We’re all fortunate to work in an industry with a wonderful mission. How do we create more opportunities for people of color to experience the same rewards. That’s the topic of today’s conversation with Martin Powell, Head of Annuity Distribution and Gina Riepel Director of Strategic Accounts at CUNA Mutual Group.
Also, do you want to get regular updates on news about guests of our show? Go to https://thatannuityshow.com and subscribe to our newsletter.
We hope you enjoy the show.
Links mentioned today:
Martin Powell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-powell-4790b01a/
https://portfolio.bisanet.org/Article/providing-inclusivity-and-confronting-unconscious-bias
Gina Riepel:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-riepel-a0588741/
Industry Associations:
https://www.bisanet.org/page/Diversity
https://portfolio.bisanet.org/Article/providing-inclusivity-and-confronting-unconscious-bias
Thank you to our show sponsors, CUNA Mutual!
Built on the principle of “people helping people,” CUNA Mutual Group is a financially strong insurance, investment and financial services company that believes a brighter financial future should be accessible to everyone. Through our company culture, community engagement, and products and solutions, we are working to create a more equitable financial system that helps to improve the lives of those we serve and our society. For more information, visit cunamutual.com/annuities.
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Transcript
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[Paul Tyler]: hi this is paul tyler with another episode of that annuity show and uh in our
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[Paul Tyler]: virtual studio we have mark fitzgerald joining us after a long series of road
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[Paul Tyler]: trips mark it’s great to have you back
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: Paul, its great to be back
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[Paul Tyler]: a
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[Paul Tyler]: ramsey as always his pleasure
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[Ramsey Smith]: yep
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[Paul Tyler]: and we have two really special guests with us today from kina mutual who’s also
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[Paul Tyler]: been a sponsor of our show we appreciate it but also doing some really
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[Paul Tyler]: interesting things to change
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[Paul Tyler]: not just products but change really who’s involved and who’s really driving the
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[Paul Tyler]: industry in the future and i’d like to welcome martin powell head of an nudity
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[Paul Tyler]: distribution at kuni mutual group and his colleague gina repel director of
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[Paul Tyler]: strategic accounts at
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[Ramsey Smith]: yeah
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[Paul Tyler]: cuna mutual group martin and gina welcome
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[Ramsey Smith]: thank you
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: thank you
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[Martin Powell]: thanks for
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[Paul Tyler]: hey thank
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[Martin Powell]: good to be back
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: makes about
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[Paul Tyler]: hey hey thanks and so topic of the day is really
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[Paul Tyler]: hey hey thanks and so topic of the day is really
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[Paul Tyler]: it’s black history month
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[Paul Tyler]: what does that really mean in
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[Ramsey Smith]: sixties
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[Paul Tyler]: terms of diversity equity inclusion and
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[Ramsey Smith]: and
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[Paul Tyler]: what should it
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[Ramsey Smith]: what should
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[Paul Tyler]: mean for the industry ramsey um how would you wanna how do you think we should
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[Paul Tyler]: kick this off
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[Ramsey Smith]: so look i think
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: you got so
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[Ramsey Smith]: so so the three of us myself martin and gina have have committed
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[Ramsey Smith]: a meaningful all or a meaningful portion of our careers
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: that would be proportion
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[Ramsey Smith]: the to the insurance industry and i think i’m sure sure they found it as
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[Ramsey Smith]: rewarding as i have and at the same time we see that there’s if you look at the
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[Ramsey Smith]: if you look at the populations that are served by the insurance industry
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[Ramsey Smith]: you can see scope for expanded presence for more folks of african american
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[Paul Tyler]: so
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[Ramsey Smith]: descent to be in various positions in the industry so
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[Ramsey Smith]: i’m fortunate enough to serve on the board uh of
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: four
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[Ramsey Smith]: a major insurance company
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[Ramsey Smith]: and i have had the pleasure had the pleasure of building a business in the
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: business
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[Ramsey Smith]: on the distribution side and you know
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: and uh
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[Ramsey Smith]: each of us has our own journey and i guess it would be very interesting to find
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: a co dr because
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[Ramsey Smith]: out from martin and gina you know what what drew you to this industry first and
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: that
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: what do this industry
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[Ramsey Smith]: foremost tell us your story and then on the back of that it would be very
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[Paul Tyler]: on the back of that
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: i never thought
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[Ramsey Smith]: interesting to hear what you think it will take to bring more people of color
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[Ramsey Smith]: into the space so gina
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[Paul Tyler]: what
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[Ramsey Smith]: why don’t we
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[Ramsey Smith]: don’t we start with you
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: he wants
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[Gina Riepel]: Um,
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[Gina Riepel]: okay,
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[Paul Tyler]: okay great thank you for having week and
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[Gina Riepel]: great,
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[Ramsey Smith]: great thank you for
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: okay great uh thank you for having me and
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[Gina Riepel]: Um, thank you for having me, And you know I started in this industry over
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[Ramsey Smith]: thirty years ago
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[Gina Riepel]: thirty years ago and I started in a in at at
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[Paul Tyler]: actually
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[Gina Riepel]: a bank, Actually on the
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[Paul Tyler]: my years
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[Gina Riepel]: teller line and moved on to opening new
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[Ramsey Smith]: account
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[Gina Riepel]: accounts and just
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[Gina Riepel]: kind of
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: see
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[Ramsey Smith]: kind of really started saying that people know a lot about investing
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[Gina Riepel]: really started to
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[Paul Tyler]: that
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[Gina Riepel]: see that you know people
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[Paul Tyler]: know a lot about
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[Gina Riepel]: didn’t know a lot about investing.
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[Paul Tyler]: they never they
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[Gina Riepel]: Um, they didn’t really understand it. and they came into the bank looking for
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[Gina Riepel]: help and for a solution.
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[Ramsey Smith]: and so
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[Gina Riepel]: And so
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[Paul Tyler]: did not
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[Gina Riepel]: you know, I did that
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[Gina Riepel]: while I was in college, and then
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[Ramsey Smith]: i was in college and then i was fortunate and have to you know go on to a mutual
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[Paul Tyler]: she
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[Gina Riepel]: I was fortunate enough to you know, move on to a mutual fund company where I
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[Ramsey Smith]: fun where i have to learn a little bit more about investments and really taking
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[Gina Riepel]: got to learn a little bit more about investments and really taking it to the
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[Ramsey Smith]: it to the next level of providing financial securities to to everyone it’s my
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[Gina Riepel]: next level and providing financial securities, um to to everyone,
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[Paul Tyler]: i really fascinated by that i really
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[Gina Riepel]: And so I just I was really fascinated by that, you know, but I really consider
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[Ramsey Smith]: chest because was really fascinated by that you that i really could
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[Gina Riepel]: myself lucky because I
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[Gina Riepel]: had no
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[Ramsey Smith]: i had no idea what
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[Paul Tyler]: yeah but i mean
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[Gina Riepel]: idea what a mutual fund Um
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[Paul Tyler]: what like
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[Ramsey Smith]: was when i
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[Gina Riepel]: was when I joined Um.
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[Paul Tyler]: american capital back in nineteen ninety yeah
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[Ramsey Smith]: on american capital back in nineteen ninety and i was fortunate that i had people
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[Gina Riepel]: American Capital back in nineteen ninety and I was fortunate that I had. um.
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[Gina Riepel]: you know, people kind of show me the way
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[Ramsey Smith]: kind showing away and help me realize how important it is to provide financial
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[Paul Tyler]: and help me realize how important it is to
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[Gina Riepel]: and help me realize how important it is to provide financial
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[Ramsey Smith]: security
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[Paul Tyler]: degree of
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[Gina Riepel]: security, um
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[Gina Riepel]: to to people.
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[Ramsey Smith]: to to people and so i just kind of grew up in the business right and we
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[Paul Tyler]: so
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[Gina Riepel]: And so I just kind of grew up in the business, right. I knew nothing about it,
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[Ramsey Smith]: remembered about it but i learned about it and had like different opportunities
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[Gina Riepel]: but I learned about it and had just you know, different opportunities, And I
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[Ramsey Smith]: and i think that really happens to me
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[Gina Riepel]: think
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[Paul Tyler]: really
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[Gina Riepel]: what really happened for me is, I
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[Ramsey Smith]: from people that were willing to give me a chance right i didn’t look like
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[Gina Riepel]: found people that were willing to give me a chance,
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[Paul Tyler]: right i didn’t
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[Gina Riepel]: Right, I didn’t
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: i didn’t any
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[Gina Riepel]: look like anybody, Um on our
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[Ramsey Smith]: anybody um on our team i didn’t look like anyone at the field but um i found
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[Paul Tyler]: i didn’t
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[Gina Riepel]: team. I didn’t look like anyone
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[Paul Tyler]: feel
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[Gina Riepel]: out in the field,
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[Gina Riepel]: but Um, I found someone and or people that just saw
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[Paul Tyler]: um i found
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[Ramsey Smith]: someone and every i saw something in me that i didn’t
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: just
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[Gina Riepel]: something in me that I didn’t know that I had, and the passion that I have for
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[Gina Riepel]: providing
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[Ramsey Smith]: in the country just the passion i have for this business and so for the change
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[Gina Riepel]: financial security, just a passion I have for this business. And so
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: so
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[Gina Riepel]: you know they took a chance on me and Um taught me the ropes and I and I’m sor.
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[Gina Riepel]: you know they took a chance on me and Um taught me the ropes and I and I’m sor.
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[Paul Tyler]: yeah
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[Ramsey Smith]: then i and i’m so martin take a chance on me and and give me opportunities that i
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[Gina Riepel]: You know, I have people like Martin that still take a chance on me and give me
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[Gina Riepel]: You know, I have people like Martin that still take a chance on me and give me
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[Gina Riepel]: opportunities that I wouldn’t have normally had Um in my career, And so I’m
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[Gina Riepel]: opportunities that I wouldn’t have normally had Um in my career, And so I’m
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[Ramsey Smith]: wouldn’t have normally had
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[Paul Tyler]: in my career like
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[Ramsey Smith]: in my career i’m just i feel like that’s kind of what we need to do
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[Gina Riepel]: just I feel like that’s kind of what we need to do for the next generation. Is
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[Gina Riepel]: just I feel like that’s kind of what we need to do for the next generation. Is
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: christmas
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[Gina Riepel]: we have to be willing to take a chance on people and and teach them, and Um,
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[Gina Riepel]: we have to be willing to take a chance on people and and teach them, and Um,
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[Paul Tyler]: he
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[Gina Riepel]: show them this business and what what it really means and what we’re doing, Um
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[Gina Riepel]: show them this business and what what it really means and what we’re doing, Um
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[Paul Tyler]: what
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[Gina Riepel]: for people. So I mean that’s I just grew up, I just I, I love it. I just I
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[Gina Riepel]: for people. So I mean that’s I just grew up, I just I, I love it. I just I
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[Paul Tyler]: yeah i just
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: you have school
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[Paul Tyler]: i i i love it i i can’t imagine i
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[Gina Riepel]: can’t imagine I talked to Martin about this all the time. like I can’t imagine
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[Gina Riepel]: can’t imagine I talked to Martin about this all the time. like I can’t imagine
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[Gina Riepel]: doing anything else. I feel like I was born to to do this. It’s it’s easy for
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[Gina Riepel]: doing anything else. I feel like I was born to to do this. It’s it’s easy for
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[Ramsey Smith]: else
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[Ramsey Smith]: to
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[Ramsey Smith]: it’s easy for me um
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[Gina Riepel]: me. Um, so I, I just love it.
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[Gina Riepel]: me. Um, so I, I just love it.
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[Paul Tyler]: what
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[Ramsey Smith]: martin you’re up
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[Martin Powell]: i started this business summer time as jean in nineteen ninety a financial
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[Martin Powell]: advisor for met life and what drew me into the business was the opportunity
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[Martin Powell]: to to help families
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[Martin Powell]: um
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[Martin Powell]: around life insurance
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[Martin Powell]: and when you deliver your first check it really hits home on the power
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[Martin Powell]: of this business
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[Martin Powell]: and also as an advisor or gave me an opportunity to educate uh people of color
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[Martin Powell]: and women
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[Martin Powell]: around um
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[Paul Tyler]: yeah
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[Martin Powell]: preparing for the certainty and life of uncertainty and that’s something that’s
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[Martin Powell]: very very purposeful
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[Ramsey Smith]: whatever
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[Martin Powell]: and made me feel very very good
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[Paul Tyler]: you
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[Martin Powell]: to to be in this business
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[Martin Powell]: to continue to
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[Martin Powell]: help
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[Paul Tyler]: great
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[Martin Powell]: as as you uh go through this journey and and as i travel through my journey and
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[Martin Powell]: meeting uh great people like gina and and others yourself ramsay paul
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[Martin Powell]: the great thing about
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[Martin Powell]: what i feel
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[Martin Powell]: makes me drive every single morning it’s my duty to help people of color and
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[Martin Powell]: women
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[Martin Powell]: learn about this business and learn how
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[Martin Powell]: you can create generational wealth how you can
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[Martin Powell]: help save and put your kids through cou all those great things
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[Gina Riepel]: S.
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[Martin Powell]: that are
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[Ramsey Smith]: driving towards his values
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[Martin Powell]: driving
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[Paul Tyler]: right
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[Martin Powell]: towards the values for people
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[Ramsey Smith]: really get me
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[Martin Powell]: really get me really excited about this business and
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[Martin Powell]: just wanted to continue to just um pass it on and continue to lead and and and
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[Martin Powell]: want people to say hey
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[Martin Powell]: i want to do martins shop people of color and women
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[Martin Powell]: or hey i want to be
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[Ramsey Smith]: i wanna
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[Martin Powell]: i wanted have um be ceo of an insurance company one day uh because there’s just
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[Martin Powell]: so much
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[Paul Tyler]: oh
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[Ramsey Smith]: oh
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[Martin Powell]: power that you know people of color are missed out on because they just haven’t
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[Martin Powell]: been educated around money and the behavior around money so i i just so excited
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[Martin Powell]: that um we’ve been able to make i’ve been able to make an impact on individuals
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[Martin Powell]: as well as as as
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[Martin Powell]: you know with their investing as well as individuals with their career
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[Ramsey Smith]: too
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[Martin Powell]: so just just is just a great business to be in
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[Paul Tyler]: yeah i
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[Ramsey Smith]: you like bing
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[Paul Tyler]: i completely agree and i think martin your com education’s kind of interesting
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[Paul Tyler]: maybe we could you know kind of double click in that a little bit you know mark
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[Paul Tyler]: and i both worked at met life i don’t want to speak for for mark but
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[Paul Tyler]: i’ve seen some interesting as i’ve moved from company or company or sector to
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[Paul Tyler]: sector
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[Ramsey Smith]: and
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[Paul Tyler]: certain and i don’t know if it’s the the market if it’s the company if it’s
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[Paul Tyler]: history
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[Paul Tyler]: certain companies are much better about creating a more
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[Ramsey Smith]: read
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[Paul Tyler]: inclusive environment met life and
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[Paul Tyler]: i’m not sure you know i i don’t think we’re there at the same time there was a
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[Ramsey Smith]: like sure maybe
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[Paul Tyler]: significant top down effort to build diversity in that company now will no longer
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[Paul Tyler]: exists it’s been sold in in terms of the areas we’re working
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[Paul Tyler]: we had some diversity but i would not describe that as a a diverse culture
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[Paul Tyler]: you know move to some other organizations you know without naming them
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[Paul Tyler]: more focus on education more focus on education of advisors i’ve seen a lot more
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[Paul Tyler]: diversity you know some of the ones that kind of you know came up more from
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[Ramsey Smith]: work the uh partners
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[Paul Tyler]: a part time basis i mean what’s first of all you know i again i don’t want
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[Ramsey Smith]: and i want
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[Paul Tyler]: to disparage met or what it was
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[Paul Tyler]: but is there something in the you know is it history is it just the you know the
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[Paul Tyler]: the culture from the get go that makes one organization more successful than
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[Paul Tyler]: another
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[Ramsey Smith]: yeah spot on we were going through and
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[Martin Powell]: yes you spot on it what we’re going through and understanding that hua mutual is
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[Martin Powell]: is kind of late in the journey but they’re accelerating
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[Martin Powell]: it has to be top of mind
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[Martin Powell]: for for the change to happen it can’t be
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[Martin Powell]: um an afterthought it can’t be like hey i’m on a journey right you you never go
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[Martin Powell]: to the board and present your as
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[Martin Powell]: executive of your business plan and say hey
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[Ramsey Smith]: your dresses plan
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[Ramsey Smith]: i
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[Martin Powell]: this us getting to our numbers is a journey it’s
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[Ramsey Smith]: put
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[Martin Powell]: about putting concrete measurable actionable items to deliver on diversion and
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[Martin Powell]: the firms that do that are the firms that are having a success that they they are
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[Martin Powell]: holding themselves accountable for going
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[Ramsey Smith]: major
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[Martin Powell]: out
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[Gina Riepel]: have.
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[Martin Powell]: educating
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[Ramsey Smith]: w
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[Martin Powell]: in the tracking
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[Martin Powell]: diversity because
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[Ramsey Smith]: you really dig in into understand that diversity
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[Martin Powell]: when you really dig in and understand it that diversity equity inclusion and
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[Paul Tyler]: wa
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[Martin Powell]: and fresh thoughts is really a multiplier for organizations
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[Martin Powell]: when you look at that
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[Ramsey Smith]: organization lo it de
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[Martin Powell]: organizations have had a lot of success
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[Ramsey Smith]: dude they teams
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[Martin Powell]: they they they’ve changed the world they didn’t sit back and think about you know
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[Martin Powell]: the same old way of doing things and and that and the only way you get that is by
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[Martin Powell]: making sure that you have people in your organization that are
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[Ramsey Smith]: you got people in your organization that
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[Ramsey Smith]: just very very verse not just
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[Martin Powell]: just very very diverse from not just
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[Martin Powell]: educational background but experiences and ethnicities
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: martin you’ve you’ve incorporated group leader retreats to focus in on inclusion
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: can you talk a little bit about that and some of the success that you’ve had from
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: from that outcome
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[Ramsey Smith]: yeah
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[Martin Powell]: yeah we
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[Ramsey Smith]: church
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[Martin Powell]: our retreat
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[Ramsey Smith]: unfortunately
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[Martin Powell]: uh unfortunately we’re virtual but very very powerful
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[Paul Tyler]: s
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[Martin Powell]: and
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[Martin Powell]: it was a very very eye opening experience
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[Martin Powell]: for all of us and the great
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[Ramsey Smith]: out is that i b
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[Martin Powell]: thing was was the opportunity for us to really look into the mirror and be
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[Martin Powell]: transparent
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[Martin Powell]: and i think the
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[Ramsey Smith]: feedback
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[Martin Powell]: powerful thing that
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[Martin Powell]: has
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[Ramsey Smith]: sure
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[Martin Powell]: been shared is is that
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[Ramsey Smith]: you can put the opportunity
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[Martin Powell]: when people took the opportunity
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[Ramsey Smith]: to your bu
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[Martin Powell]: to hear my story
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[Ramsey Smith]: wow aw
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[Martin Powell]: the aha moment went on that
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[Martin Powell]: with some folks it may come up and approached me not only internally but as well
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[Martin Powell]: as externally is that well i never realized martin you you could never hide that
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[Martin Powell]: you were black
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[Martin Powell]: i could hide that i was jewish
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[Martin Powell]: i
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[Ramsey Smith]: yeah
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[Martin Powell]: could hide that
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[Ramsey Smith]: yeah
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[Martin Powell]: you know if
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[Ramsey Smith]: i came for what the uh back
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[Martin Powell]: i came from a background and maybe i was bi racial but i looked more
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[Martin Powell]: you know on little more white i could
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[Ramsey Smith]: that i
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[Martin Powell]: sit on white if i was
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[Martin Powell]: of a different
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[Ramsey Smith]: orientation
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[Martin Powell]: sexual orientation you know i
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[Ramsey Smith]: all those different things
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[Martin Powell]: don’t all those different things
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[Ramsey Smith]: which are important
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[Martin Powell]: which are important
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[Ramsey Smith]: identify with if you walk in
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[Martin Powell]: to identify but if you walked in a cult you could keep that on your personal side
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[Martin Powell]: and it was eye opening
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[Ramsey Smith]: people that
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[Martin Powell]: to people that hey you know we have these
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[Gina Riepel]: Yes,
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[Martin Powell]: biases these unconscious biases and we see somebody and we unfortunately have
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[Ramsey Smith]: we see somebody
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[Ramsey Smith]: unfortunately have the to advises that we need to address better
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[Martin Powell]: these unconscious biases that we need to address and identify and then work on
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[Ramsey Smith]: they work
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[Martin Powell]: you know ultimately
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[Paul Tyler]: what’s the
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[Ramsey Smith]: we can
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[Martin Powell]: breaking those those biases down and saying hey this this is not founded this is
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[Martin Powell]: this is you know
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[Ramsey Smith]: all church
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[Martin Powell]: we’re all looking to achieve the same thing when you you get in these
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[Martin Powell]: conversations people realize that yeah we want to have an inclusive environment
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[Martin Powell]: not a ex exclusive environment
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: and obviously you know focusing in from a corporate perspective is different than
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: you know bringing individuals into the business what other pathways are are you
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: going about in terms of education and helping individuals get into the business
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: and get into wholesaling specifically
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[Ramsey Smith]: you
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[Martin Powell]: so
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[Ramsey Smith]: we’re really working
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[Martin Powell]: we’re really working with our recruiting folks and it’s an effort with the
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[Martin Powell]: coalition of of equity
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[Martin Powell]: of
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[Martin Powell]: wholesaling
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[Mark Fitzgerald]: what do you think
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[Ramsey Smith]: it’s really us go out early stage
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[Martin Powell]: it’s really us going out early stage career
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[Ramsey Smith]: college
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[Martin Powell]: college
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[Martin Powell]: and really giving them an understanding of what financial services is what
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[Martin Powell]: financial services wholesaling is it’s going
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[Ramsey Smith]: making sure that you done
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[Martin Powell]: making sure that you’re going to the historically black colleges and universities
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[Ramsey Smith]: thank you
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[Martin Powell]: going to the state
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[Gina Riepel]: He
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[Martin Powell]: and private universities that have a high concentration of of a of die student
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[Martin Powell]: body and really educating
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[Martin Powell]: them and really getting them excited that as i mentioned in my intro like this
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[Ramsey Smith]: you get that if i mention my intro
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[Martin Powell]: field
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[Martin Powell]: is similar to saying hey i wanna be a nurse that you can impact somebody so
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[Martin Powell]: greatly that
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[Ramsey Smith]: thank you
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[Martin Powell]: you know they can be live comfortable in a in a
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[Ramsey Smith]: very small
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[Martin Powell]: in a very long retirement
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[Ramsey Smith]: different than somebody hope you got an interest in
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[Martin Powell]: no different than improving somebody’s health that they got injured so they can
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[Martin Powell]: have
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[Ramsey Smith]: a good quality of them
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[Martin Powell]: a good quality of life
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[Ramsey Smith]: so it wants making sure that that people can understand it
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[Martin Powell]: so it’s us making sure that that that people can understand the transition it’s
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[Martin Powell]: not the the wolf of wall street and selling stocks that people see in the
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[Martin Powell]: in you know in big boats and stuff but this is really
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[Ramsey Smith]: hey you can be something like that you too
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[Martin Powell]: hey you can impact somebody like i you can
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[Ramsey Smith]: change their life
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[Martin Powell]: change their life by educating them
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[Ramsey Smith]: really
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[Martin Powell]: and really feel good about what you do day in and day out
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[Ramsey Smith]: so what do you see is your
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[Ramsey Smith]: through your primary competitors for talent so like when you go out and you
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[Ramsey Smith]: recruit
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[Ramsey Smith]: what other kinds of companies are you competing against because you know my
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[Ramsey Smith]: experience is that that changed dramatically over the course of the last twenty
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[Ramsey Smith]: or thirty years like there there’s think there can be more choices and different
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[Ramsey Smith]: choices different things are attractive now than they once were so where do you
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[Ramsey Smith]: find them the most competition when you when you find that that right candidate
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[Martin Powell]: oh y you find a lot of competition
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[Martin Powell]: in the it sector right like you have people that can do it
448
00:15:10,131 –> 00:15:11,411
[Martin Powell]: and i’ve done and i actually
449
00:15:12,611 –> 00:15:15,091
[Martin Powell]: done some i t in in my career in between
450
00:15:16,211 –> 00:15:19,411
[Martin Powell]: um being an advisor and coming back from the wholesale side
451
00:15:21,091 –> 00:15:22,451
[Martin Powell]: it’s very competitive because
452
00:15:22,644 –> 00:15:23,764
[Ramsey Smith]: it as we know
453
00:15:23,091 –> 00:15:24,451
[Martin Powell]: it as we know is
454
00:15:25,491 –> 00:15:26,531
[Martin Powell]: it’s the engine
455
00:15:25,764 –> 00:15:27,284
[Ramsey Smith]: the agent especially after
456
00:15:27,651 –> 00:15:29,011
[Martin Powell]: after the pandemic and
457
00:15:29,764 –> 00:15:34,404
[Ramsey Smith]: they were recruit very heavily their vein extremely well and uh
458
00:15:30,211 –> 00:15:34,931
[Martin Powell]: they’re recruiting very heavily they’re paying extremely well and um
459
00:15:35,704 –> 00:15:36,704
[Ramsey Smith]: they have a lot
460
00:15:36,311 –> 00:15:37,311
[Martin Powell]: they have a lot more
461
00:15:38,371 –> 00:15:40,771
[Martin Powell]: flexibility they they do things a little different
462
00:15:41,811 –> 00:15:44,691
[Martin Powell]: and we gotta we got to make the we gotta adapt and and
463
00:15:44,404 –> 00:15:45,404
[Mark Fitzgerald]: nice
464
00:15:44,831 –> 00:15:45,831
[Martin Powell]: make sure that we can
465
00:15:46,244 –> 00:15:47,924
[Ramsey Smith]: a number flexibility
466
00:15:46,291 –> 00:15:51,651
[Martin Powell]: provide that level of flexibility and industry make it on making it attractive
467
00:15:53,151 –> 00:15:54,151
[Martin Powell]: but it
468
00:15:53,784 –> 00:15:54,784
[Ramsey Smith]: is really
469
00:15:54,431 –> 00:15:55,431
[Martin Powell]: is where we see
470
00:15:56,771 –> 00:16:01,171
[Martin Powell]: the greatest competition for talent and then i would say the medical field would
471
00:16:00,871 –> 00:16:01,871
[Martin Powell]: be next
472
00:16:01,444 –> 00:16:05,924
[Ramsey Smith]: got it okay so the other thing that that was said earlier that i thought was
473
00:16:01,516 –> 00:17:59,836
474
00:16:06,804 –> 00:16:11,124
[Ramsey Smith]: intriguing and it sort of again reminds me of something i’ve seen a lot of is uh
475
00:16:12,324 –> 00:16:15,844
[Ramsey Smith]: is you know gina gina you talked about how there there were people that saw
476
00:16:16,164 –> 00:16:20,484
[Ramsey Smith]: things in you that that you didn’t necessarily recognize in yourself and so they
477
00:16:20,484 –> 00:16:25,604
[Ramsey Smith]: empowered you and there are a couple i see a couple things in there right so one
478
00:16:25,304 –> 00:16:26,304
[Ramsey Smith]: is
479
00:16:26,964 –> 00:16:30,724
[Ramsey Smith]: the concept of the the importance of mentorship and sponsorship and those are
480
00:16:30,804 –> 00:16:32,964
[Ramsey Smith]: actually aren’t necessarily the same thing they’re both important
481
00:16:34,644 –> 00:16:39,204
[Ramsey Smith]: you know how important was you know mentorship in the first order and then
482
00:16:39,444 –> 00:16:43,284
[Ramsey Smith]: sponsorship in the second order perhaps the more important of the two in terms of
483
00:16:44,244 –> 00:16:45,524
[Ramsey Smith]: the progression of your career
484
00:16:47,065 –> 00:16:48,265
[Gina Riepel]: hope you know what. it’s funny,
485
00:16:48,505 –> 00:16:50,025
[Gina Riepel]: Um, growing up in this business,
486
00:16:48,564 –> 00:16:51,284
[Ramsey Smith]: and growing up this is i really
487
00:16:50,340 –> 00:16:51,340
[Paul Tyler]: really
488
00:16:50,645 –> 00:16:51,645
[Gina Riepel]: I, I really
489
00:16:51,044 –> 00:16:52,044
[Mark Fitzgerald]: see
490
00:16:52,025 –> 00:16:56,025
[Gina Riepel]: wouldn’t say I had a a mentor necessarily, because
491
00:16:55,700 –> 00:16:56,700
[Paul Tyler]: no
492
00:16:55,765 –> 00:16:56,765
[Gina Riepel]: there were
493
00:16:56,404 –> 00:17:00,484
[Ramsey Smith]: no to look like me i mean i course i that i weigh a hundred pounds but for what
494
00:16:56,605 –> 00:16:57,605
[Gina Riepel]: no no one that looked
495
00:16:57,220 –> 00:16:58,220
[Paul Tyler]: i mean i
496
00:16:57,625 –> 00:17:00,905
[Gina Riepel]: like me. I mean I’m four eleven. I weigh a hundred pound soaking wet. You know
497
00:17:00,644 –> 00:17:05,204
[Ramsey Smith]: you know ipic i mean i and i’m out there right i’m i’ strong i got some
498
00:17:00,985 –> 00:17:05,145
[Gina Riepel]: I’m hispanic. I mean, I and I’m out there right. I’m I’m I’m strong. I got a
499
00:17:05,145 –> 00:17:07,545
[Gina Riepel]: strong personality and there just wasn’t a lot for me to
500
00:17:05,364 –> 00:17:08,804
[Ramsey Smith]: personality and there just wasn’t a lot for me to choose from so i had to find
501
00:17:07,625 –> 00:17:12,665
[Gina Riepel]: choose from, So I have to find men that Um. I liked the way they did business,
502
00:17:07,751 –> 00:17:08,751
[Martin Powell]: no she said
503
00:17:09,204 –> 00:17:14,964
[Ramsey Smith]: men that um i liked the way they did business and i respected them and i wanted
504
00:17:12,420 –> 00:17:13,420
[Paul Tyler]: yeah
505
00:17:12,925 –> 00:17:13,925
[Gina Riepel]: and I
506
00:17:13,525 –> 00:17:14,525
[Gina Riepel]: respected
507
00:17:13,844 –> 00:17:14,844
[Mark Fitzgerald]: she’s
508
00:17:14,080 –> 00:17:16,640
[Paul Tyler]: i wanted to be like that before i had to
509
00:17:14,345 –> 00:17:18,105
[Gina Riepel]: them and I wanted to be like that And so I had to, um.
510
00:17:15,044 –> 00:17:21,284
[Ramsey Smith]: to be like that and so i had to um i use to that and sometimes they my to even
511
00:17:18,160 –> 00:17:20,080
[Paul Tyler]: i got used to that this was the people that
512
00:17:18,745 –> 00:17:21,785
[Gina Riepel]: I, I used them, and sometimes they were mentors and they didn’t even know it.
513
00:17:21,364 –> 00:17:22,884
[Ramsey Smith]: know it and so
514
00:17:21,645 –> 00:17:22,645
[Gina Riepel]: Um,
515
00:17:21,940 –> 00:17:22,940
[Paul Tyler]: so
516
00:17:22,585 –> 00:17:23,625
[Gina Riepel]: and so I
517
00:17:23,325 –> 00:17:24,325
[Gina Riepel]: just,
518
00:17:23,380 –> 00:17:24,380
[Paul Tyler]: i
519
00:17:23,704 –> 00:17:24,704
[Ramsey Smith]: i
520
00:17:24,185 –> 00:17:25,225
[Gina Riepel]: I kind of had to build
521
00:17:24,984 –> 00:17:25,984
[Ramsey Smith]: my own
522
00:17:25,165 –> 00:17:26,165
[Gina Riepel]: my own. It
523
00:17:25,805 –> 00:17:26,805
[Gina Riepel]: wasn’t until
524
00:17:25,820 –> 00:17:26,820
[Paul Tyler]: so i
525
00:17:26,704 –> 00:17:27,704
[Ramsey Smith]: i finally
526
00:17:26,725 –> 00:17:27,725
[Gina Riepel]: I finally,
527
00:17:28,125 –> 00:17:29,125
[Gina Riepel]: um,
528
00:17:28,905 –> 00:17:30,905
[Gina Riepel]: just said I, I got to do this my way.
529
00:17:28,964 –> 00:17:34,884
[Ramsey Smith]: just said i gonna to do this my way i i like that i mean it i know that but i’m
530
00:17:31,100 –> 00:17:32,100
[Paul Tyler]: i like that
531
00:17:31,705 –> 00:17:35,465
[Gina Riepel]: I, I like that. I’m going to. I’m going to emulate that, but I’m going to do it
532
00:17:34,884 –> 00:17:40,884
[Ramsey Smith]: gonna do it my way i try attracting um senior leaders saying you know i i see
533
00:17:35,545 –> 00:17:40,105
[Gina Riepel]: my way. And then that’s when I started attracting Um. senior leader saying, you
534
00:17:40,185 –> 00:17:41,865
[Gina Riepel]: know, I, I see something in you. Im.
535
00:17:40,504 –> 00:17:41,504
[Ramsey Smith]: something
536
00:17:41,845 –> 00:17:42,845
[Gina Riepel]: I’m going to give you
537
00:17:42,164 –> 00:17:46,804
[Ramsey Smith]: i mean like i said give you that chance but it wasn’t um it was hard it was
538
00:17:42,260 –> 00:17:43,260
[Paul Tyler]: movie
539
00:17:42,745 –> 00:17:43,865
[Gina Riepel]: like I said, Giveve me that chance,
540
00:17:44,060 –> 00:17:45,060
[Paul Tyler]: watching
541
00:17:44,345 –> 00:17:49,145
[Gina Riepel]: But it wasn’t um. It was hard. it was really really hard to find people. Um.
542
00:17:46,964 –> 00:17:52,084
[Ramsey Smith]: really really hard to find people um i and so that’s why now um as a woman
543
00:17:49,085 –> 00:17:50,085
[Gina Riepel]: and
544
00:17:49,351 –> 00:17:50,351
[Martin Powell]: six
545
00:17:49,785 –> 00:17:55,065
[Gina Riepel]: so that’s why? now, Um, as a woman, a Hispanic woman in this business, I am so
546
00:17:52,964 –> 00:17:57,364
[Ramsey Smith]: hispanic com business i am so passionate about bing and
547
00:17:55,180 –> 00:17:56,180
[Paul Tyler]: about me
548
00:17:55,225 –> 00:17:56,585
[Gina Riepel]: passionate about leading
549
00:17:57,060 –> 00:17:58,060
[Paul Tyler]: tell me what
550
00:17:57,145 –> 00:18:02,745
[Gina Riepel]: and showing what Um, people of color like me, Um can do ’cause I, I’ve said
551
00:18:01,516 –> 00:19:59,836
552
00:18:02,024 –> 00:18:03,024
[Ramsey Smith]: exact
553
00:18:02,825 –> 00:18:05,945
[Gina Riepel]: this to Martin before you know. I. I really believe that. If you can you know,
554
00:18:06,105 –> 00:18:11,705
[Gina Riepel]: see it, you can be it. And so I, I just feel a huge sense of responsibility to
555
00:18:06,180 –> 00:18:07,180
[Paul Tyler]: you can see it
556
00:18:06,584 –> 00:18:07,584
[Ramsey Smith]: it could be it
557
00:18:07,780 –> 00:18:08,780
[Paul Tyler]: light
558
00:18:08,404 –> 00:18:14,164
[Ramsey Smith]: so i i just feel a huge sense of responsibility to um show what it’s supposed to
559
00:18:12,025 –> 00:18:16,345
[Gina Riepel]: Um. show what it’s supposed to look like When I think we all have to do that.
560
00:18:14,164 –> 00:18:15,444
[Ramsey Smith]: look like and i think we all
561
00:18:15,060 –> 00:18:16,060
[Paul Tyler]: she
562
00:18:15,604 –> 00:18:19,284
[Ramsey Smith]: have to do that um we all have to walk walking and
563
00:18:16,665 –> 00:18:22,025
[Gina Riepel]: Um, we all have to walk, walk and talk, the talk and we have to be intentional,
564
00:18:19,060 –> 00:18:20,060
[Paul Tyler]: and
565
00:18:19,524 –> 00:18:22,004
[Ramsey Smith]: talk and we have to be intentional
566
00:18:22,505 –> 00:18:26,425
[Gina Riepel]: and I think that is the key for me, and my whole career is really really being
567
00:18:22,560 –> 00:18:24,400
[Paul Tyler]: you side of the key for me and your
568
00:18:22,564 –> 00:18:27,204
[Ramsey Smith]: and i think that is the case with me and my co career really going be intentional
569
00:18:26,665 –> 00:18:31,065
[Gina Riepel]: intentional and looking for for the talent. Um, looking,
570
00:18:27,924 –> 00:18:30,964
[Ramsey Smith]: and looking for for the talent looking
571
00:18:31,645 –> 00:18:32,645
[Gina Riepel]: um
572
00:18:31,944 –> 00:18:32,944
[Ramsey Smith]: for
573
00:18:32,425 –> 00:18:33,785
[Gina Riepel]: for people that don’t necessarily
574
00:18:33,844 –> 00:18:36,404
[Ramsey Smith]: i i think that’s me as i
575
00:18:33,865 –> 00:18:36,825
[Gina Riepel]: look like me. act like me, Because that’s what happened to me is. I remember
576
00:18:36,845 –> 00:18:37,845
[Gina Riepel]: when
577
00:18:38,505 –> 00:18:42,905
[Gina Riepel]: the manager said that to me, he said I, I, I like you. You’re different, Um,
578
00:18:43,485 –> 00:18:44,485
[Gina Riepel]: I’m gonna. I’m
579
00:18:44,020 –> 00:18:45,020
[Paul Tyler]: can
580
00:18:44,425 –> 00:18:46,425
[Gina Riepel]: going to give you chance. I’m goingnna, put you out in the field. I’m goingnna
581
00:18:46,325 –> 00:18:47,325
[Gina Riepel]: see what happens,
582
00:18:47,325 –> 00:18:48,325
[Gina Riepel]: and
583
00:18:47,440 –> 00:18:50,160
[Paul Tyler]: and then we end up what like six years
584
00:18:48,025 –> 00:18:51,785
[Gina Riepel]: then I ended up working for him again like fifteen years later and he said he
585
00:18:48,084 –> 00:18:54,164
[Ramsey Smith]: okay i ask you what to do we can the junior so it was pretty away and i went to
586
00:18:51,700 –> 00:18:52,700
[Paul Tyler]: way
587
00:18:51,865 –> 00:18:55,705
[Gina Riepel]: recruited me away and I went to work for again and he was like you were the
588
00:18:54,164 –> 00:18:58,724
[Ramsey Smith]: go from again and i was going to be the best chance i ever took in my career i’
589
00:18:55,785 –> 00:19:00,345
[Gina Riepel]: best chance I ever tookck in my career. Um, and I was like, Wow, thank you, you
590
00:19:00,425 –> 00:19:02,665
[Gina Riepel]: know, and so I just I feel like
591
00:19:03,325 –> 00:19:04,325
[Gina Riepel]: sometimes
592
00:19:03,924 –> 00:19:05,684
[Ramsey Smith]: sometimes the venture a yard there you got
593
00:19:04,185 –> 00:19:07,065
[Gina Riepel]: the mentors aren’t there. You got to find. ‘. Um,
594
00:19:06,765 –> 00:19:07,765
[Gina Riepel]: you
595
00:19:06,980 –> 00:19:07,980
[Paul Tyler]: create
596
00:19:07,204 –> 00:19:11,924
[Ramsey Smith]: you have to create your rain i did that i don’t want to make it hard for anyone
597
00:19:07,385 –> 00:19:10,185
[Gina Riepel]: have to create your own and I did that, and
598
00:19:09,940 –> 00:19:10,940
[Paul Tyler]: i don’t
599
00:19:10,345 –> 00:19:14,025
[Gina Riepel]: but I don’t want to make it hard for anyone to do that. I wa to make it easy
600
00:19:12,004 –> 00:19:16,644
[Ramsey Smith]: to do that i’d rather make it easy for people to find me and i am a mentor now i
601
00:19:14,265 –> 00:19:18,425
[Gina Riepel]: for people to find mentors and I am a mentor. Now I mentor for the B. I. S. a
602
00:19:16,724 –> 00:19:19,124
[Ramsey Smith]: mentor for the b s a w and st program
603
00:19:18,565 –> 00:19:19,565
[Gina Riepel]: rising star program
604
00:19:19,620 –> 00:19:20,620
[Paul Tyler]: and
605
00:19:19,885 –> 00:19:20,885
[Gina Riepel]: and
606
00:19:20,484 –> 00:19:24,884
[Ramsey Smith]: and that’s important to me and i have a lot of young women that have asked me to
607
00:19:20,665 –> 00:19:24,425
[Gina Riepel]: that’s important to me and I have a lot of young women that have asked
608
00:19:24,244 –> 00:19:25,244
[Mark Fitzgerald]: yeah
609
00:19:24,665 –> 00:19:27,385
[Gina Riepel]: me to mentor them And so we do it at different levels, right,
610
00:19:24,964 –> 00:19:27,284
[Ramsey Smith]: mentor them and so we do it at different levels right
611
00:19:27,620 –> 00:19:28,620
[Paul Tyler]: yet
612
00:19:28,345 –> 00:19:30,025
[Gina Riepel]: Um, and even sponse. And and the
613
00:19:30,084 –> 00:19:34,564
[Ramsey Smith]: this authorship thing too i had people come to me and say i i’m going to sponsor
614
00:19:30,105 –> 00:19:31,785
[Gina Riepel]: whole sponsorship thing too, I’ve had
615
00:19:32,100 –> 00:19:33,100
[Paul Tyler]: people that
616
00:19:32,345 –> 00:19:36,505
[Gina Riepel]: people come to me and say I, I wantnna sponsor you. Um. but I find with the
617
00:19:34,644 –> 00:19:40,164
[Ramsey Smith]: you um but i find with the sponsorship sometimes is more equal playing field that
618
00:19:36,665 –> 00:19:41,225
[Gina Riepel]: sponsorship sometimes it’s more equal playing field, though, Um,
619
00:19:41,220 –> 00:19:42,220
[Paul Tyler]: i
620
00:19:41,464 –> 00:19:42,464
[Ramsey Smith]: like i
621
00:19:41,705 –> 00:19:46,345
[Gina Riepel]: like I can help them just as much as they can help me. And so I,
622
00:19:41,705 –> 00:19:46,345
[Gina Riepel]: like I can help them just as much as they can help me. And so I,
623
00:19:45,284 –> 00:19:46,964
[Ramsey Smith]: so that’s a superpower
624
00:19:47,485 –> 00:19:48,485
[Gina Riepel]: yeah, it
625
00:19:47,784 –> 00:19:48,784
[Ramsey Smith]: right
626
00:19:48,345 –> 00:19:49,865
[Gina Riepel]: is. it is. Yep,
627
00:19:49,820 –> 00:19:50,820
[Paul Tyler]: yeah so so
628
00:19:51,680 –> 00:19:55,920
[Paul Tyler]: i i’ve always found mentorship is my best mentors have not been ones that have
629
00:19:56,000 –> 00:20:00,080
[Paul Tyler]: been you know assigned to me by some corporation or some hr department jean as
630
00:20:00,160 –> 00:20:04,560
[Paul Tyler]: you said it just sort of happens but that also implies you’ve got a critical mass
631
00:20:01,516 –> 00:21:59,836
632
00:20:02,784 –> 00:20:03,784
[Ramsey Smith]: it also light
633
00:20:04,560 –> 00:20:06,880
[Paul Tyler]: of people who could be candidates for doing that
634
00:20:09,680 –> 00:20:15,520
[Paul Tyler]: what’s critical mass inside an organization you also mentioned bsa and martin and
635
00:20:15,760 –> 00:20:20,080
[Paul Tyler]: j i’d love to get your perspectives on this how much of that critical mass can be
636
00:20:20,160 –> 00:20:22,000
[Paul Tyler]: created you know across companies
637
00:20:23,040 –> 00:20:27,520
[Paul Tyler]: and still accomplish the same purpose can these substitute for critical mass and
638
00:20:27,600 –> 00:20:30,800
[Paul Tyler]: company or inside companies or does it have to go hand in hand
639
00:20:35,891 –> 00:20:40,051
[Martin Powell]: i think critical mass it’s a great question it it’s so important and it’s kind of
640
00:20:40,291 –> 00:20:43,811
[Martin Powell]: it’s kind of like bowed water or fast food right like
641
00:20:44,671 –> 00:20:45,671
[Martin Powell]: the more you
642
00:20:46,324 –> 00:20:47,444
[Ramsey Smith]: yeah i think
643
00:20:46,371 –> 00:20:48,771
[Martin Powell]: you get companies even though we’re
644
00:20:48,504 –> 00:20:49,504
[Ramsey Smith]: about
645
00:20:48,831 –> 00:20:49,831
[Martin Powell]: competing for talent
646
00:20:49,984 –> 00:20:50,984
[Ramsey Smith]: the war
647
00:20:50,751 –> 00:20:51,751
[Martin Powell]: the more people you
648
00:20:51,304 –> 00:20:52,304
[Ramsey Smith]: explain
649
00:20:51,891 –> 00:20:56,291
[Martin Powell]: get excited about it the more people you get consuming bottled water and and fast
650
00:20:56,071 –> 00:20:57,071
[Martin Powell]: food right
651
00:20:56,904 –> 00:20:57,904
[Ramsey Smith]: we get
652
00:20:57,491 –> 00:21:03,891
[Martin Powell]: and we can get people companies con you know hiring more women and and minorities
653
00:21:04,871 –> 00:21:05,871
[Martin Powell]: and
654
00:21:05,624 –> 00:21:06,624
[Ramsey Smith]: okay
655
00:21:06,451 –> 00:21:08,531
[Martin Powell]: companies when you look at talent and
656
00:21:08,664 –> 00:21:09,664
[Ramsey Smith]: school
657
00:21:08,851 –> 00:21:12,691
[Martin Powell]: population growth you you’re gonna miss out
658
00:21:10,964 –> 00:21:14,004
[Ramsey Smith]: you take a oh did you get over go
659
00:21:13,591 –> 00:21:14,591
[Martin Powell]: if you don’t focus
660
00:21:15,591 –> 00:21:16,591
[Martin Powell]: on hir the best
661
00:21:16,344 –> 00:21:17,344
[Ramsey Smith]: think
662
00:21:16,831 –> 00:21:17,831
[Martin Powell]: and brightest
663
00:21:17,624 –> 00:21:18,624
[Ramsey Smith]: eight
664
00:21:18,151 –> 00:21:19,151
[Martin Powell]: and
665
00:21:18,824 –> 00:21:19,824
[Ramsey Smith]: eight
666
00:21:19,711 –> 00:21:20,711
[Martin Powell]: i always say that
667
00:21:20,804 –> 00:21:21,844
[Ramsey Smith]: hard work to
668
00:21:21,251 –> 00:21:25,411
[Martin Powell]: hard work and intelligence doesn’t discriminate it’s available
669
00:21:26,951 –> 00:21:27,951
[Martin Powell]: across
670
00:21:28,071 –> 00:21:29,071
[Martin Powell]: everybody
671
00:21:29,684 –> 00:21:32,084
[Ramsey Smith]: so it’s it’s available i think that the
672
00:21:33,544 –> 00:21:34,544
[Ramsey Smith]: the the
673
00:21:33,860 –> 00:21:34,860
[Paul Tyler]: no
674
00:21:33,944 –> 00:21:34,944
[Ramsey Smith]: challenge
675
00:21:34,445 –> 00:21:35,445
[Gina Riepel]: one.
676
00:21:35,204 –> 00:21:40,164
[Ramsey Smith]: the challenge always is is it you know how well is it recognized so as we went
677
00:21:40,324 –> 00:21:44,324
[Ramsey Smith]: through this discussion you know a few things kind of hit home so you know i just
678
00:21:44,404 –> 00:21:48,164
[Ramsey Smith]: sort of jumped when when gina mentioned that there was that somebody said i took
679
00:21:48,164 –> 00:21:52,724
[Ramsey Smith]: a chance in you that was the best chance i ever took i think you know in life in
680
00:21:52,340 –> 00:21:53,340
[Paul Tyler]: white
681
00:21:52,884 –> 00:21:57,604
[Ramsey Smith]: life people that are in positions of power you know fundamentally start with well
682
00:21:57,684 –> 00:22:00,804
[Ramsey Smith]: i have to sort of maintain my position of power and that can tend to make them a
683
00:22:00,804 –> 00:22:04,964
[Ramsey Smith]: bit conservative and that also means that as as they sort of bring people up
684
00:22:01,516 –> 00:23:59,836
685
00:22:05,124 –> 00:22:09,444
[Ramsey Smith]: behind them they sort of bring in people and skill sets and things that that that
686
00:22:09,604 –> 00:22:14,804
[Ramsey Smith]: feel very familiar because that’s in their comfort zone but but the challenge the
687
00:22:14,884 –> 00:22:18,964
[Ramsey Smith]: challenge around diversity has been and always been that
688
00:22:20,484 –> 00:22:24,644
[Ramsey Smith]: that people of color had to sort of build and demonstrate their success in very
689
00:22:24,804 –> 00:22:30,324
[Ramsey Smith]: different ways right and so those that could sp spent sponsor mentor
690
00:22:31,764 –> 00:22:35,764
[Ramsey Smith]: make a difference have to have to be able to figure out ways to recognize
691
00:22:36,324 –> 00:22:38,964
[Ramsey Smith]: recognize those skills and how they’ve manifested themselves
692
00:22:40,004 –> 00:22:44,404
[Ramsey Smith]: and have to be willing to quote unquote take that chance and from my perspective
693
00:22:44,484 –> 00:22:49,604
[Ramsey Smith]: often it’s not nearly as much it’s not as big a chance as maybe the person taking
694
00:22:49,844 –> 00:22:54,244
[Ramsey Smith]: that leap is taking its just they don’t actually necessarily recognize risk sorry
695
00:22:54,324 –> 00:23:00,084
[Ramsey Smith]: my phone keeps ringing here they don’t recognize they just don’t recognize that
696
00:23:00,104 –> 00:23:01,104
[Ramsey Smith]: the the um
697
00:23:02,004 –> 00:23:04,884
[Ramsey Smith]: again the way the talent manifests itself in the same way so
698
00:23:06,224 –> 00:23:07,224
[Ramsey Smith]: i think both
699
00:23:06,791 –> 00:23:07,791
[Martin Powell]: yeah
700
00:23:07,284 –> 00:23:11,604
[Ramsey Smith]: the stories we’ve heard have been have been really inspiring here and and and the
701
00:23:11,604 –> 00:23:15,604
[Ramsey Smith]: messages the message is to make a difference is more than just having programs
702
00:23:16,804 –> 00:23:22,644
[Ramsey Smith]: it’s taking some taking some chances on on people that have demonstrated ambition
703
00:23:22,724 –> 00:23:26,324
[Ramsey Smith]: and raw skill no question there just a comment
704
00:23:27,140 –> 00:23:28,140
[Paul Tyler]: yeah
705
00:23:27,805 –> 00:23:28,805
[Gina Riepel]: two.
706
00:23:28,311 –> 00:23:29,311
[Martin Powell]: and
707
00:23:30,771 –> 00:23:36,211
[Martin Powell]: and also piggyback on it ramsey is is getting rid of this unconscious bias
708
00:23:37,384 –> 00:23:38,384
[Ramsey Smith]: that’s
709
00:23:37,911 –> 00:23:38,911
[Martin Powell]: and that’s what
710
00:23:39,064 –> 00:23:40,064
[Ramsey Smith]: is
711
00:23:39,971 –> 00:23:43,971
[Martin Powell]: these retreats were great about because the unconscious bias is real
712
00:23:44,264 –> 00:23:45,264
[Ramsey Smith]: maybe
713
00:23:44,991 –> 00:23:45,991
[Martin Powell]: it it’s
714
00:23:46,771 –> 00:23:51,491
[Martin Powell]: it’s end up like look what’s going on with the nfl seventy percent of the players
715
00:23:51,651 –> 00:23:52,851
[Martin Powell]: are of color
716
00:23:54,531 –> 00:23:57,091
[Martin Powell]: and when it comes to the management the people
717
00:23:56,724 –> 00:23:57,724
[Mark Fitzgerald]: yes
718
00:23:57,331 –> 00:24:03,171
[Martin Powell]: are making decisions in management they they have the biases it’s not about the
719
00:24:01,516 –> 00:25:59,836
720
00:24:03,331 –> 00:24:05,971
[Martin Powell]: ability i mean cause we’ve seen
721
00:24:04,824 –> 00:24:05,824
[Ramsey Smith]: see
722
00:24:06,544 –> 00:24:07,544
[Ramsey Smith]: like tes
723
00:24:06,911 –> 00:24:07,911
[Martin Powell]: black coaches
724
00:24:08,344 –> 00:24:09,344
[Ramsey Smith]: thank you
725
00:24:09,091 –> 00:24:14,691
[Martin Powell]: be super successful mike tomlin fifteen years of winning straight seasons right
726
00:24:14,851 –> 00:24:20,851
[Martin Powell]: like the the it just goes on and on so it’s that unconscious ultimately you just
727
00:24:21,011 –> 00:24:23,651
[Martin Powell]: gotta to stop it and say you know what
728
00:24:24,771 –> 00:24:30,051
[Martin Powell]: i need to get past this unconscious bias it’s not there’s not the risk is not any
729
00:24:29,871 –> 00:24:30,871
[Martin Powell]: greater
730
00:24:31,891 –> 00:24:35,171
[Martin Powell]: by hiring somebody of color or a woman it’s the same risk
731
00:24:35,704 –> 00:24:36,704
[Ramsey Smith]: you
732
00:24:36,131 –> 00:24:37,251
[Martin Powell]: don’t think about it
733
00:24:38,531 –> 00:24:39,891
[Martin Powell]: that it’s gonna be a greater risk
734
00:24:40,420 –> 00:24:41,420
[Paul Tyler]: ja
735
00:24:41,811 –> 00:24:43,251
[Martin Powell]: and that’s then
736
00:24:42,951 –> 00:24:43,951
[Martin Powell]: it’s
737
00:24:42,984 –> 00:24:43,984
[Ramsey Smith]: change
738
00:24:43,140 –> 00:24:44,140
[Paul Tyler]: yeah
739
00:24:43,351 –> 00:24:44,351
[Martin Powell]: gotta change
740
00:24:44,800 –> 00:24:48,800
[Paul Tyler]: gina what you know if you could give one word of advice to people listening to
741
00:24:48,580 –> 00:24:49,580
[Paul Tyler]: the show were
742
00:24:51,120 –> 00:24:54,800
[Paul Tyler]: positions where they make hiring decisions recruiting decisions what would it be
743
00:24:57,604 –> 00:25:01,844
[Ramsey Smith]: i just think people have to be intentional like they have to go
744
00:24:57,625 –> 00:25:03,225
[Gina Riepel]: I just think people have to be intentional Like they have to go and and be
745
00:25:03,124 –> 00:25:10,244
[Ramsey Smith]: be willing and opened um and be willing to give people a chance i i just think
746
00:25:03,465 –> 00:25:05,465
[Gina Riepel]: willing and open minded
747
00:25:06,505 –> 00:25:11,145
[Gina Riepel]: and be willing to give people a chance. I, I just think that sometimes it’s
748
00:25:11,225 –> 00:25:12,825
[Gina Riepel]: just easy to go with what you know
749
00:25:12,820 –> 00:25:13,820
[Paul Tyler]: right
750
00:25:13,085 –> 00:25:14,085
[Gina Riepel]: right
751
00:25:13,384 –> 00:25:14,384
[Ramsey Smith]: right and
752
00:25:13,865 –> 00:25:16,425
[Gina Riepel]: and it’s simple and let’s just do that, but we
753
00:25:16,304 –> 00:25:17,304
[Ramsey Smith]: yeah it
754
00:25:16,485 –> 00:25:17,485
[Gina Riepel]: can’t. If if we’re
755
00:25:17,140 –> 00:25:18,140
[Paul Tyler]: change
756
00:25:17,625 –> 00:25:21,145
[Gina Riepel]: going to change, we’re going to take this to the next level. We can’t do that.
757
00:25:18,004 –> 00:25:19,924
[Ramsey Smith]: change this level
758
00:25:19,860 –> 00:25:20,860
[Paul Tyler]: can’t
759
00:25:20,484 –> 00:25:22,804
[Ramsey Smith]: we can’t do that we have to be willing to
760
00:25:21,385 –> 00:25:23,305
[Gina Riepel]: We have to be willing to um
761
00:25:22,500 –> 00:25:23,500
[Paul Tyler]: um
762
00:25:22,904 –> 00:25:23,904
[Ramsey Smith]: um
763
00:25:24,505 –> 00:25:27,705
[Gina Riepel]: to think outside the box and think long term
764
00:25:24,505 –> 00:25:27,705
[Gina Riepel]: to think outside the box and think long term
765
00:25:24,560 –> 00:25:25,760
[Paul Tyler]: think outside the box
766
00:25:24,884 –> 00:25:27,764
[Ramsey Smith]: s outside the box and think long term
767
00:25:28,100 –> 00:25:29,100
[Paul Tyler]: and
768
00:25:28,424 –> 00:25:29,424
[Ramsey Smith]: and
769
00:25:29,065 –> 00:25:32,585
[Gina Riepel]: and and be intentional about that, Because I think sometimes we take the easy
770
00:25:29,124 –> 00:25:33,284
[Ramsey Smith]: and be attentional about that because i i think sometimes we take the easy route
771
00:25:32,525 –> 00:25:33,525
[Gina Riepel]: route
772
00:25:34,164 –> 00:25:36,964
[Ramsey Smith]: um and discover what we know and
773
00:25:34,905 –> 00:25:36,985
[Gina Riepel]: and just go with what we know and
774
00:25:37,420 –> 00:25:38,420
[Paul Tyler]: you got
775
00:25:37,605 –> 00:25:38,605
[Gina Riepel]: we’re never going to get
776
00:25:38,084 –> 00:25:39,084
[Mark Fitzgerald]: sure
777
00:25:38,585 –> 00:25:39,945
[Gina Riepel]: anywhere if we continue to do that
778
00:25:40,400 –> 00:25:45,200
[Paul Tyler]: yeah he well we’re kind of at the top of the show mar mark any final thoughts or
779
00:25:45,180 –> 00:25:46,180
[Paul Tyler]: or questions
780
00:25:47,824 –> 00:25:52,704
[Mark Fitzgerald]: yeah so martin i guess in in twenty twenty two you know in terms of bringing the
781
00:25:52,784 –> 00:25:54,864
[Mark Fitzgerald]: unconscious bias to a conscious level
782
00:25:56,304 –> 00:26:00,224
[Mark Fitzgerald]: what would you like what would you consider a successful transition in twenty
783
00:26:00,384 –> 00:26:02,224
[Mark Fitzgerald]: twenty two from your organization standpoint
784
00:26:01,516 –> 00:27:59,836
785
00:26:03,904 –> 00:26:04,904
[Ramsey Smith]: did you
786
00:26:04,291 –> 00:26:07,971
[Martin Powell]: a piggy back with genus cities that making sure that the leaders are
787
00:26:07,911 –> 00:26:08,911
[Martin Powell]: intentionally
788
00:26:10,691 –> 00:26:17,251
[Martin Powell]: seeking these opportunities to get people of color in through the interview
789
00:26:16,951 –> 00:26:17,951
[Martin Powell]: process
790
00:26:18,624 –> 00:26:19,624
[Ramsey Smith]: the country
791
00:26:19,171 –> 00:26:21,091
[Martin Powell]: are they intentionally working on
792
00:26:20,744 –> 00:26:21,744
[Ramsey Smith]: sh
793
00:26:21,251 –> 00:26:23,171
[Martin Powell]: their journey around their
794
00:26:22,824 –> 00:26:23,824
[Ramsey Smith]: okay
795
00:26:23,431 –> 00:26:24,431
[Martin Powell]: their biases
796
00:26:25,064 –> 00:26:26,064
[Ramsey Smith]: that
797
00:26:25,811 –> 00:26:27,251
[Martin Powell]: and that they believe
798
00:26:27,584 –> 00:26:28,584
[Ramsey Smith]: thank you
799
00:26:28,291 –> 00:26:33,091
[Martin Powell]: that when it’s absolutely true it’s the multiplier effect for for organizations
800
00:26:34,051 –> 00:26:37,011
[Martin Powell]: to have a diverse workforce the
801
00:26:36,944 –> 00:26:37,944
[Ramsey Smith]: they do
802
00:26:37,171 –> 00:26:39,971
[Martin Powell]: diversity of ideas it’s going to move your
803
00:26:39,664 –> 00:26:40,664
[Ramsey Smith]: chores
804
00:26:40,211 –> 00:26:41,571
[Martin Powell]: workforce forward
805
00:26:42,764 –> 00:26:43,764
[Mark Fitzgerald]: well so thank you
806
00:26:45,044 –> 00:26:50,964
[Ramsey Smith]: so one thing that i will you know i will add is that uh i think it’s often
807
00:26:51,044 –> 00:26:55,764
[Ramsey Smith]: underappreciated you know what the opportunity is to to work with
808
00:26:56,884 –> 00:27:01,044
[Ramsey Smith]: whether it’s whether it’s people of color or women it there’s there’s an
809
00:27:01,204 –> 00:27:03,444
[Ramsey Smith]: opportunity to find people that are
810
00:27:04,564 –> 00:27:07,524
[Ramsey Smith]: very comfortable in taking some risk and actually
811
00:27:08,724 –> 00:27:09,924
[Ramsey Smith]: pursuing opportunities
812
00:27:10,964 –> 00:27:15,124
[Ramsey Smith]: that are more entrepreneurial and where where outcomes are less defined which
813
00:27:15,204 –> 00:27:19,124
[Ramsey Smith]: you’ll find particularly in big organizations you know they’re usually you know
814
00:27:19,284 –> 00:27:22,884
[Ramsey Smith]: the best accounts when i experienced this in my wall street career like there’s
815
00:27:22,884 –> 00:27:26,724
[Ramsey Smith]: the best there’s the big name accounts that everybody sort of is going for and
816
00:27:26,804 –> 00:27:30,644
[Ramsey Smith]: then usually there’s some other some set of opportunities that are inside the
817
00:27:30,704 –> 00:27:31,704
[Ramsey Smith]: four walls of the business
818
00:27:32,724 –> 00:27:36,244
[Ramsey Smith]: and you know often people of color end up pursuing those opportunities either
819
00:27:36,564 –> 00:27:37,844
[Ramsey Smith]: because that’s what’s left for them
820
00:27:37,940 –> 00:27:38,940
[Paul Tyler]: one
821
00:27:38,484 –> 00:27:41,844
[Ramsey Smith]: or sometimes they end up pursuing the opportunity because they say you know what
822
00:27:42,300 –> 00:27:43,300
[Paul Tyler]: that’s
823
00:27:42,644 –> 00:27:46,884
[Ramsey Smith]: if i pursue this i pursue this undefined opportunity the account that’s never
824
00:27:47,044 –> 00:27:50,164
[Ramsey Smith]: really been successful before the region’s never been successful whatever it
825
00:27:49,984 –> 00:27:50,984
[Ramsey Smith]: happens to be
826
00:27:51,140 –> 00:27:52,140
[Paul Tyler]: know
827
00:27:51,224 –> 00:27:52,224
[Ramsey Smith]: i know
828
00:27:53,124 –> 00:27:56,884
[Ramsey Smith]: that i can actually because i’ll be in isolation if i make this work
829
00:27:58,084 –> 00:28:03,044
[Ramsey Smith]: it will be very clear what my impact was in the space whereas if i’m on the big
830
00:28:01,485 –> 00:28:02,485
[Gina Riepel]: four.
831
00:28:01,516 –> 00:29:59,836
832
00:28:03,284 –> 00:28:07,204
[Ramsey Smith]: account and i’m one with a large group of people like my my worth will not
833
00:28:07,364 –> 00:28:11,924
[Ramsey Smith]: necessarily be as as readily readily visible so what that means is
834
00:28:13,204 –> 00:28:19,604
[Ramsey Smith]: and what that means is you you can often find such a fantastic entrepreneurial
835
00:28:20,404 –> 00:28:24,564
[Ramsey Smith]: personalities you know by by looking for people that are that are diverse and
836
00:28:24,644 –> 00:28:29,924
[Ramsey Smith]: have made that and have made that journey and who often you know rely more on
837
00:28:31,524 –> 00:28:36,644
[Ramsey Smith]: strength of skills versus strength of personality both those things matter to
838
00:28:36,804 –> 00:28:41,604
[Ramsey Smith]: success in life but very often if you’re that type of person you really focus on
839
00:28:41,684 –> 00:28:45,284
[Ramsey Smith]: strength of skills and so there’s i think there’s a lot of untapped
840
00:28:46,404 –> 00:28:50,644
[Ramsey Smith]: potential there that is just not being seen so i i i will i’ll end with that
841
00:28:50,724 –> 00:28:54,724
[Ramsey Smith]: because that’s been my experience in my own career and i see it i see it all the
842
00:28:54,264 –> 00:28:55,264
[Ramsey Smith]: time
843
00:28:54,740 –> 00:28:55,740
[Paul Tyler]: yeah
844
00:28:56,111 –> 00:28:57,111
[Martin Powell]: very well said
845
00:28:56,960 –> 00:29:04,880
[Paul Tyler]: yeah well i i guess martin and first of all jean martin thank you so much martin
846
00:29:05,280 –> 00:29:10,560
[Paul Tyler]: where should people go to learn more about what kina mutual is doing and what
847
00:29:10,340 –> 00:29:11,340
[Paul Tyler]: you’re doing
848
00:29:11,727 –> 00:29:12,727
[Unknown26]: you do
849
00:29:12,560 –> 00:29:15,040
[Paul Tyler]: yeah is there a link on your website or
850
00:29:16,800 –> 00:29:21,760
[Paul Tyler]: you know w w what’s the best way to get a perspective of of of tuna’s commitment
851
00:29:21,420 –> 00:29:22,420
[Paul Tyler]: in this area
852
00:29:24,127 –> 00:29:25,127
[Unknown26]: what
853
00:29:24,771 –> 00:29:28,691
[Martin Powell]: you can go to our website and and look at our social responsibility statement and
854
00:29:28,771 –> 00:29:32,851
[Martin Powell]: our de d and i initiatives on our website
855
00:29:33,891 –> 00:29:37,491
[Martin Powell]: and then you can also gene is leading
856
00:29:37,407 –> 00:29:38,407
[Unknown26]: what
857
00:29:38,531 –> 00:29:42,451
[Martin Powell]: the diversity equity inclusion board at isa
858
00:29:42,340 –> 00:29:43,340
[Paul Tyler]: yeah and it
859
00:29:43,491 –> 00:29:46,451
[Martin Powell]: you can go there for a wealth of information as well
860
00:29:46,820 –> 00:29:47,820
[Paul Tyler]: yeah
861
00:29:47,891 –> 00:29:53,971
[Martin Powell]: and then the coalition of equity in wholesaler with another good uh resource
862
00:29:55,471 –> 00:29:56,471
[Martin Powell]: to get information
863
00:29:56,800 –> 00:30:01,120
[Paul Tyler]: terrific and gina thank you so much what’s the best way for people to get
864
00:30:00,940 –> 00:30:01,940
[Paul Tyler]: in touch with you
865
00:30:01,196 –> 00:30:02,316
866
00:30:01,567 –> 00:30:02,567
[Unknown26]: what that
867
00:30:01,780 –> 00:30:02,780
[Paul Tyler]: they have questions
868
00:30:02,344 –> 00:30:03,344
[Ramsey Smith]: question
869
00:30:02,960 –> 00:30:07,840
[Paul Tyler]: or want to share experiences or get in touch and find find mentors or sponsors
870
00:30:10,100 –> 00:30:11,100
[Paul Tyler]: i think
871
00:30:10,624 –> 00:30:11,624
[Ramsey Smith]: i think
872
00:30:10,900 –> 00:30:11,900
[Paul Tyler]: i email
873
00:30:11,147 –> 00:30:12,827
[Unknown26]: uh they could always email me
874
00:30:12,420 –> 00:30:13,420
[Paul Tyler]: inter
875
00:30:12,987 –> 00:30:15,867
[Unknown26]: at gert riou dot com
876
00:30:16,167 –> 00:30:17,167
[Unknown26]: or call me on
877
00:30:16,324 –> 00:30:20,324
[Ramsey Smith]: me on michelle seven one three eight two five seven three three three
878
00:30:16,660 –> 00:30:17,660
[Paul Tyler]: oh
879
00:30:17,147 –> 00:30:19,947
[Unknown26]: michelle seven one three eight two five seven
880
00:30:19,740 –> 00:30:20,740
[Paul Tyler]: uh oh
881
00:30:20,007 –> 00:30:21,007
[Unknown26]: three three three
882
00:30:21,520 –> 00:30:23,040
[Paul Tyler]: are you sure you have car warranty
883
00:30:22,967 –> 00:30:23,967
[Unknown26]: i’m serious
884
00:30:23,200 –> 00:30:24,560
[Paul Tyler]: insurance okay yeah we’ll uh
885
00:30:27,360 –> 00:30:32,320
[Paul Tyler]: okay all right hey listen thanks so much uh martin gina ramsey mark thank all of
886
00:30:32,400 –> 00:30:36,960
[Paul Tyler]: our listeners and joined next week for another episode of that annuity show
887
00:30:36,660 –> 00:30:37,660
[Paul Tyler]: thanks
888
00:30:39,536 –> 00:30:40,536
The discussion is not meant to provide any legal, tax, or investment advice with respect to the purchase of an insurance product. A comprehensive evaluation of a consumer’s needs and financial situation should always occur in order to help determine if an insurance product may be appropriate for each unique situation.
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