Strong Partnerships Power
Freddie Mac’s Commitment to Diversity Kia Silver-Hodge “Homes” In On Talent For Freddie Mac
efforts. Utilizing her extensive experience in developing diversity strategies for Fortune 500 companies, Kia focuses on building partnerships with organizations that strengthen Freddie Mac’s commitment to bringing in and nurturing top, diverse talent.
K The importance of partnership
“One of my main responsibilities is to manage our participation in diversity events and further develop our existing partnerships,” said Kia. Freddie Mac works with groups such as:
•„ ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting)
• Ascend (Pan-Asian Leaders)„ • BDPA (Black Data Processing Associates)
„
•„ NABA (National Association of Black Accountants) •„ NBMBAA (National Black MBA Association) •„ NSHP (National Society for Hispanic Professionals) •„Women For Hire
In 2009, Freddie Mac participated in 14 diversity
recruiting events and several other networking and professional development events targeting diverse audiences. “We attend all of the major national events, but we’re also committed to building relationships on a local level,” explained Kia. “We host events at Freddie Mac, participate in career fairs or speak at events. My job is to make sure that we have visibility and that candidates know what we have to offer.” Another aspect of her role is to create opportunities to engage senior leaders in these events. Earlier this year, CFO Ross Kari was the guest speaker at an ALPFA event held at Freddie Mac and co-sponsored by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and the HOLA employee network group. In September, Freddie Mac hosted the first meeting of the 2011 fiscal year for NABA’s DC chapter, and our SVP and general auditor Tim Kenny spoke at that event.
Networking with candidates
Internally, Freddie Mac supports engagement through seven employee network groups. More than 25% of Freddie Mac’s employees actively participate in network-sponsored events. Often, these groups take an active role in supporting Freddie Mac’s recruiting efforts. “I’ll bring in our network groups at particular events,” said Kia. “ARISE, our African- American group, held a breakfast with NABA focused on developing professional networking skills. And HOLA, our Hispanic group, routinely works with ALPFA to sponsor workshops and other events.” Since 2008, Freddie Mac has utilized volunteer employee
Kia Silver-Hodge greets a candidate at Freddie Mac’s booth at the ALPFA National Conference
network ambassadors to meet with new employees to help them assimilate, and to assist at recruiting events. These ambassadors act as a peer resource for new employees and provide an objective voice for career fair attendees interested in opportunities with Freddie Mac. According to Kia, “Candidates appreciate meeting someone who can tell them what it is really like to be a Latina at Freddie Mac, for example, or speak about what professional growth opportunities are available.”
Reaching out to students and new hires
A graduate of Howard University, Kia has helped Freddie Mac cement its relationship with that prestigious school as part of the alumni team. “We sponsor their School of Business executive leadership program, attend on-campus events and bring students to Freddie Mac several times a year,” she said. “It gives us access to some of the brightest talent at the university.”
She also takes time to mentor college hires at Freddie Mac. “I have a group of around 10 mentees, with anywhere from six months to two years of tenure. We go to lunch and keep in touch,” she explained. “I try to help when they are considering making job transitions or just need a bit of guidance personally or professionally.” Finally, Kia delivers the diversity presentation to new
hires and college hires and participates on project teams when new diversity-related courses are being developed.
Why Freddie Mac?
As the organization’s representative at many events, Kia is often asked what makes Freddie Mac a strong career choice. “We play a vital role in the nation’s economy,” she said. “I tell candidates that if you want to do meaningful work and be challenged, come to Freddie Mac. It’s a great place to work.” To learn more about Freddie Mac, our support for diversity and opportunities currently available, visit
FreddieMacDiversity.jobs.
ia Silver-Hodge, PHR, Senior Diversity Advisor, plays a key role in Freddie Mac’s recruitment and retention
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100