CEO action fellows
In 2022, we announced our second class of professionals to join the CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellowship program, a fellowship program launched by CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ (CEO Action).
These representatives work with fellows from other firms to identify, develop and promote scalable and sustainable public policies and corporate engagement strategies to advance racial equity and improve societal well-being. During their tenure as fellows, these individuals step aside from their roles at RSM to focus on societal issues in the areas of education, health care, economic empowerment, public safety and other relevant issues.
The following fellows were selected based on an extensive list of criteria, including their professional and personal attributes that support the goals of the fellowship, their ability to build trusting relationships and to be authentic and inclusive leaders, and their participation as active members of one or more of RSM’s ENGs:
“The [CEO Action] fellowship has been an incredibly enriching experience. I work alongside highly qualified fellows from other companies, collaborating with industry leaders, and learning from researchers in the field. In the last six months, I have sifted through the historical context of the economic disparities that affect Black Americans today. This context informs our work as we seek to help close the racial wealth gap. My worldview has changed as I now better understand the barriers to success facing Black Americans. I listen more to varying perspectives, which enhances collaboration in the workplace. I am grateful to RSM for affording me this opportunity. Sometimes, the best opportunities are those we never expected to be on our path—opportunities that show up in perfect timing. ”
– Bea Gatebuke, Manager, CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellow
RSM Excellence Academy
In keeping with our goal of having a workplace representative of our communities, in July 2022 we introduced the RSM Excellence Academy for early college students majoring in accounting, business, technology or related fields. More than 100 students completed the inaugural class of the academy, learning about careers in professional services and RSM's workplace culture.
“I enjoyed getting to meet other students in my year and professionals from the firm that both helped me learn more about how to do well in college and work toward a career in accounting/business. Hearing each person’s experiences gave me ideas on how to improve myself personally and professionally, while I was also able to share my own knowledge with them. ”
– Jayden D., Accounting Major (Honors Student), DePaul University, Class of 2025
The academy, which initially focused on Black students since the concept came from our African American and Canadian Excellence (AACE) ENG, now includes students of Black, Latinx and Hispanic heritage. The program is designed to engage these individuals in programming and networking that exposes them to careers in public accounting while familiarizing them with and introducing them to the RSM culture.
Learn more about the RSM Excellence Academy here.
Season of Service
Our African American and Canadian Excellence (AACE) ENG leads our annual RSM Season of Service, a campaign that pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service and offers our people an opportunity to serve others by sharing their time, talent and treasures.
In 2022, nearly 450 RSM volunteers contributed more than 1,000 hours of service and raised $12,700 through our Dollars for Doers grants and an additional $60,431 through donations for a total of $73,131. Through Dollars for Doers, the RSM US Foundation enhances employee volunteers’ gifts of time in a way that is aligned with our firm’s core values. Throughout our Season of Service, volunteers also participate in local office events, such as #HashtagLunchbag, where our people packed meals for those in need in their local communities.
“RSM has shown us such generosity over the last few years by providing hundreds of huge sack lunches with handmade subs piled high with various meats and cheeses. They also ran a canned food drive that was donated to our food pantry which serves about 150 individuals monthly. RSM has assisted BUTB in many different ways and we are very grateful for this partnership; we hope to continue growing our relationship as time goes on.”
– Bridgette Williams-Robinson and Jovountae Robinson, owners of Bridge Under the Bridge
Bridgette Williams-Robinson and Jovountae Robinson, owners of Bridge Under The Bridge, a nonprofit in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that provides hundreds of hot meals to the community daily.
