Technology, especially in consumer facing businesses like banking, is constantly evolving to meet customer demands and market trends. That’s why JPMorgan Chase has more than 3,000 technologists working in the Dallas area, including software engineers and developers specializing in critical areas like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, data analytics, digital, cloud and general engineering capabilities.
In the tech sector, there is a lack of diversity in many of these disciplines, which creates challenges for Black technology professionals. That’s why, as part of the bank’s $30 billion commitment to racial equity, it’s helping to strengthen career pathways for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. For example, the JPMorgan Chase campus in Plano is the largest partner and employer for the Paul Quinn Scholars—a bold program that will connect Paul Quinn College students with the thriving business community in North Texas. Students work 20 hours a week at businesses across the region– including at the campus in Plano—gaining work experience and earning money to defray the cost of going to college.
Recognizing that “joining a team” is just one of the critical milestones within a professional journey, JPMorgan Chase is also focused upon ensuring that it creates a work environment that offers ongoing development and mobility. It is focused on fostering an inclusive and diverse culture for all of its employees, recognizing that the most important thing it can do for its workers—and customers—is to build a healthy, vibrant company that treats people with respect and creates opportunity.
One of the bank’s initiatives to drive diversity, equity, and inclusion is Advancing Black Pathways (ABP.) ABP works with the Black community to chart stronger paths towards economic success and empowerment. Among its key pillars, the initiative focuses on creating “educational pathways” through internships and apprenticeship opportunities. The Plano campus has one of the largest Advancing Black Pathways programs of all the JPMorgan Chase technology centers across the US.
Learn more about how JPMorgan Chase is supporting equitable economic growth across Dallas-Fort Worth.
A version of this story originally appeared in The Dallas Weekly.