Wells Fargo’s culture is built on sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment for all team members – one where they feel valued and respected for who they are as well as for their skills and experiences. We value and promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our business from our CEO and leadership team, to our hiring and supplier practices and everything in between.
We have embraced this culture since we opened our doors in 1852. And as we continue to progress our goal continues to be the same of embracing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our business, which we believe is essential to engage our team members, customers, communities and shareholders.
The fabric of life in Los Angeles is rich where opportunities are abundant that allow us to embrace individuals differences that make them unique.
We are a true melting pot – made up of successful business people of every color, ethnic origin, gender identity, spiritual beliefs, national origin, and sexual orientation.
Diversity & Inclusion is one of our five pillars within our Vision & Values; it is embedded in our Wells Fargo culture to celebrate the diversity that makes up our workforce. As a first-generation immigrant from Portugal, my parents encouraged me to embrace both cultures (American and Portuguese). This allowed me to be mindful of what makes us all different but recognizing the similarities that tie us together. And celebrating those differences because each of our unique perspectives provides valuable contributions.
As the leader of Los Angeles, I believe it is important that I support and encourage an inclusive culture. It is my commitment to the 1,300-team members in the Greater LA region to encourage them to show up as their best self and reach their full potential. Having a diverse workforce is vital because I want to assure that my team mirrors the communities that we serve, especially the ethnic diversity that makes up Los Angeles.
At Wells Fargo, we have 10 dedicated Team Member Networks (TMN) that consist of Women, PRIDE, Veterans, Latin, African American, MyGeneration and Asian among others. The TMN’s provide team members with a platform to network, engage, volunteer and mentor with others of a shared background and experience. Additionally, it provides our team members with personal and professional development, leadership engagement, networking opportunities; serve as change agents for embedding inclusive practices into our day-to-day operations and support our efforts to attract and retain talent.
I strongly believe in the TMN programs that I am proud to serve as the Executive Advisor for the Los Angeles/Orange County PRIDE TMN. Within this capacity, I ensure that I make myself available to assist in mentoring our team members and remind them that although we may all have different journeys, our overall goal is the same, which is to “… Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” – Golda Meir
As we make strides at Wells Fargo, we continue our commitment to build sustaining relationships within the communities that we serve.
We hold our commitment to our communities in very high regard. We feel that our strength is only as strong as the communities we serve; therefore, we look for proactive ways to support and assist our customers and potential customers. Reaching out to our communities allows us to fulfill our mission, which is to “…satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially.”
Michael Ormonde is the Los Angeles Region Bank President for Wells Fargo.
