T. Rowe Price Showed Support for Pride 2018

At T. Rowe Price, we all work together to create an inclusive company culture. And as part of that effort, we support LGBT+ pride both in and outside the office. This year, at a number of our locations around the world, we celebrated Pride month with rainbow flags and record numbers of asssociates participating in Pride parades. While Pride is celebrated once a year, as a firm, we celebrate diversity year-round by creating an environment where all associates feel welcome to bring their full selves to work. 

Year-Round Pride at T. Rowe Price

“The firm doesn’t reserve its inclusivity initiatives only for Pride month,” says Paul Zettl, chair of PRIDE @ T. Rowe Price, the firm’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally members business resource group. “When an associate walks the halls, visible symbols show that there are allies throughout the company.”

Flying the Rainbow for Pride 2018

In June and into July, associates supported Pride initiatives in multiple ways, including parades, volunteering with nonprofit organizations, and donating to support LGBT-focused charities. Through it all, the rainbow symbol remained a visible indicator of Pride, regardless of the activity.

In the Maryland, Colorado Springs, Tampa, and London offices, visitors and associates saw rainbow flags as soon as they walked in the door. 

Showing Up for Pride Parades Around the World

In person, we showed up for Pride in a big way. During the past several years, more and more associates and friends have marched in Pride parades. In Baltimore alone, more than 150 marchers and attendees participated.

In London last year, we had about 15 associates attend the parade as spectators. This year, “we had over 50 associates and 50 more from another asset manager,” says Paul. “So we had more than 100 people within our industry showing their pride in London.”

Over a million spectators and viewers saw associates riding a double-decker bus, one of the city’s most iconic symbols, waving LGBT+ and T. Rowe Price colors in support of PRIDE globally.

T. Rowe Price’s Inclusive Company Culture

Succeeding in a highly competitive industry requires attracting and retaining the very best talent, according to Tom Kazmierczak, head of Diversity and Inclusion. Visual representations of Pride have a considerable impact on helping current and prospective associates know they will be seen and valued at T. Rowe Price.

“Seeing the ally signs has positively influenced prospective associates who have come through our doors for interviews,” Tom says. “We’ve heard that it is a powerful message and positively influenced them to join T. Rowe Price. Frequently, LGBT prospective associates will want to understand, ‘Is this a place where I can be comfortable to be my full self in the workplace?’”

The firm’s associates help foster a workplace culture of inclusivity and expression. “I feel lucky to work at a company with so many vibrant and diverse individuals, and I hope we can all continue to learn from each other,” says Melissa Cheek, Corporate Social Responsibility. “The firm may provide the platform, but our associates drive the message of inclusivity and equality all year round.”