AXA Equitable Holds Second Annual Diversity Summit

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company held its second annual summit last week, bringing together leaders from several industries to share diversity and inclusion best practices. The program, hosted by AXA Equitable's Office of Diversity and Inclusion and its Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council, focused on driving business value.

"Building on our momentum and success from last year's summit, this year's forum focused on how diversity and inclusion can drive measurable business value for an organization," said Mark Pearson, chairman and CEO of AXA Equitable. "To succeed in doing so, we need to create a culture where people – our employees, financial professionals and customers – feel connected to our organization, weaving inclusion into the fabric of every aspect of our business."

More than 80 people participated in the summit held at the company's midtown Manhattan headquarters. Pearson and AXA Equitable's head of Human Resources, Rino Piazzolla, co-sponsored the event, which was facilitated by Lisa Kepinski, global chief diversity and inclusion officer for AXA Group. Andres Tapia, president of Diversity Best Practices, a division of Working Mother Media, delivered the keynote speech.  

"The world has forced us to look at things differently, to accept diversity, but that's not enough," Tapia said. "Now, we need to move toward inclusion. Diversity is not inclusion. Diversity is the mix. Inclusion is making the mix work."

Tapia's speech centered on the importance of "bringing your whole bio" to work every day; finding what is unique about your constituents; and connecting with people based on their experiences. Tapia talked about how understanding and appreciating differences will help individuals better relate to one another and naturally lead to positive business results.

"If you are running a business in the United States, you don't need to look beyond its borders to find growth in emerging markets. There is roughly $3 trillion of spending power among diverse markets in the U.S.," said Tapia. "Tremendous business opportunities exist for companies that dedicate time and resources to understanding these markets, their various cultures and needs."

The keynote was followed by two panel discussions. A panel of external leaders, moderated by Tracey Gray-Walker, chief diversity officer for AXA Equitable, explored how diversity efforts have yielded business results in several industries including financial consulting, pharmaceuticals and insurance.  Andrea Nitzan, executive vice president of Financial Planning & Analysis for AXA Equitable, led a panel of participants from various areas of the company in a dialogue about how our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and specific business efforts have demonstrated the business value of diversity and inclusion within the organization.  

"Both panels shared insights and examples of how diversity and inclusion have had a valuable impact on the business," said Nitzan.

Gray-Walker added, "The discussions reinforced the need to increase the partnerships among the diversity office, diversity councils and ERGs in organizations to create better synergies among these groups that lead to greater business opportunities."

Kepinski spoke about AXA Group's global commitment to diversity and inclusion and importance of collaboration among the various Group companies around the world to build a culture of inclusion that leads to growth that can benefit the entire AXA organization.

"The senior leaders of AXA Group recognize that diversity and inclusion activities drive business results," Kepinski said. "AXA's leadership must be the champions of these initiatives and move toward understanding how inclusion must become not only a business imperative, but simply a part of our corporate culture."  

Following the summit, AXA Equitable hosted the ERG Experience, a recruitment and awareness event where members from each of its nine ERGS talked with fellow employees about their experiences, and how their involvement in these groups helped them develop professionally. More than 150 employees expressed interest in joining an ERG following the event.  

"ERGs have become a source of new ideas, problem solvers and bridges between a company's employees and its leadership," said Piazzolla. "ERGs promote inclusion by providing ways for individuals to connect based on their unique backgrounds. They offer a forum for creative thinking and action born from common interests and shared passions, while also providing empowerment and career development opportunities.  Smart companies will harness the passion and commitment within ERGs to create a more inclusive environment that will increase recruitment, retention and customer loyalty."

About AXA Equitable

In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY) is a leading financial protection company and one of the nation's premier providers of life insurance, annuity, and financial products and services. The company's products and services are distributed to individuals and business owners through its retail distribution channel, AXA Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) and to the financial services market through its wholesale distribution channel, AXA Distributors, LLC. Find AXA Equitable on Facebook and Twitter or visit the company's multi-media newsroom The Source @ AXA Equitable.

AXA Equitable, a subsidiary of AXA Financial Inc., is part of the global AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial protection strategies and wealth management. "AXA Group" refers to AXA, a French holding company for an international group of insurance and financial services companies together with its direct and indirect consolidated subsidiaries. For more information, visit www.axa-equitable.com.

SOURCE AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company