Landscape-changing acquisitions and mergers. Demographic shifts and technological innovations. At CFA Institute, we are constantly taking stock of an industry that is changing at an increasingly accelerated rate.
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Representing a historic boom-town that has been bubbling with recent activity, CFA Society Atlanta is used to dramatic change. When CFA Society Atlanta was founded in 1960, the city of Atlanta had 1.4 million residents. Over the decades that followed, ASFIP witnessed its city grow to its current population of 6 million metro-area residents.
Now, as it witnesses major deals such as Invesco’s acquisition of OppenheimerFunds and the pending merger of SunTrust and BB&T, the society is making sure members are equipped to navigate an evolving industry and that the vision of growth they pursue is an inclusive one. All the while, they in March announced a significant change themselves – one in name, from The Atlanta Society of Finance and Investment Professionals to CFA Society Atlanta.
Soft Skills, Hard Competitive Edge
Seeing the need for new knowledge, skills and abilities for its members, CFA Society Atlanta kicked off a Soft Skills Series, designed to provide its 1,500+ members with opportunities to round out their skill set. The Soft Skills Series includes a diverse array of programs, including meditation, investment writing and effective communication. These attracted positive feedback and demand for the continuation of the series, which kicks off the year with a “Speed Reading for Financial & Investment Professionals” workshop.
Growing. Together.
Atlanta’s sense of community has always been a draw to business. Ask Atlanta-based Invesco’s President and CEO, Martin Flanagan, CFA. Speaking with CFA Institute CEO Marg Franklin, CFA at the “New Beginnings” VIP celebration of CFA Society Atlanta, he described the region’s appeal for his company. “Atlanta hits many of the things that mattered for a new headquarters: talent from stellar university systems, it’s a dynamic place to live, easy to travel from. Just a great draw.” Flanagan explained that Invesco plans to move 500 employees to the area over the next several years, including 200 in the next several months. “Everything was in place,” he says. “It’s been really wonderful.”
CFA Society Atlanta and its Board of Trustees are intent on building on this sense of community, pushing for a more expansive collection of voices to be included in the financial community. That’s why the focus of the year ahead is the 20 by 2020 Women’s Initiative which seeks to inspire more women to join the investment profession, to support their career success, and to encourage employers to realize the business value of gender diverse teams. This initiative aims to increase CFA Society Atlanta Women membership to 20% by Year 2020. In support of this goal, the Women’s Initiative awards yearly CFA Program Diversity Scholarships. Additionally, the Women’s initiative conducts local corporate and university outreach to build the pipeline of women in finance, encourages women speakers at the Society events, and sponsors diversity-oriented conferences and programs locally.
CFA Society Atlanta Diversity Task Force Co-Chairs, Aradhana Kejriwal, CFA and Emilie Sumera, CFA are enthused by the local buy-in they see around diversity initiatives, saying, "We are very excited to see the support of local companies and universities towards the Diversity Initiative. We intend to meet the 20% goal by Year 2020 and plan to keep working on a diverse membership base until the day we get to parity in diversity.” CFA Society Atlanta President, George Chen, CFA, CIPM, adds that diversity efforts are a crucial part of CFA Society Atlanta’s mission to support our members and lead the financial/investment community in Georgia by embodying the highest ethical standards, and advancing diversity, financial literacy, and education.
CFA Society Atlanta has started an annual professional networking event to celebrate International Women’s Day every March and invites professional organizations including Women’s Groups at firms like SunTrust, Invesco, Voya, Women in Pensions, Women in Alternatives, National Association of Security Professionals among others to participate. Together we can choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women's achievements.
On top of their exciting year-long initiatives, two exclamation points mark a busy calendar for CFA Society Atlanta: the 2020 Annual Forecast Event with Dr. Janet L. Yellen on 5 February, and the 73rd CFA Institute Annual Conference, which takes place 17–20 May. With the enthusiasm and opportunities that come with the new name, CFA Society Atlanta is ready to shine in the year ahead.
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