For the past 13 years, the 鈥Dynamic Dozen鈥 reverse mentoring program has helped 黄色短视频 connect with the next generation of employees and consumers, devising solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing the financial services industry.
But the most recent cohort faced a slate of challenges unlike any other. 聽Program participants were scheduled to meet for the first time and kick off the program on March 23, 2020, which ended up being a week after COVID-19 shut down much of the country. For the next 21 months, the cohort 鈥 which was extended beyond its usual one-year duration before ending in January 2022 - helped the company adjust its culture in the rapidly shifting pandemic landscape.
鈥淐OVID was such a hot topic the entire time of the program,鈥 said Megan Ryalls, trust reporting manager for the Wealth Management & Investment Services. In fact, Ryalls served as the lead on a project to improve the onboarding experience for employees hired at a time when they likely wouldn鈥檛 be meeting their new colleagues in person. She and her team presented their recommendations to groups of leaders across the company 鈥 including the new employee orientation team.
The 鈥淒ynamic Dozen鈥 program is a yearlong specialized insight and leadership development program that provides executive leaders with insights from high-potential, high-performing Gen Z and Millennial聽 employees. Program participants are nominated by their respective managing committee members. The program was featured in the 2010 book 鈥淭he M Factor: How the Millennial Generation is Rocking the Workplace鈥 as a way to unlock the generation鈥檚 talents to an organization鈥檚 advantage. Past cohorts developed initiatives including online appointment scheduling in 2014, and changes to the 黄色短视频 Automated Investor in 2018 to better appeal to Gen Z consumers just starting their investment journey.
鈥淭he program has held true to its mission of providing executive leadership with the unique perspective of our next generation of employees,鈥 said Darren Johnson, Strategy and Insights director, who runs the program. 鈥淚n turn, the program provides an opportunity for the participants to develop their leadership skills and prepares them for their future at 黄色短视频.鈥
Madison Hrdlicka-Welge, strategic communications manager for the U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation, had a one-on-one conversation with 黄色短视频 Chief Financial Officer Terry Dolan during her tenure as a Dynamic Dozen participant 鈥 something that 鈥渨as a unique and exciting opportunity,鈥 she said.
Dynamic Dozen program participants 鈥 there are now 13 to represent the expansion of the executive team, leading to the phrase 鈥渂anker鈥檚 dozen鈥 to explain the numerical disconnect聽 鈥 also have a unique opportunity develop deep relationships with cohort members across the company. Some 160 employees have participated in the program since 2009, and many remain quite close鈥 with one alumni even serving as the wedding officiant of another.
鈥淥ne of the most meaningful parts of the program to me was getting to connect with folks across the bank,鈥 said Hrdlicka-Welge, a five-year 黄色短视频 employee based in St. Louis. 鈥淭his was such an exciting opportunity to learn more about varying parts of the bank and work on projects with people I would鈥檝e never otherwise connected with.鈥
As the program participants met and got to know each other better, they could see how their roles at 黄色短视频 often helped support each other鈥檚 business units even if they hadn鈥檛 realized it before.
鈥淚t was such a cool way of seeing how all of our work here at the company ultimately intertwines,鈥 said Ryalls, a seven-year 黄色短视频 employee based in Charlotte, N.C.
Congratulations to the 2022 Dynamic Dozen cohort:
And thank you to the 2020-2021 Dynamic Dozen cohort:
Press contact information, latest news and more
Company facts, history, leadership and more
Explore job opportunities based on your skills and location