Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion: Reflections on Receiving the Hardest Working Governance Board Member Award

Recently, on 21st February 2024, I had the honor of being awarded the Hardest Working Governance Board Member of the Asian ERG at Northwestern Mutual (NM). This accolade fills me with immense gratitude and serves as a testament to the power of teamwork, collaboration, and inclusivity. The grand auditorium was filled with awesome individuals from ERGs of NM along with Leaders & Executive Sponsors to celebrate the accomplishments of every ERG. Indeed an humbling experience for me as I stepped on the stage for the first time #iCollectXperiences

Sharing some reflections of my experience and feelings in the last couple days:

Leadership: The timing of the recognition program coincidentally aligned with International Mother Language Day, providing me with the chance to express myself in my mother tongue. It was a meaningful opportunity to convey my gratitude (?????? - Kr?taj?a) for the opportunity I get at NM to serve the Asian ERG and play a role in promoting diversity and inclusion at NM. Support from my leaders and colleagues empowers me to bring my authentic self to work each day. In a world where representation and belonging are paramount, being able to be my authentic self at work and doing everything in my capacity to make NM a place where Northwestern Mutual employees feel welcomed, valued, and can thrive; is a privilege I do not take lightly.

Teamwork: One of the most rewarding aspects of serving on the governance board is the remarkable teamwork and collaboration among its members. Each board member brings their unique skills, experiences, and perspectives to the table, wholeheartedly contributing to every initiative. It is this collective effort that makes our work fulfilling and memorable. Therefore, while I am honored to receive this award, it truly belongs to all governance board members and volunteers who have dedicated their time and energy to advancing the goals of the Asian ERG.

周愛慈 Lorraine Hastings, CFA , Steven Lee, Theresa Ko , Emily Ho , Rachael Chupka, Shaunak Kulkarni , Kuldip Kushawah, Richa Joshi, Swati Paranjpe, Deepa Bakre, Elizabeth Chen, Nancy Nara Lim, Abhilasha Jain, Dian Novita the award is OURS.

Tribe: ERGs at NM help in various ways. In my case, I got networking opportunities and made precious work-friends. I feel lucky to have Susanna "Susie" Platt, CPTD in my work-life! She is also my accountability partner for my networking goal this year! We don't have a pic together from the evening but her qualities are etched for good in my mind and I am sure going to pass it forward. Susie and I have one more thing in common, we both adore and admire Jose Acosta - he is an exceptional leader. His presence means the world to me. He is a great example of how a leader should be - he will appreciate and encourage you in public for all the good qualities, he will discipline in private, he will give feedback with the freedom to raise your own bar further high. Having him at the Awards made my day just perfect. (I felt as if my family was standing by my side.)

Reactions, Responses, Remarks: Its humbling to receive so many congratulatory messages, wishes, and Bravos from the amazing People Leaders of the Tech Customer Success department at NM led by the dynamic Sangeetha Rai ! Being there for team members and making them feel valued and useful through a simple timely heartfelt message is a great takeaway from the People Leaders of my org. One I would take pride in mentioning here is from a senior leader who is respected and known to be always open and transparent about things, Jim King . In his simple words, he said, "Happy for You, Anu!".

D&I Magic Makers: Amy Hanneman and her D&I team at NM are truly magical community members inside out. Thank you, Amy, for your warmth, kindness, and for always seeing the good in people. Your warm hug, kind words of appreciation, your smile and calmness in every moment have lifted my spirits again. Kisha Keeney , thank you for your guidance and tireless efforts in fostering diversity and inclusion at NM. Your dedication to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected is truly commendable.

As I reflect on this achievement, I am once again reminded of the importance of driving diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives stronger together. Let us continue to work together to make a difference collectively at NM - a great workplace where every individual can feel they belong here.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey, and I look forward to accomplishing more in the year ahead as the 2024 Co-Chair of the Programming & Culture Committee for the Asian ERG at NM.