A Conversation with Susan Reid, Global Head of Talent, Morgan Stanley
In her role as Global Head of Talent she oversees Morgan Stanley’s Recruiting, Talent Development and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts.
You recently stepped into an expanded role as Global Head of Talent. What opportunities does this present?
Our talent is critical to the success of the Firm. We are committed to attracting the best talent and creating an organization where everyone can thrive. To ensure we continue to do this, we are modernizing our talent function, bringing together our recruiting, development and diversity efforts to enable us to better deliver the tools and resources employees need throughout their entire career journey. We have made investments to support internal mobility, and to enhance the employee experience through a focus on health and wellness. We are committed to creating a meaningful career journey for everyone at Morgan Stanley.
Morgan Stanley launched the Institute for Inclusion (IFI) in 2020, furthering its broad commitments to help drive racial equity. What is the goal of the IFI?
The IFI helps to ensure that DEI is woven into the full ecosystem of Morgan Stanley. Together with input from our external Advisory Board, we are deepening our investments to create a sustainable impact. This includes driving workforce diversity, supporting philanthropic efforts that promote gender and racial equity, and investing to advance economic outcomes for underserved communities through our products, services and business practices.
Is there an effort from the IFI that you’re particularly proud of?
The IFI has delivered several marquee initiatives since its launch, contributing to our long-standing DEI efforts such as the Richard B. Fisher Scholarship, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Two recent efforts include:
• The Equity in Education and Career Consortium, which supports first generation and low-income students in achieving stronger career and financial outcomes, launched in partnership with iMentor, Hispanic Federation, A Better Change, ANY, CUNY ASAP, College Possible, Braven, and SEO.
• And the Morgan Stanley HBCU Scholars Program in partnership with Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Howard University. Currently at 30 students, the program ads a new cohort each year and will scale to 60 students, providing full scholarships and career readiness support.
These are a few examples of our continuing work to build and to broaden our efforts to contribute to sustainable equitable outcomes.