NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TIAA was named #9 on the 2020 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, climbing six places from its #15 rank in 2019.

TIAA also entered the top 10 companies for the first time after appearing on the list for the eighth consecutive year. This honor recognizes TIAA’s commitment to building a workplace that reflects the diversity of the clients it serves.

“Diversity and inclusion are an essential part of who we are. Our inclusive culture and diverse workforce helps us better understand and address our clients’ needs,” said Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President and CEO of TIAA. “This is especially important as we strive to help our clients navigate the unprecedented challenges they face today.”

In 2019, TIAA announced a data-first strategy to advance its inclusion and diversity efforts, drive business outcomes, and foster a greater sense of belonging among associates. Several new initiatives were also launched as part of this strategy including “REAL Talks” (“Respectfully Engage and Listen/Learn”), a conversation series designed to help associates navigate sensitive or polarizing conversations about inclusion. The team also rebranded and launched new Business Resource Groups and developed its “IN The Lead” program designed to raise leader awareness through I and D workforce analytics.

TIAA also became one of the first financial services organizations to encourage employees enterprise-wide to specify pronouns in their email signatures, as part of a client-centric focus on non-binary gender inclusion. The firm also incorporated business-centric strategies into its corporate social responsibility (CSR) function, which joined the Inclusion team last year, connect its commitment to inclusion with local communities. In 2019, through the efforts of the firm’s CSR team, TIAA reached an exciting milestone of positively impacting 77 communities where associates live and work and approximately 1 million lives.

TIAA is building on this work in 2020 with the launch of “Chart Your Journey,” an online resource recommending specific actions and educational tools for associates to proactively continue to build on their personal inclusion skills.

“As our associates and clients navigate the current health and financial crisis, it is more important than ever before that we embrace diverse perspectives and champion inclusion,” said Corie Pauling, Senior Vice President and Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at TIAA. “When associates are able to be their full selves in the workplace – and feel supported by their employer to do so, especially in times of crisis – they are more engaged and empowered to drive success on behalf of clients.”

In addition to focusing internally, TIAA has taken its commitment to inclusion and diversity to institutional clients, partnering with TIAA’s Client Engagement and National Advocacy teams to educate clients on TIAA’s inclusion and diversity practices. Members of the TIAA Inclusion team presented at several TIAA-sponsored client events and national association forums, providing current and potential institutional clients with insights into strategies for leveraging a diverse and inclusive workforce and integrated data and analytics capabilities to drive business outcomes.

Lastly, the TIAA Supplier Diversity Program continues to advance on its best-in-class strategy. TIAA completed the second year of its Diverse Supplier Mentoring Program and hosted six supplier development webinars.

A preeminent thought leader and industry influencer, the DiversityInc Top 50 list, issued yearly since 2001, recognizes the nation’s top companies for diversity and inclusion strategies. DiversityInc’s highly competitive and rigorous annual survey yields a data driven ranking based on six criteria: talent results in the workforce and management, senior leadership accountability, talent programs, workplace practices, philanthropy and supplier diversity.

The top 50 companies and their rankings were announced at DiversityInc’s virtual event on May 5.

To view the entire Top 50 list and specialty lists, visit http://www.diversityinc.com/top50.

About TIAA

With an award-winning ¹ track record for consistent investment performance, TIAA (TIAA.org) is the leading provider of financial services in the academic, research, medical, cultural and government fields. TIAA has $1.1 trillion in assets under management (as of 3/31/2020 ²) and offers a wide range of financial solutions, including investing, banking, advice and education, and retirement services.

1 The Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards are based on the Lipper Leader for Consistent Return rating, which is a risk-adjusted performance measure calculated over 36, 60 and 120 months. Lipper Leaders fund ratings do not constitute and are not intended to constitute investment advice or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security of any entity in any jurisdiction. For more information, see lipperfundawards.com. Lipper Fund Awards from Refinitiv, ©2020 Refinitiv. All rights reserved. Used under license. The Award is based on a review of risk-adjusted performance of 39 companies for 2016, 36 for 2017, 35 for 2018 & 2019, and 30 for 2020. The award pertains only to the TIAA-CREF mutual funds in the mixed-asset category. Without such waivers ratings could be lower. Past performance does not guarantee future results. For current performance, rankings and prospectuses, please visit TIAA.org.
² Based on $1.1 trillion of assets under management across Nuveen affiliates and TIAA investment management teams as of 3/31/20.

© 2020 and prior years, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America-College Retirement Equities Fund, New York, NY 10017

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