Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, DeShawn Standard, Senior Manager at Vestmark shares his story.
Where did you grow up and what were you like as a child? What did your parents do for work?
I grew up 1of 5 siblings with a single mom in the Southwick housing projects in Louisville, Kentucky. As a child, I loved to be both outside and at the community recreation center with my friends playing pitch back tackle and organized football, pickup and organized basketball, as well as other childhood games. Math was my favorite subject as a kid, so I gravitated to all things numbers related.
My Mom worked 2nd shift as a janitor in the corporate buildings downtown for most of my childhood. Because of this, I’ve always had a high level of respect for service workers and how hard they work for little wages. I got my work ethic from my Mom which is still with me and motivates me until this day.
Where did you go to college? What did you study and what did you do after graduating?
I was the first in my family to go to college. I attended Cornell University where I got a bachelor’s degree in Consumer Economics and Housing. I was also a four-year starter on the men’s basketball team. Immediately after graduation I pursued my hoop dreams to play professionally overseas.
What inspired you to get into the tech industry?
An opportunity presented itself to join a startup that I could grow with and help shape early enough in the process to establish a culture that I always envisioned would thrive. I was always interested in an opportunity like this after years of working for the bigger and more established firms.
What has your career path looked like in tech and the various positions you’ve held before joining Vestmark?
Prior to joining Vestmark, I worked as a Fund Accountant and Performance Analyst at State Street Bank. My next stop was Robeco Investment Management as a Performance Analyst. After about 3 ½ years at Robeco, I moved along to Brown Brothers Harriman as a Senior Performance Analyst. I left BBH after 7 years to join Vestmark. I started as a Senior Analyst at Vestmark and shortly thereafter I was promoted to Manager of the Performance Measurement and Reporting team.
Can you share the high-level responsibilities of your current position as Senior Manager at Vestmark?
My current position at Vestmark is Senior Manager where I manage the Reporting and Control group which consist of the following teams: Performance Measurement and Reporting, Corporate Actions, and Billing. Other responsibilities include client discovery, client implementations, and risk management to name a few.
What has attributed to your success thus far and what types of obstacles have you had to overcome along the way as a Black professional?
I’ve always been motivated to learn by competition not only within myself but amongst my peers as well which allowed me some success. Early on, I learned the benefit of having mentorships and networks of individuals pursuing similar goals.
Having my voice heard and respected in the room are a couple of obstacles I had to overcome early in my career even after I had proven my competency. As my confidence grew, I spoke my mind more freely and forcefully in terms of thoughts and ideas I deemed to be constructive.
What types of programs and initiatives does Vestmark have that support diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Vestmark is in the nascent stages of the DEI effort. There have been efforts to meet with DEI advisors as well as gain executive sponsorship of programs and initiatives. I’m excited to be involved in that process as we move forward.
What advice would you give to other Black professionals who are interested in joining the tech industry?
As I mentioned above, continue the lifelong process of learning and utilizing the networks you build as you grow through your career. Don’t be afraid to lean on that network for guidance on your journey. And for young professionals interested in the industry, there are various minority organizations that you can join as an entry way into established networks. Also don’t fear failure if you are new to the industry.
While general awareness of the problem of diversity in the tech industry is a step forward, to make a lasting change, real actions need to be taken. Do you have any ideas or suggestions on what companies or employees can do to step up and make a difference?
I think one thing companies should do is actively seek diverse candidates in their intern programs at both the High School and College level, if applicable. Investing time and money in underserved black neighborhoods early to expose them to the tech industry and continue to groom them along the way is key. This should be a long-term commitment in order to maximize the impact.
