A core value at Truist is advancing diversity and inclusion within the workplace. For the company, a major pipeline of talent comprises graduates from Georgia State University. A LinkedIn search reveals that more than 600 Georgia State alumni hold positions across Truist subsidiaries.
“Georgia State is a leader in educating diverse students, and the university is building a name around innovation,” said Nathan Meyer, head of next generation product and innovation at Truist. “We want to tap into that knowledge, power the community, and be a funnel for diverse teammates down the road.”
Truist recently made an investment that will keep that talent pipeline well-oiled and running: the establishment of the Truist Technology Scholars program. Housed within Georgia State’s Robinson College of Business, the initiative includes scholarships and professional development experiences for students studying technology-related fields across the entire university. Fifteen sophomore-level and four graduate students will be selected for the first cohort, slated to begin in fall 2021.
Financial assistance is critical to attracting and retaining top students; equally key, the Truist Technology Scholars professional development component will help them enter the workforce from a position of strength. Activities will include career coaching, mock interviews, resume reviews, networking events, and opportunities to shadow Truist employees. Participants also will be well-positioned to apply for internships.
“We want to open doors for these students and introduce them to Atlanta’s startup community,” said Henrietta Dwomoh-Appiah, Truist senior vice president and career programs manager. “We believe that to train more diverse founders, you have to reach talent in that space at a younger age and expose them to the players.”
By funding Truist Technology Scholars, the banking giant is engaging with future leaders and entrepreneurs early in their academic journey, when decisions about what to study and which career path to pursue begin to take shape.
“We are proud of our longstanding history of bringing qualified candidates to Truist,” said Tedra Cheatham, Robinson’s director of business partnership development. “The Truist Technology Scholars program allows the company to engage in that relationship with Georgia State students even earlier. We are so appreciative of Truist’s continued investment in our students.”