Banco Daycoval

Carla Zeitune

Since May 2023, Brazil has had a sustainable and sovereign finance committee, which marks the position in favor of sustainable policies. It enables the issuance of public security that will support the development of projects associated with environmental and social issues. The ESG agenda has been in the plans of nations and financial institutions for over a decade. In Brazil, it might gain strength from 2023.

In addition to encouraging social diversity, the financial industry also seeks to promote the development of an inclusive culture, rejecting discrimination in all manners. Therefore, its target audience could be truly welcomed by companies.

As human resources director at this financial institution, I have witnessed important initiatives and a genuine movement to create a positive work environment with satisfied, creative, and engaged teams. A diverse country comes with the promotion of equal opportunities for people of different ages, races, religions, and physical and cognitive conditions. Besides, more and more women and representatives of the LGBTQA+ community have been acknowledged by the creation of integrated teams and wage equality, getting the same salaries for similar positions.

One of the highlights is the Dando Asas project, which enabled the Daycoval group to hire twelve administrative assistants with cognitive impairment. They perform activities for the bank in tasks suited to their capabilities. The project helps to strengthen and value skills and competencies, developing autonomy and leading people to fully exercise their citizenship on a solid socio-educational basis.

“In addition to encouraging social diversity, the financial industry also seeks to promote the development of an inclusive culture, rejecting discrimination in all manners”

I also have a special appreciation for our bank's orientation towards keeping the expertise of employees over 50 years old while they work alongside younger people. So, our team can be experienced and audacious in combating age discrimination. We have 471 employees over 50,  44 percent of them have been with us for over six years, and 27 percent have less than one year of experience. We believe that the diversity of generations can empower every one and boost our business.

As I previously stated, this movement is here to stay. Research by Blend Education (Benchmarking Research: Panorama of diversity strategies in Brazil 2022 and trends for 2023) mapped companies from 34 sectors, such as technology, industries, health, finance, and energy, among others, and it noticed an increase in the diversity and inclusion matter. Among 117 companies surveyed, 81 percent earmarked specific resources for actions in this area in 2022, while 67 percent reported the same in 2020.

The diversity and inclusion in the financial and capital markets study carried out by the Brazilian Association of Financial and Capital Market Entities (Anbima) in 2021 showed that more than half (52 percent) of its associates interviewed (94) already had policies in place to address this issue two years ago.

For 80 percent of institutions, the commitment to wage equality was highlighted as a goal to be achieved, and 52 percent of them mentioned education acts as their focus on the inclusion matter. 34  percent of the surveyed companies, inclusion indicators had already been defined, and their progress has been monitored.

The future been vision ten years ago has come. Indeed, the optimal is that we are all represented and valued, seeking diversity and equality together.