While we had a number of different disparate metrics we were tracking related to equity, inclusion and diversity and our employee engagement, we lacked clear firm-wide EID goals and a comprehensive score that calculated and measured our progress toward these goals.

Applying the same rigorous standards to how we measure investment performance and client engagement, we created a proprietary NB Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Index in an effort to drive further accountability across the firm. The Index, which is updated annually, is the average of two sub-indices: the Diversity Index and the Equity & Inclusion Index.

• The Diversity Index is calculated using our current employee demographics across 32 dimensions and measures progress toward our goal of reflecting the college-educated broader population.
• The Equity & Inclusion Index compares employee survey scores of our diverse population to our highest scoring population across three key drivers of Equity & Inclusion: Fair Meritocracy; Cultural Inclusion; and Enablement, Training and Mentoring. We aim for there to be no difference between the experience and opportunities of people of different diversity identifiers.

• A EID Index score that now permanently resides on our “Firm Scorecard” which serves as a summary of the firm’s overall investment, financial, client, employee, and innovation performance as well as published on our externally facing website.
• A deeper understanding of how our different employee populations are engaged across the firm and where there are opportunities.
• A stronger understanding of where we need to focus our efforts to increase our EID Index score.
• A benchmark to compare ourselves against and measure progress on an annual basis.

Monica Warek