Page 23 - Investment Advisor September 2021

Diversity and Inclusion

FIRMS munity and business leaders to develop resources to help organi-
zations prioritize D+I. The company also committed to increasing
Adasina Social Capital, a Black- representation of people of color in its workforce. It placed extra
owned, female-led independent emphasis on using assessment, measurement and research to
investment advisory firm estab- guide D&I decisions. Since rolling out the program last year,
lished by Rachel Robasciotti and Maya Philipson, co-founders Allianz Life has conducted 21 sessions to help nearly 500 employ-
of the Robasciotti & Philipson RIA firm, is dedicated to social ees (including 43% of managers) build cultural awareness.
justice as an investment strategy. The firm invests in public
companies that advance progressive policies such as LGBTQ+ Blaylock Van, Wall Street’s oldest
equal employment opportunities, and screening out compa- continually operating Black-
nies involved in the fossil fuel, prison and tobacco industries as owned investment banking firm,
well as companies that use forced arbitration to resolve issues has experienced success in the past year as more U.S. compa-
such as sexual harassment. Its investments focus on five nies and municipalities recognize the value of doing business
themes of justice: racial, gender, economic, climate and “move- with diverse business enterprises, especially those within the
ment aligned,” which includes corporate accountability, ani- financial services sector. The firm, which serves corporations,
mal welfare and human safety. municipalities, investment managers and pension funds, is
87% Black-owned with a diverse employee base. It has helped
Allianz Life donated $1 million in 2020 investment managers, pension funds and companies gain
to nonprofits committed to addressing diversity exposure through the inclusion of Black- and wom-
systemic inequities, and another $1 mil- en-owned firms. Blaylock Van also is committed to other ini-
lion to nonprofits that support older adults and caregivers facing tiatives via its community service and diversity programs, such
hardship due to COVID-19. The firm partnered with other com- as the San Francisco Achievers program.

SEPTEMBER 2021 INVESTMENT ADVISOR 21