In an ever-diverse world, allocators and the asset managers and investment consultants who work alongside them increasingly recognize the necessity of diversity, equity and inclusion within their ranks and are taking much-needed steps to press for change.
Asset managers are hiring and empowering chief diversity officers with the influence to drive this evolution — and with a direct line to the chief executive's office. Asset owners are using the heft of trillions of investible dollars that they control to push for progress on the diversity metrics of their managers and drive impact investing for social and environmental good while also delivering required returns. And regulators and lawmakers also have looked closely at DEI efforts in asset management.
Pensions & Investments has chronicled these efforts and more over the past few years, understanding that many investors are committed to actions that will result in a more-inclusive world for all and help them meet their return objectives. We have worked to ensure that we showcase diverse voices throughout our coverage as well as in the conference panels and speakers we curate. We are committed to featuring thought leaders who represent the populations we all serve, as the success of these executives goes hand in hand with an ever-changing industry where a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives is critical to success.
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year, P&I is committed to continuing this reporting, highlighting actions that are pushing this industry forward, as well as documenting areas in which improvement still is needed.
One specific step we will undertake this year is the launch of a new program — Influential Women in Institutional Investing — to acknowledge and celebrate women who are having an outsize impact on the professional investment and retirement market as well as driving positive change. We'll recognize influential women across the industry, including allocators, asset managers, consultants and service providers. Women who empower teams, drive business results, improve outcomes for beneficiaries, create opportunity and drive transformation within the industry, as well as champion diversity and inclusion.
To launch the program, I'm asking each of you to consider influential women that you know or work with and nominate them for the inaugural class of 2023. Our program will culminate with a special report in the Sept. 11, 2023, issue of P&I as well as an awards event and a half-day conference hosted in Chicago on Sept. 14, 2023.
P&I has assembled an advisory board of leading investors and key industry executives to help us shape our conference and evaluate what I fully expect will be an inspiring class of women whose talents, achievements and passion drive their success. To learn more about the program and the advisory board, and to nominate a deserving colleague, please visit our online platform at www.pionline.com/IWII2023.
I look forward to hearing from you, reading all the incredible nominations we receive this year and championing our industry's influential women who are making a difference.
