Finding a community at work can sometimes be difficult. For new employees, it can take time to establish connections and feel a sense of belonging. Professional networks (sometimes called employee networks or resource groups) can help employees build relationships, encouraging conversations among those seeking a space for shared interests and goals. These groups can coordinate networking events, facilitate local outreach, and provide career development opportunities. At BlackRock, professional networks are an invaluable resource for their employees, across all titles and ranks.
For Garrett Reiter, an Associate in U.S. Wealth Advisory, BlackRock’s networks helped him make sense of a new professional environment. In 2021, BlackRock was Reiter’s first full-time job out of college. Soon after joining the financial firm, he became a member of Analyst Alley, the professional network designed for Analysts.
“Analyst Alley helped with forming a team and being able to host events for Analysts that had just started their first job and didn’t know anybody,” Reiter says. “It brought people together. People were eager, but also a little nervous and unclear on certain things like how to navigate corporate America for the first time. What is work culture like at a massive firm? How do I communicate with my manager? How do I reach out to someone I want to network with?”
Analyst Alley allowed Reiter to get acclimated to BlackRock, and now he feels empowered to succeed and thrive. Alongside learning how to find his footing, Reiter and his fellow Analysts gained management skills and a deeper understanding of BlackRock’s business strategy, paving the groundwork for future professional growth. Today, as an associate, Reiter is a global cohead of Associates Arena, the associate-level professional network.
“What Associates Arena tries to do is very similar to Analyst Alley,” Reiter says. “Everyone is on their own career path and has different ambitions, but we want to make sure that they know who to go to for what’s available to them.”
Driving culture, fostering community
BlackRock’s professional networks are more than just an entry point for new employees—they’re also a hub of community and engagement. Just ask Mohammad Rizvi, an Alternative Investment Operations Analyst who is currently active in the Princeton chapter of Analyst Alley.
“I was impressed with BlackRock during the recruitment process, particularly the insightful feedback I received from current and past employees throughout it. The strong emphasis on professional development and collaborative culture resonated with my aspirations,” Rizvi explains. “They also highlighted BlackRock’s commitment to building an inclusive culture which is especially attractive for graduates early in their careers, along with the incredible resources available to help them succeed.”
Rizvi took full advantage of the available resources, utilizing programs such as Analyst Alley to learn, network, and grow. BlackRock provided him, and other Analysts, with a welcoming environment and multiple opportunities to bridge gaps in learning or between various business divisions. Sometimes, access and availability are all that’s necessary for a valuable conversation to start, and through BlackRock’s professional networks, individuals can network with people that they might not have otherwise encountered in a social setting.
Now, Rizvi is the Co-chair of the Analyst Alley Princeton Operating Committee and represents Analyst Alley in a local employee resource group, Princeton Cultures Carriers. He devotes time to ensuring that the program remains as valuable to others as it was to him.
“My experience serving as a co-chair has been incredibly rewarding,” he says. “We’ve set up a committee that’s an inclusive space where we’re able to bring everyone’s ideas and perspectives to the table. We all represent various business units within BlackRock and share the common goal: to maintain an environment aimed at personal and professional growth along with meaningfully contributing to the firm’s ‘One BlackRock’ culture.”
His work as a representative from Analyst Alley within Princeton Culture Carriers also plays a pivotal role in contributing to the local office community. By facilitating collaboration among office networks, Rizvi is able to support an environment where members from both Analyst Alley and Princeton Culture Carriers can come together to organize impactful office-wide initiatives that include an annual Food Truck Day, Fall Festival, and a Trivia Night.
“These efforts,” Rizvi says, “have been instrumental in providing a unique opportunity for Analysts to network with their peers, including more senior colleagues, and drive culture within BlackRock.”
Making an impact through collaboration
Leah Schoellkopf is Vice President and is a member of the SMA Solutions Chief Operating Officer (COO) team responsible for initiatives and processes associated with managing people, risk, business continuity, and vendors; she’s also a co-chair of the Global VP Village OpCo and has been an active member of the professional network for several years, previously serving on the San Francisco VP OpCo. Part of what drew Schoellkopf to BlackRock was a desire to work in a large, fast-paced, and thriving environment; however, transitioning from a small pond to a big ocean can be quite a culture shock. Before Schoellkopf joined the BlackRock team in 2014, she worked at an established, small investment management firm in San Francisco. After nearly eight years at the organization, she wanted to pursue professional opportunities that would grow her career and skills. When Schoellkopf eventually landed a role at BlackRock, she had to learn how to adapt to an environment that carried a larger market reach and required a new set of expectations. Fortunately, VP Village helped her find an internal platform to feel seen, heard, and valued.
“VP Village provides an inclusive opportunity to branch out and meet other people,” Schoellkopf says. “It’s also an opportunity to have an impact and get involved—to learn something new, examine your career, and get your questions answered. Really, it represents opportunity. The VP community at BlackRock is large and diverse. Almost every department at BlackRock has VPs—we’re the backbone of this organization.”
For Schoellkopf, and many other VPs at BlackRock, VP Village is integral in pursuing and implementing the company’s mission. BlackRock strives to create a better financial future for their clients; to do so they’re guided by their culture and a set of core principles that permeate throughout the company. VP Village offers a space where VPs can come together and work collaboratively to deliver and develop that culture. Given that VPs represent roughly 25% of the BlackRock population, having a way for them to build community is incredibly important and valuable to both individuals and the company.
All in all, the professional networks at BlackRock are crucial and integrated parts of the culture, workflows, and success of BlackRock. These networks offer a space for individuals to connect in a social setting, network without pressure, and foster understanding across business units. Or, as Schoellkopf says, “It's all about the three C’s: connectivity, collaboration, and community. Those are the overarching themes and what we like to see and promote across the entire organization.” For employees like Schoellkopf and many others across BlackRock’s global workforce, the company’s professional networks are indispensable culture carriers.