding their individual needs is paramount. “Our clients come from varying backgrounds,” explains Raj. “Having employees from the same backgrounds as some of our clients can help us to understand them better.” It’s true: an ethnically diverse workforce not only offers a true reflection of our global reality – it also opens a world of opportunities to learn from and grow together.

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