Capital One has been committed to diversity since the company’s founding in 1994. Seen from the start as a significant competitive advantage, the company has always worked to put individual and cultural differences to work to add value to the business. An essential part of Capital One’s approach is to bring together associates with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences that reflect the customers and communities the organization serves.
The CapAbilities Network
Capital One is home to seven associate networks that support the company’s inclusive culture, as well as its increasingly diverse employee population. The most recent addition to the group is the CapAbilities Network, launched in 2012 with a vision to remove any and all barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities. All associates are welcome to join any network. For example, the CapAbilities Network is not only open to those with disabilities, but also to those who care for people with disabilities and allies who support the inclusion of those with disabilities.
New Diversity Frontiers
Recent acquisitions at Capital One have provided the company with an opportunity to expand its associate networks to encompass more than 43,000 new associates across the globe. One of the diversity team’s current objectives is to visit each location in order to explain the benefits of each network and promote associated programs, including seminars, mentoring programs, workshops, and heritage celebrations.
New laws and regulations are continuously being factored into Capital One’s diversity strategy, and the diversity team is always innovating to ensure associates feel truly valued and that they can bring their whole selves to work. Moving forward, the organization is committed to making even greater efforts to attract talented people with disabilities and to expand our focus on recruiting military veterans and spouses.
Cultural and social shifts continue to create new challenges and exciting opportunities for Capital One. More than ever, generational differences are having a significant impact on the way the organization recruits and retains top talent. The company’s human resources team currently serves four generational groups, with a fifth entering the workforce shortly. This creates a wealth of opportunity to leverage the broad experiences, skills, and working styles these diverse professionals bring to the workforce.