Building a Culture of Diverse Perspectives

Seth Bernstein

“At AB, we strive to cultivate a dynamic, diverse and inclusive workplace where employees feel challenged, valued, and excited about building a career with us. As CEO, it starts with me. I encourage everyone at the firm to think creatively—about how we hire, how we do business, how we engage and collaborate with one another—to strengthen our culture and embed our values in everything we do. Everyone at AB has a unique voice that deserves to be heard. It’s those individual experiences and perspectives that will help lead us going forward. By leveraging our different backgrounds, we can best engage the communities in which we operate and meet the needs of a broad range of clients. We are doing a lot of great work to help achieve this, and I am fully committed to protecting and enriching our values to ensure diversity and inclusion continues to be part of the fabric of our organization.”

Seth Bernstein

President & CEO

Discover Diversity & Inclusion at AB

We are committed to building a culture of diverse perspectives and talent that will lead us into the future.

Watch The Video

Our Team

Janessa Cox

Janessa Cox-Irvin

Head of Diversity & Inclusion

Ashlee Davis

Ashlee Davis

Senior Diversity & Inclusion Manager

Sharlyn Harper

Sharlyn Harper

Diversity & Inclusion Specialist

Our Diversity & Inclusion Strategy

AB strives to be a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed based on merit, regardless of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity expression, military or veteran status, or any other criterion.

Knowing that diverse and inclusive teams generate better ideas and reach more balanced decisions, we seek to leverage the unique backgrounds of our employees to best engage the communities in which we operate and meet the needs of a broad range of clients.

Diversity Recruitment

Implement new recruitment processes that enable more effective access to diverse candidates.

Senior Leadership Accountability

Develop senior leaders who exhibit and model inclusive behaviors.

Diverse Talent Development

Foster an inclusive environment where diverse talent thrives.

AB's Diversity Partnerships

We partner with a number of organizations whose objectives resonate with our values and culture.

Senior Leadership Accountability

AB's leaders are unwavering in their commitment to fostering a welcoming environment that will attract all types of talented people. Toward that end, we've taken concrete steps to ensure that our senior leaders model and are accountable for meeting AB's diversity & inclusion goals.

  • Every few years, a different partner of the firm is appointed as Diversity & Inclusion Executive Sponsor.
  • We maintain a Diversity Champions Council, a global team of senior leaders responsible for promoting diversity efforts in each of our strategic business units.
  • Since we require our senior leaders to be role models for inclusive behaviors, we've launched an Inclusive Leadership training program for our partners, senior vice presidents and vice presidents globally, which examines how their actions, regardless of intent, can have an impact on their teams.

Diversity at Work

*Ethnically Diverse (United States of America, not Hispanic or Latino unless otherwise noted) = Asian, Black or African American, Two or More Races, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native

All gender information is global.
All ethnic diversity information is US only.
Data as of Dec 31, 2019

Developing Diverse Talent to Lead the Way

AB is committed to cultivating diverse talent. To help support our employees, we offer leadership development programs that cater to the needs of various groups.

Performance Update

African-American Leadership Program

Our African-American leadership development program is dedicated to the professional development and advancement of African-American leaders at the firm. Past program topics have focused on sponsorship and exposure. Active manager participation is a key aspect of the program's success.

Asian Leadership Program

Our Asian leadership program draws on the strengths of the Asian culture to advance the personal and professional growth of AB's Asian leaders. Past program topics have discussed Asian and Western cultural competencies and how to develop strategies for personal success. Active manager participation is a key component of the program's success.

Performance Update
Performance Update

Women's Leadership Program

Our women's leadership program strives to cultivate an inclusive and diverse environment at AB in which women can build and expand on their leadership roles. Past program topics have focused on executive presence, gravitas, the power of your voice, and communicating your commercial impact.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Our ERGs are at the heart of our diversity & inclusion efforts. These voluntary, cross-divisional, employee-led groups were created to accelerate the advancement of employees from traditionally underrepresented groups, the allies who support those groups, and people who share a common purpose, interest or background. By sharing information with educating, and reaching out to our clients and communities, ERGs contribute to business development and the recruitment, retention and professional development of employees globally.

AB Asians

AB Asians is committed to developing and modeling the leadership of its membership, showcasing it throughout the firm by promoting an inclusive community of our diverse cultures.

AB Out

AB OUT promotes and supports the firm's efforts to hire and retain members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community, with the aim of creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where LGBT employees can develop and reach their fullest potential.

AB Veterans

AB Veterans works to raise awareness of the issues relevant to veterans by providing a community for its members, as well as leadership that supports our diversity & inclusion efforts.

Adelante

Adelante is dedicated to building awareness of the Hispanic-Latino community by leveraging cultural strengths to enable professional growth, promote teamwork and generate networking opportunities for its members.

Black ERG

The Black Employee Resource Group (BERG) is dedicated to positively impacting the firm by promoting the advancement of black professionals, from recruitment to mentorship to professional development.

Family Matters

Family Matters sponsors programs and events that enhance and celebrate the family lives and traditions of AB's diverse employee population. By providing employees with relevant tips, strategies and networking opportunities to foster burgeoning talent and support healthy and happy familial relationships.

Synergy

Synergy is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment for women where they can expand their leadership roles. Through female-led initiatives, Synergy works to promote a culture of mentorship that motivates and empowers women to advance in their careers.

Is it Still Getting Better?

We aim to create a supportive and positive work environment for our LGBT employees. Watch our colleagues tell their courageous stories of what it's like to be out in the workplace.

Watch The Video
Human Rights Campaign: Striving for Equality
CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion

Help Us Work Toward a Better Tomorrow