PEAK6 is built upon many crucial pillars that define and maintain our success. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is paramount to driving new ideas and ensuring a company culture where all team members feel safe and encouraged to be their authentic selves.
Our efforts go beyond the walls of PEAK6 offices, however. We’ve also established initiatives to develop and nurture talent to help people from all walks of life and enhance the industry. This is a core part of our mission, and of what defines PEAK6.
The DEI Council
We recognize that, in order to meet employee needs, we should turn to the employees themselves. That’s why PEAK6 launched its DEI Council.
By its nature, the DEI Council will always be a work in progress. Made up of diverse voices across multiple PEAK6 businesses, the team meets regularly and consults with leaders on important, impactful decisions.
“I think it’s really important to be open, learn from each other, and think about things from new or changed perspectives,” says Carrie Lang, Agency Development Coordinator at National Flood Services and member of the Council’s Leadership Team. “It’s beneficial to listen and learn about other people’s experiences and goals here at PEAK6.”
Additionally, the council aims to not shy away from difficult conversations, so as to inspire a more productive and open work environment.
Fintech in Action
In 2020, PEAK6 provided initial funds to start Fintech in Action (FIA), a coalition seeking to increase the pipeline of Black professionals through partnerships with over 30 companies committed to promoting hiring, growth, and retention. PEAK6 continues to be a proud member of the coalition.
“From an economic equity perspective, there is catching up to do,” says FIA Executive Director Michelle Williams. “There are stark disparities that exist in the finance and technology industries that need to change.”
Diverse backgrounds lead to diverse ideas, and FIA aims to bring those to the finance and fintech industries. True to its name, FIA goes beyond words and takes action, including making a $1 million donation to the Greenwood Project, a Black-led 501(c)(3) organization that creates career pathways for Black, Latinx, and underrepresented students.
FIA also helps fund paid internships for start-ups and mid-sized firms. They’ve even reached high school students with Money Camp, an online program providing a high-level overview of stock market and trading practices, in collaboration with National Urban League and Rapunzl Investments.
“I have seen first-hand that PEAK6 is committed to changing the landscape of finance,” says Williams. “The work FIA does is supported by a larger culture of change agents and cheerleaders that have only empowered this initiative to grow.”
Resources and Opportunities for PEAK6 Employees
We encourage all PEAK6 team members to dedicate themselves to fostering growth and change in the workplace. Employees can join a voluntary Employee Resource Group based around ethnicity, gender, lifestyle, and interests. And the DEI Council General Assembly is open to all PEAK6 employees to provide feedback and suggestions to the council.
The most important thing our employees can do, however, is to bring themselves authentically and completely to work each day. Our team is composed of the brightest minds and most dedicated workers from all backgrounds, and the more we embrace that, the better results we can achieve.
Check out open roles at PEAK6 to see where you can best bring your authentic self to the workplace.