Invigorated by Change
Written by: Gerald L. Hassell | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BNY Mellon
Organizations today face a stiff sustainability test. In virtually every industry, constituents’ attitudes and beliefs are changing rapidly, technology is redefining what is possible and companies are being forced to reimagine their business models for the future.
In financial services, we feel the impact of change acutely. Younger generations have different outlooks on investing. Leaps in technology have conditioned clients to expect exceptional user experiences. More employees want to do purposeful work in modern, flexible, collaborative workplaces. Mounting shareholder concerns about sustainable practices compel us to show we are investing for the future and operating responsibly.
At BNY Mellon, we are invested in change to respond to these challenges and opportunities. We were among the first of our industry peers to commit to a profound cultural, structural and operational transformation.
We looked at what successful companies were doing and learned from them. We welcomed fresh perspectives and defied conventional thinking. We made significant investments to build competitive advantage and fuel future growth. Today, BNY Mellon is a fundamentally different company than we were just a few years ago.
These changes are invigorating, pushing us to expand our thinking, evolve our culture and elevate our ambitions.
The fact that we remain on track to achieve the three-year financial performance goals set at our October 2014 Investor Day shows we are succeeding. Additionally, our overall employee engagement scores are trending up, we’ve been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index three consecutive years and we see growing demand for our innovative, strategic solutions.
But from my standpoint, the most compelling evidence of success are changes in our business I see and hear every day. I’m encouraged by clients huddled with our teams around whiteboards in our Global Innovation Centers, collaborating on new solutions. I’m heartened by employees talking with pride about our ability to improve lives through investing. I’m proud of our leaders embracing diversity and inclusion as a means to innovation and growth. These are the kinds of changes that propel strategic and sustainable growth and position us to capture future opportunities.
Change is challenging, but I am confident we will meet rising expectations and help set higher standards of performance and corporate social responsibility for the new era. As the Investments Company for the World, millions are counting on us.
