“Women who work part-time have equal opportunities with us”
“Northern Trust has an ecosystem in which everyone feels heard and seen, and where everyone has equal opportunities - including minorities.” So says Herman Prummel, Country Manager Netherlands at Northern Trust. In a conversation with Katherine Kucherenko during the APG Talks event, he shared Northern Trust’s vision on diversity and inclusion.
“Northern Trust is a large company with 23,000 employees, where diversity and inclusion are valued at every level. Uniqueness is recognized, and we ensure equality”, Prummel explains.
That this is more than just words becomes clear when he mentions specific numbers. “We have 50 percent men and 50 percent women across all areas of the company. Women who work part-time - for example, to care for their children - have just as many opportunities for promotion as their full-time male colleagues.”
But it goes beyond gender equality, Prummel acknowledges. “We also pay attention to ethnicity and neurodiversity, for instance. In short, we take a broad view of diversity and inclusion.”
Unconscious bias
Prummel also emphasizes that making this policy concrete isn’t always easy. He points to unconscious bias. In some organizations, people are judged by their appearance - often without realizing it. “We are very aware of this because we want to be sure that unconscious bias has no place in our organization.”
He adds that everything hinges on company culture. “D&I is not just a box to tick on a form; the policy must be sincere. And yes, changing a culture takes time. You need to keep working at it. Be conscious of where you're headed and understand your goals.”