Diversity is an integral part of the corporate culture at Schwab, something that impressed me right from my first days with the company over 12 years ago. Cathy Campbell is the HR director who heads up all of Schwab’s diversity initiatives, and I had the opportunity to talk to her about why diversity and inclusion are so important at Schwab.

SB: We just received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for the eighth consecutive year. What's the value of this score to the company?

CC: We consider it a big honor that the Human Rights Campaign has recognized our efforts and named us an employer of choice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees. This ongoing recognition of our equal employment policies, employment benefits, organizational LGBT competencies, public engagement and corporate citizenship reflects our deep commitment to diversity and inclusion.

SB: What does "diversity" mean at Schwab?

CC: For Schwab diversity is respecting and valuing everyone’s human qualities and strengths. Schwab’s commitment to diversity and inclusion go all the way back to the company’s earliest years, when our chairman, Chuck, created a company dedicated to making financial services more affordable and accessible to all people, regardless of income level, race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or military status. Schwab was founded on the principle of inclusion, and we continually challenge ourselves to ensure that diversity and inclusion are woven into every fabric of our company.

SB: Why is diversity so important to the organization?

CC: At Schwab, embracing people’s differences matters to our success as a company and to the well-being of our employees. Our commitment to building an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued is what sets us apart and helps us be more innovative. We find creative ways to engage our employees, actively seek out and value different perspectives, and we strive to empower employees to reach their highest potential. At Schwab we strongly believe that creating an inclusive, supportive work environment that values diverse perspectives is what allows us to serve our clients better and recruit top talent more effectively.