Worcester Business Journal

24 Worcester Business Journal | September 5, 2022 | wbjournal.com F O C U S D I V E R S I T Y & I N C L U S I O N C reating a culture of diversity, equity, inclu- sion and belonging requires meaningful action. To support our bank's employees and the diverse communities we serve, Webster Five prioritizes increasing representation across our leadership levels and creating and support- ing opportunities that promote ongoing development. Our goal is to create a pipeline of diverse leaders and to support their growth, as well as the evolution of our company journey, with positive impact to the commu- nities we serve. Changing the status quo is a crucial component of the DEIB journey, and it begins with senior leadership. In the banking industry, women remain underrepresented in the C-Suite. As a mutual bank defined as "owned by its depositors rather than by shareholders," we have a responsibility to promote decisions that best serve our customers' needs. Increasing representation at the senior leadership level presents diverse perspectives in decision-making and better reflects the employees, customers and communities we serve. As the most recent opening on the senior manage- ment team, Webster Five appointed Kate Megraw as CIO. Increasing representation is only one component. Leadership is a skill culti- vated through continuous learning and development opportunities, and we support and create these opportu- nities as a function of our DEIB com- mitment to our employees. This is especially true for our aspiring lead- ers from historically underrepresent- ed groups. This year, we collaborated with Keystone Partners to create a customized leadership development training program as a targeted invest- ment in building our future senior leadership bench strength from with- in the organization. As we focus on these goals, we continue to recognize leaders who are making a difference at our bank and in our community. We are grateful as an organization to attract and retain great talent, celebrate their accomplishments and share their success. Recently, we celebrated the professional recognition achievements of two executives. Sonia Mahnot, VP, Director of Marketing was accepted into Chief, a private network designed for senior women leaders to strengthen their leadership, and Darryl Caffee, SVP, Director of Retail Lending, was honored as a member of the WBJ 40 under Forty. Their successes are a direct reflection of their hard work and dedication, and we are honored to sup - port these leaders as part of Webster Five. Actively engaging different voices and perspectives strengthens our organiza- tion and enables us to better serve our employees and community. DEIB at Webster Five is not a checklist; it is woven into the fabric of our continually evolving culture. We are proud to highlight some of our actions taken towards our goals of promoting diversity and equity and cultivating a culture of inclu- sion and belonging. Terri Flynn, Chief Diversity Officer and HR Director, Webster Five WEBSTER FIVE: Actions Matter, and They Start with Us W Terri Flynn MEMBER FDIC MEMBER DIF NMLS: #523049 c mi ed to our people. web5.com | 800.696.9401 Employee success is our success. Which is why providing our employees with the opportunities, tools and support necessary to succeed is important to us. Join our team and experience that commitment for yourself. Special Sponsored Section "DEIB at Webster Five is not a checklist; it is woven into the fabric of our continually evolving culture."

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