AllianceBernstein

FinTech, Infrastructure Engineering, Software Development, Data Science

Fully Invested in Better Outcomes - As a global investment firm, we foster diverse perspectives and embrace innovation to help our clients navigate the uncertainty of capital markets. AB values people who want to win as a team, are intellectually curious and always eager to grow and learn. AllianceBernstein provides industry-leading research and investment solutions through a combination of innovation, intellectual curiosity and relentless ingenuity.   The investment in its staff members, both interns and full-time employees, is a value central to AllianceBernstein’s culture. AB is seeking the next generation of talent to develop. We are looking not only to recruit but also to train, retain and grow the people we bring into the firm for a career, not just the role they are applying for. We make career development an emphasis through mentorship, coaching, instructor-led training, and endless resources. As individuals evolve in their skills and either expand their roles or take on new ones, we continue to bring in exceptional talent to grow.

In only one year from announcing its Racial Equity Plan, AB has achieved many successes to advance our people, our firm, and our communities, through our Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) initiatives. As our journey continues, we are proud of our accomplishments to develop diverse talent, serve our communities and much more. We believe in driving accountability at all Levels: Accountability at All Levels:

• Last month, AB launched our mandatory Anti-Racism and Active Upstander training—a course developed by our D&I Team to provide a global historical context on the topic of racism.
• In April, AB hosted its third annual global Day of Understanding. Moderated by firm employees, participation topped more than 2,500 colleagues, with expert panelists outlining actionable steps to become an Upstander.
• Last summer, we began evaluating and addressing AB’s supplier diversity. We have since relaunched our global Vendor Management and Supplier Diversity efforts with the creation of required DDQ and vendor management training, inclusive of D&I and Modern Slavery modules.
• Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) continue to serve as strategic business partners. This past year, our ERGs helped create forums that educate and provide a safe space for race-related discussion: BERG - Being Black in Corporate America | AB Asians - Asians Who Lead: The Paradox of the Model Minority | AB Asians - Stop Asian Hate | BERG & Family Matters - How to Talk to your Kids about Race | AB Asians - From Pain to Purpose & Promise: practical solutions to countering implicit bias with positive mentality and sustainable action | Synergy | AB OUT.

Recruitment & Retention AB prides itself on the emphasis we place on recruiting and retaining diverse talent. We have a D&I team embedded in our internal recruiting function to bring a diverse lens to the process.

• AB proudly hosted its first HBCU Infusion Forum to introduce students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to careers across asset management and technology.
• Over the past year, we established several new strategic partnerships with: Ascend, 10,000 Black Interns, Urban League, National Society of Black Engineers Music City Professionals, and Wall Street Friends.
• As part of our 10-year-old high school work study program with the Cristo Rey High Schools, we have increased engagement to include a formal curriculum to address skills for professional development, including communicating with purpose and giving and receiving feedback.

Development of Diverse Talent:

• Following the hiring of AB’s first Diverse Talent Development Lead, George Redix, the Career Connection Program was launched. The program provides an opportunity for junior Associates that identify as a member of an underrepresented group to engage in career ownership and exploration within the firm.
• The onboarding process has been improved by integrating cross-functional activities such as our cross-SBU Buddy System that connects new joiners with VPs to help to establish a strong sense of belonging at AB from day one.
• Our exit interview process has been enhanced by conducting live formal interviews with departing diverse employees to detect trends and mitigate attrition.

Research & Data Transparency:

• In April, AB submitted a detailed overview of our firm’s intentional D&I efforts to the Committee on Financial Services in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• As part of our Corporate Call to Action responsibility, we have disclosed our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) data on our corporate website.
• AB is a proud sponsor of Coqual’s current research effort—a three-report exploration of equity in the workplace, which focuses on the role of talent systems and individual experiences.

Philanthropy:

• AB’s commitment to serving our most vulnerable citizens is an integral part of our philanthropy strategy. In 2021, we have committed more significant philanthropic dollars to communities of color or diversity-related initiatives.
• As part of this commitment, we have formed new partnerships and strengthened existing partnerships, and hope to build on these relationships in future years as our program grows:
• East Harlem Tutorial Program – New York
• Dress for Success Worldwide – National
• Children’s Wishing Well – Singapore
• Into University – London
• National Museum of African American Music – Nashville
• Conexión Américas / Escalara Program – Nashville
• Nashville Public Education Foundation – Nashville

The examples listed above are some of our most recent actions to advance equity, but it is certainly not an exhaustive list of our efforts over the years. Our firm-wide D&I strategy will continue to prioritize our people through the lens of inclusivity and will work to attract and engage diverse talent of all levels.

We have the best building in Nashville with state of the art technology and space for both open seating and plenty of workspace.  AllianceBernstein’s vibe on every floor is open and collaborative. The physical workspace enhances and promotes this atmosphere through open desk space (no offices) which enables senior leaders to sit and work side by side with all levels of colleagues from interns and associates to senior executives.

Our new office is located in the center of Nashville's music, cultural and sports scene and is an integral part of a unique mixed-use complex. This complex includes the Assembly Food Hall, which is the largest retail and food court in Nashville with 11 traditional retail shops, 11 restaurants, and 23 other eateries within the food hall. Other favorite after hour spots include the shops on Broadway, museums including the completed Museum of African American Music in our building, and music venues.

The best part of our new headquarters office location are the panoramic views of downtown, midtown, the Gulch and East Nashville. Plus, our office building is located directly across from the historic Ryman Auditorium and the Bridgestone Arena.

Since we began construction of our new building, our staff at all levels got involved in the community as active members of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Technology Council (NTC), The Nashville Symphony, and Music City. AllianceBernstein is literally part of the Nashville skyline with unparalleled exposure by two AB logo signs on the top of our building at 501 Commerce Street. The most Nashville thing about AB is the warm approachability of its people – even though we have colleagues from all over the country and world in all of our offices, there is a warmth and vibrancy – pure Nashville! – that comes through in team and one-on-one communication. Our open floorplan contributes to this, but we’d like to think it’s more attributable to the curious and respectful nature of our culture.

Groups of AB employees can also be found regularly attending hockey games, concerts in the park, and Sounds baseball games. In addition to happy hours on and around Broadway, we’ve had some great times doing cooking demonstrations at The Chef and I, and joining the Nashville Technology Council on their campus for different networking events. We also get groups together regularly to provide extra hands to community service partners like Thistle Farms and the Martha O’Bryan Center. During our work from home period in 2020-2021, teams held virtual wine tastings and escape rooms in addition to regular themed trivia nights.

We’re at the crossroad of Nashville’s history and roots with the blossoming of the technology industry growth and skyline. Nashville is a growing town and the technology industry is becoming a part of it. It’s exciting to be a part of this growing market. Nashville’s history as a musically creative town goes hand in hand with the creation of new technology.

The many ERGs (Employee Resource Group) and EWGs (Employee Wellness Group) offer opportunities for people to build relationships based on common interests. Our ERGs continue to serve as strategic business partners. Our collaborative culture boosted by our open floorplan leads to realtime collaboration and problem solving across all levels and teams.

Since coming to Nashville, AB has brought 1250 roles – many tech focused – to the city. AB is involved actively in the Nashville Technology Council, Women in Technology Tennessee (WITT) and the National Software School. We actively work with our Nashville technology partners and universities to source talent. We’ve created a lot of jobs and are looking to attract both local professionals and the best technology talent from around the country to AB.

We have a very unique organizational structure which puts our technology shoulder to shoulder with our internal clients and gives them the advantage to see the results of the work they do. We have a core set of strategies and technologies developed by our leadership team. Plus, there is direct communication with the Head of Tech and Ops to understand the direction of the firm, progress, and direction on a weekly basis. AllianceBernstein’s new headquarters office building is a showcase of high quality architectural and engineering design inside and out and offers best-in-class amenities to our employees. These include a full-service gym with yoga and spin rooms and wide variety of top of the line equipment, a lounge with food offerings and a full-service catering kitchen, flexible meeting and collaboration areas, and a huge beautifully furnished outdoor roof terrace that people enjoy during the day, as well as after hours sitting next to a fire pit and listening to live music.

• AB's Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion and Corporate Citizenship Janessa Cox-Irvin penned this joint op-ed for Diversity Professional with Dress for Success Worldwide CEO Joi Gordon on the importance of prioritizing women of color through networking, mentorship, and management. https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=711960&ver=html5&p=108
• AB’s COO and Head of Bernstein Private Wealth Kate Burke was featured in the Nashville Business Journal as part of “The Boss” Q&A feature, a weekly article highlighting leaders across Nashville’s business community. The Boss: Why Nashville feels like home for AllianceBernstein's Kate Burke  https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2021/05/17/the-boss-why-nashville-feels-like-home-for-burke.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=me&utm_content=na&ana=e_na_me&j=23868559&senddate=2021-05-17
• AB’s Chief Operating Officer Kate Burke and Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion Janessa Cox-Irvin were both highlighted in Oprah Magazine’s feature story, “These Bosses Are Paving the Way for Women in Leadership Positions.” https://www.oprahmag.com/life/work-money/g35566765/dress-for-success-campaign-2021/?slide=2
• AB Leaders Featured in Nasdaq’s Women in Technology Series - Nasdaq’s Women in Technology series featured three AB leaders: Brenda Coulter, Head of Compliance Surveillance and Innovation; Inna Kleynburg, Head of Compliance & Legal Technology; and Indu Venkatasubramanian, Business Analyst and Project Manager. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/nasdaq-women-in-technology%3A-brenda-coulter-alliancebernstein-2021-01-07 https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/nasdaq-women-in-technology%3A-inna-kleynburg-alliancebernstein-2021-01-14 https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/nasdaq-women-in-technology%3A-indu-venkatasubramanian-alliancebernstein-2021-01-22