Riyadh Mohammed, A06; Elizabeth Amador Salem, J91, A22P; Janice Savin-Williams, J79; and Lawrence Kwon, A99.
On April 24, TFN hosted its first event designed specifically for alumni of color in New York City at Aretsky’s Patroon. Developed by Riyadh Mohammed, A06, Vice President, The Carlyle Group, the program aimed to strengthen connections among alumni of color working in financial services and to provide a forum to discuss issues faced in the workplace.
Twenty alumni of all ages and diverse backgrounds in finance attended the breakfast and panel discussion. The speakers included: Lawrence Kwon, A99, Managing Director, Moelis & Company; Elizabeth Amador Salem, J91, A22P, Vice President, Strategic Program Management, Law & Franchise Integrity, MasterCard; and Janice Savin-Williams, J79, Co-founder and Sr. Principal, Williams Capital Group.
The group covered topics from advancement and self-promotion in the workplace to developing a culture of belonging. After the event, Mohammed, who also moderated the discussion, shared his enthusiasm for the gathering, saying that “TFN programs always offer alumni the opportunity to learn, think strategically, and engage with our peers in the financial services. I was delighted that we could expand upon this model and offer alumni of color an additional forum to discuss some of the unique circumstances we experience as professionals.”
He added, “Several alumni mentioned to me this was the first time issues like this were discussed so openly. It is truly remarkable we have such a vibrant and diverse Tufts community here in New York. I hope next year we can bring together an even larger group.”