A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 25, 2015 This special advertising feature is sponsored by participating advertisers. The material was written by Jayne Feld and did not involve the reporting or editing staff of The New York Times. © 2015 The New York Times O n his first day of work at MassMutual, Angel Diaz-Mangiafico was intro- duced to the financial services company’s Statement of Respect. The document spells out the firm’s com- mitment to fostering an environment that respects and values the opinions and attributes of everyone its employees encounter in their work. “I was really intrigued by that,” recalled Diaz-Mangiafico, director of new business in MassMutual’s U.S. Insurance Group Service Center in Springfield, Mass., who started with the company in 2005. “I am not only Latino but am a gay man and very transparent as to who I am. It was extremely embracing to me to learn what MassMutual really believed in.” A company that has helped genera- tions of families and businesses protect and secure their future, MassMutual’s track record as a leader both in workforce diversity and reaching out to under- served markets is not only about doing the right thing; it gives the company a competitive advantage. “There is virtually no other way to serve such a diverse marketplace in this country than to do it with people who are diverse,” said Manuel “Manny” Amezcua, agency managing partner at MassMutual Chicago. MassMutual’s diversity strategies encompass all areas of business — from building positive relationships in the marketplace; to recruiting, developing and retaining an inclusive workforce; to pro- moting an environment that encourages employees to be their authentic selves. MassMutual reaches out to customers, suppliers and the community through education and communication. To gain traction as a thought leader in multi- cultural markets, the firm collaborates with key community partners, such as the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), the National Black M.B.A. Association and Out & Equal, a leader in L.G.B.T. workplace equality. On the sales front, employees have access to proven programs and tools for building relationships in underserved communities. Among them, targeted financial information for specific cultural groups include “The Basics,” videos in Spanish, Korean, Mandarin Chinese and Asian-Indian versions. And MassMutual Chicago’s Business Owners’ Study Group, one of several in the country, provides seminars to small- and medium-sized business owners to help grow their busi- nesses, explained Amezcua. With women and people of color com- prising nearly half of all seats on the firm’s board of directors, MassMutual’s board is recognized as one of the most diverse in the industry and among Fortune 500 companies. A strong emphasis on relationship-building activities, such as engaging employees in mentoring and networking opportunities, goes hand-in- hand with the firm’s thriving culture of Employee Research Groups (ERGs). The ERGs, organizations for specific employee populations, are both strategic and social, explained Diaz-Mangiafico. The relationships he has formed through both ALMMA (the Association of Latinos at MassMutual and Allies) and PRIDE have helped him to better understand the business and also raised his profile within the company. At the same time, the ERGs participate in and help execute MassMutual’s business strategy by pro- viding valuable focus group marketing program feedback, cultural and educa- tional insight, and community outreach, as well as helping in recruiting and retain- ing diverse employees. “I have had the privilege of being part of keynote speaker events to speak about my background and career and what it’s like to be transparent and authentic in the workplace,” he said. Another way the company develops both loyalty and community inroads is by sup- porting causes near and dear to its work- ers. Earlier this year, MassMutual award- ed the Melanoma Research Foundation $10,000 through its Community Service Award program on behalf of Amezcua’s volunteer efforts for the organization. For Amezcua, who became active with the foundation when his wife was diag- nosed with melanoma five years ago, the award was a great honor. “MassMutual’s commitment to my community and the principles that are most important to us continues to inspire me,” he said. “With the company’s help, we’re trying to pay it forward as a family and for me as an individual.” ■ LEADERSHIP in DIVERSITY As the nation’s population continues to grow more multicultural, businesses that make diversity and inclusion a way of company life have the competitive edge. ANGEL DIAZ-MANGIAFICO Director, U.S. Insurance Group Operations, Life New Business & Underwriting, MassMutual MANUEL “MANNY” AMEZCUA Agency Managing Partner, MassMutual Chicago
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A SPEC IAL ADVERT IS ING SUPPLEMENT TO THE NEW YORK T IMES MAGAZINE , OCTOBER 2 5 , 20 15
This special advertising feature is sponsored by participating advertisers. The material was written by Jayne Feld and did not involve the reporting or editing staff of The New York Times. © 2015 The New York Times
On his fi rst day of work at MassMutual, Angel Diaz-Mangiafi co was intro-duced to the fi nancial services company’s Statement of Respect.
The document spells out the fi rm’s com-mitment to fostering an environment that respects and values the opinions and attributes of everyone its employees encounter in their work.
“I was really intrigued by that,” recalled Diaz-Mangiafi co, director of new business in MassMutual’s U.S. Insurance Group Service Center in Springfi eld, Mass., who started with the company in 2005. “I am not only Latino but am a gay man and very transparent as to who I am. It was extremely embracing to me to learn what MassMutual really believed in.”
A company that has helped genera-tions of families and businesses protect and secure their future, MassMutual’s track record as a leader both in workforce diversity and reaching out to under-served markets is not only about doing the right thing; it gives the company a competitive advantage.
“There is virtually no other way to serve such a diverse marketplace in this country than to do it with people who are diverse,” said Manuel “Manny” Amezcua, agency managing partner at MassMutual Chicago.
MassMutual’s diversity strategies encompass all areas of business — from building positive relationships in the marketplace; to recruiting, developing and retaining an inclusive workforce; to pro-moting an environment that encourages employees to be their authentic selves.
MassMutual reaches out to customers, suppliers and the community through education and communication. To gain traction as a thought leader in multi-cultural markets, the fi rm collaborates
with key community partners, such as the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), the National Black M.B.A. Association and Out & Equal, a leader in L.G.B.T. workplace equality.
On the sales front, employees have access to proven programs and tools for building relationships in underserved communities. Among them, targeted fi nancial information for specifi c cultural groups include “The Basics,” videos in Spanish, Korean, Mandarin Chinese and
Asian-Indian versions. And MassMutual Chicago’s Business Owners’ Study Group, one of several in the country, provides seminars to small- and medium-sized business owners to help grow their busi-nesses, explained Amezcua.
With women and people of color com-prising nearly half of all seats on the fi rm’s board of directors, MassMutual’s board is recognized as one of the most diverse in the industry and among Fortune 500 companies. A strong emphasis on
relationship-building activities, such as engaging employees in mentoring and networking opportunities, goes hand-in-hand with the fi rm’s thriving culture of Employee Research Groups (ERGs).
The ERGs, organizations for specifi c employee populations, are both strategic and social, explained Diaz-Mangiafi co. The relationships he has formed through both ALMMA (the Association of Latinos at MassMutual and Allies) and PRIDE have helped him to better understand the business and also raised his profi le within the company. At the same time, the ERGs participate in and help execute MassMutual’s business strategy by pro-viding valuable focus group marketing program feedback, cultural and educa-tional insight, and community outreach, as well as helping in recruiting and retain-ing diverse employees.
“I have had the privilege of being part of keynote speaker events to speak about my background and career and what it’s like to be transparent and authentic in the workplace,” he said.
Another way the company develops both loyalty and community inroads is by sup-porting causes near and dear to its work-ers. Earlier this year, MassMutual award-ed the Melanoma Research Foundation $10,000 through its Community Service Award program on behalf of Amezcua’s volunteer efforts for the organization.
For Amezcua, who became active with the foundation when his wife was diag-nosed with melanoma fi ve years ago, the award was a great honor.
“MassMutual’s commitment to my community and the principles that are most important to us continues to inspire me,” he said. “With the company’s help, we’re trying to pay it forward as a family and for me as an individual.” ■
LEADERSHIP in DIVERSITYAs the nation’s population continues to grow more multicultural, businesses that make
diversity and inclusion a way of company life have the competitive edge.
ANGEL DIAZ-MANGIAFICODirector, U.S. Insurance Group Operations, Life New Business & Underwriting, MassMutual
MANUEL “MANNY” AMEZCUAAgency Managing Partner, MassMutual Chicago
10-25-15 Leadership in Diversity_SSf.indd 2 10/12/15 2:00 PM
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