Invesco Partners with NASP to Foster Diverse Workforce

Despite gains in recent years, minorities only represent 11 percent of senior-level positions at financial services firms in the United States, according to a 2013 study by the General Accountability Office.

That’s part of the reason why Invesco continues to partner with the National Association of Security Professionals (NASP). The organization seeks to inspire and encourage minorities and females to build careers as finance professionals, and NASP’s FAST Track Program exposes and educates high school students on various aspects of the financial services industry, and mentors them and helps place them in internships.

Invesco recently hosted a group of 25 FAST Track Atlanta students for an afternoon at its global headquarters in Midtown Atlanta. The informational session featured discussions with a range of Invesco employees — including representatives from the company’s marketing, legal, HR and sales departments — to show a wide range of potential career opportunities within the financial services industry. The students were also treated to a tour of the Invesco’s trading floor in action, a favorite of the day for many of the students.

Invesco has partnered with NASP since 2005. The company makes workforce diversity a business imperative that will impact company growth in markets around the world, the ability to attract and retain talented staff successfully, and ultimately, the value of the company’s brand equity.

Launched by NASP in 1996, the FAST Track Program is now available to students in New York, Philadelphia, Southern California, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta. Two of NASP’s newest chapters in Texas and North Carolina are also in the process of starting FAST Track programs.

FAST Track programs work with local organizations and high schools, most of which located in urban communities. Students visiting Invesco represented schools throughout metro Atlanta, including Coretta Scott-King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Grady High School, Booker T. Washington High school and Tri-Cities High School.