#IWD 2014 Giving Voice to Women’s Momentum in the Workplace: BNY Mellon's Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion Jyoti Chopra

Throughout March Leaders Share Career Advice "Top 5s" for the Journey to the Corner Office
Mar 10, 2014 5:15 PM ET
Career guidance from BNY Mellon's global head of diversity and inclusion, Jyoti Chopra: Develop a plan for your life and career. Prioritize it and reward yourself as you progress.

From Women's History Month to International Women's Day, March offers a worldwide acknowledgment of women and their accomplishments, as well as an opportunity to focus on the power of diversity and inclusion that all people can celebrate. This year's global theme, "Inspiring Change," has inspired men and women at BNY Mellon to take action by participating in nearly 60 events around the world.

Recognizing the power of mentoring, a new and unique aspect of the company's 2014 campaign focuses on sharing the advice of leaders who alread have a seat in the corner office. Throughout March, members of BNY Mellon's Executive and Operating committees share career insights and wisdom based on their experience.

If you had five minutes with an inspirational woman leader, what could you learn? This virtual mentoring series looks at "The five things I would tell my 21-year-old self if I were starting out in a career."

Jyoti Chopra, BNY Mellon's Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion recommends:

  1. Make friends everywhere you go and invest time in building deep and lasting relationships.
     
  2. Read up on cultural, social and business etiquette — apply and integrate what you learn into your life, each day.
     
  3. Learn as much as you can from every place that you visit: history, culture, traditions, heritage, customs.
     
  4. Develop a plan/roadmap for yourself and your life and set three goals each year. Revisit and check your progress regularly. Prioritize ruthlessly. Reward yourself as you progress. And, be good to yourself.
     
  5. Become really good at something. Become a subject matter expert and build deep domain knowledge and expertise. Then, share your knowledge, wisdom, ideas, learnings with others along the way. It makes for a wonderful life journey.

For more examples, visit the International Women's Day page on bnymellon.com and click "A View from the Corner Office," our virtual mentoring series.

Jyoti Chopra is the Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion for BNY Mellon. She joined the company in 2012 and is responsible for leading the company’s comprehensive award-winning diversity and inclusion program, and promoting a culture of inclusion that creates pathways for the continued recruitment, development and advancement of a diverse workforce. Her responsibilities include overseeing BNY Mellon’s diversity strategy and execution, advancing diversity training and hiring and serving on the company’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Council, a group led by BNY Mellon Chairman and CEO Gerald Hassell. She is a member of BNY Mellon’s Operating Committee and is the company’s representative to and Co-Chair of the Global Talent and Diversity Council of the Asia Society.

Before joining BNY Mellon in 2012, Chopra served as the global leader for communications and public relations at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, where she was responsible for external relations and executive, online and business group communications. She joined Deloitte in 2009, working for the Office of the CEO and the Global Chief of Staff, where she was responsible for leading strategic initiatives and supporting the executive team.

From 1998 through 2009, Chopra served in a series of increasingly responsible positions with Merrill Lynch, including service as head of communications for the Americas and the Global Banking divisions; leading the marketing and communications integration of First Republic Bank, which Merrill Lynch acquired in 2007; heading the Multicultural Group at Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management; and serving as director of client acquisition for Merrill Lynch Direct. She joined Merrill Lynch in 1998 as Vice President of education services, where she developed diversified financial educational and marketing programs targeted to women, families, domestic partners and multicultural groups.

From 1993 to 1997, Chopra was a writer and an award-winning media consultant for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), where she focused on human development and issues affecting women and children. From 1984 through 1993, Chopra worked in the Office of Human Resources Management and the Division of Public Information at the United Nations Secretariat.

Chopra served as a member of and chair of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Diversity Committee in the period 2004 through 2009, and is a past member of SIFMA’s Investor Education Committee. Jyoti has served on the boards of the Princeton YWCA and Princeton Healthcare System. Earlier this year, Chopra received the World Women Leadership Congress Award during World CSR Day in India. BNY Mellon was also named the 2014 Financial Services Diversity Corporation of the Year by the National Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC). Comprised of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Women's Business Enterprise National Council, the National Black Justice Coalition, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, US Business Leadership Network: Disability at Work, the United States Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and WEConnect International, NBIC's members represent nearly 9 trillion dollars in consumer spending power.

Born and raised in London, Chopra holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from New York University. She studied economics, English literature and law at London University, and completed the Securities Industry Institute at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.