In the wake of COVID-19, Houlihan Lokey remained committed to fostering inclusion and human connection in spite of the remote work environment. We implemented a Roundtable Speaker Series, which provides Analysts, Associates, and other finance professionals greater exposure to senior leadership and diverse members of the firm by facilitating open-forum discussions on diversity and inclusion, career development, and other topics of employee interest. For the summer interns and first-year class, the firm invited Emmanuel Acho, former NFL linebacker and current Fox Sports Analyst and Host/Producer of “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” and James White, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Lord Abbett, who each participated in a web series about diversity and inclusion awareness. The firm also engaged Working Voices to conduct unconscious bias training for these young professionals.

In addition to the firm’s charitable contributions to US-based Direct Relief and UK-based NHS Charities Together, the firm launched a firm-wide step challenge, which garnered participation from 230 employees, and resulted in donations to more than 40 different charitable organizations selected by the teams. Houlihan Lokey’s European team also held a “Dance and Workout –athon” in support of their local core charity, Lucy Air Ambulance, who risked having to shut down due to the pandemic.

Houlihan Lokey’s various initiatives in response to COVID-19 have created a sense of togetherness for its remote workforce, promoted open dialogue amongst finance professionals of all levels, and united the firm’s employees as a whole towards supporting COVID-19 relief efforts.