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CatWoman

(79,301 posts)
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 08:08 PM Sep 2020

Fuck Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo CEO ruffles feathers with comments about diverse talent

"While it might sound like an excuse, the unfortunate reality is that there is a very limited pool of black talent to recruit from," Scharf said in the memo.

Wells Fargo & Co Chief Executive Charles Scharf exasperated some Black employees in a Zoom meeting this summer when he reiterated that the bank had trouble reaching diversity goals because there was not enough qualified minority talent, two participants told Reuters.

He also made the assertion in a company-wide memo June 18 that announced diversity initiatives as nationwide protests broke out following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man, in police custody.

"While it might sound like an excuse, the unfortunate reality is that there is a very limited pool of black talent to recruit from," Scharf said in the memo, seen by Reuters.

Scharf spent more time listening than speaking during the 90-minute call which he initiated and has not been previously reported. His comments about Black talent rubbed some attendees the wrong way, according to the two employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared repercussions.

Not all attendees recalled being offended. "The meeting was incredibly constructive... I walked away being incredibly surprised at how genuine and sincere he is," said Alex David, president of the Black/African American Connection Team Member Network.

But several Black senior executives across corporate America said they are frustrated by claims of a talent shortage, and called the refrain a major reason that companies have struggled to add enough racial and ethnic diversity to leadership ranks, despite stated intentions to do so.

https://tinyurl.com/y6rtdxch

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Zeitghost

(3,858 posts)
1. Do you not agree...
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 08:13 PM
Sep 2020

That there are systemic racism problems in business programs at universities and that it leads to fewer BIPOC graduates from those programs creating an underrepresentation problem in banking?

haele

(12,651 posts)
3. What he means is that there isn't enough black talent at the networking events the CEOs recruit from
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 09:34 PM
Sep 2020

If they aren't invited to the dinners or "after conference" huddles to smoke cigars and shoot shit about their portfolios and common fraternities, that talent isn't going to be considered for senior executive positions.

My late FIL was ready to "take that next step" to move from a major insurance company VP position to industry CEO/BoD positions - from the 1% to the .5%. But his then wife was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, and since he put the last two years of her life above the jet-setting lie-style of that level of exclusivity, he "lost out".
He landed well enough, but he was only worth 5 Million (including the house) in trusts when he passed, instead of 50 Million. But at least Margie knew he loved her.

Haele


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