My first day as a Boston Trust Walden employee was the first day of my new career. A handful of changes were occurring in my life at the time. For the two years prior, I was in New York working in insurance, so moving to Boston and switching industries was a new and exciting next step. While tackling all that transition posed many challenges, the community I was welcomed into, and the team I’ve become a part of at Boston Trust Walden helped facilitate a smooth entry into my new Client Service role.
As I was guided around the office that first day, something that immediately stood out to me was the company’s size. The firm currently has about 90 employees, so it was manageable to meet almost everyone in a short period of time. My initial tour led me into the offices of analysts, traders, and executives, all pleased to chat about their roles and responsibilities. As the morning went on and I was seated at my desk, each passerby would stop and introduce themselves to me, having noticed a new face on the floor.
A few days into my first week, I received an Outlook invitation for a company-wide breakfast, hosted for me. While this seemed like an error, I was informed that HR does the same thing for every new employee, providing them a chance to introduce themselves to anyone they hadn’t yet met (all while eating too many breakfast pastries from Tatte). I was pleasantly surprised by the gesture and could only imagine how few firms do something similar. This opportunity inspired me to attend as many other company events and meetings as I possibly could. For example, I am one of the newer members of the company book club. As an avid reader, it was exciting to attend the June meeting, where we discussed Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard (consensus: we recommend it!). I say yes to every lunch invite I receive, make my way to the “Hub” for monthly birthday celebrations, and attend the wonderful events hosted by the READI committee (if you’re curious about it – please refer to Ashish’s post on our Culture blog!). The HR team at Boston Trust Walden puts a lot of time into community building, and I’m very appreciative of their efforts.
Now when I run into coworkers in the Hub, and they ask how long I’ve been here, it surprises me when I say over three months. Time has flown by, and summer in the city certainly doesn’t slow anything down. As my career continues at BTW, I can understand how the lifers have stayed for as long as they have. The warm introduction I received is indicative of the pride Boston Trust Walden takes in fostering an inclusive company culture. While many characteristics distinguish the firm – from its employee-ownership structure to its leadership in ESG investing – the personability of my new colleagues and the unity and connection I feel is a differentiator, too. I look forward to the future, to building deeper relationships with my colleagues, and to the times I can return the welcome given to me.