Your journey Black History Month Roundtable: “Each one teach one”
“Each one teach one” is an African proverb that originated during the time of slavery when enslaved Africans in America were denied the opportunity of education. The phrase was used as an encouragement and reminder of responsibility – if a member of the Black community learned to read or write, it was their duty to pass it on. The idea was to spread knowledge for the betterment of the people.
In the spirit of “Each one teach one,” our J.P. Morgan Wealth Management Black History Month Roundtable features stories from five J.P. Morgan employees spanning generations and various years of professional experience. The conversation, moderated by Keith Henry, Regional Director of J.P. Morgan Advisors for the New York City region, created a space where our panelists shared wisdom learned from mentors and historical figures as well as how they are paying these lessons forward to future generations.
Our roundtable panelists included:
- Franz Warren, Managing Director and Regional Director-Wealth for the New York North and Connecticut regions for J.P. Morgan Wealth Management.
- James Martin, Executive Director and Associate Regional Director for New York City flagship region for J.P. Morgan Advisors.
- Lauralee Bent, Vice President and Marketing Strategy Lead for J.P. Morgan Wealth Management.
- Savoy Drummond, Client Associate for J.P. Morgan Advisors covering high net worth clients.
- Itoro-Abasi Udo-Imeh, Analyst in the Chase Leadership Development Program working on the Wealth Planning & Advice Team.
![Roundtable panelists](https://static.chasecdn.com/content/dam/articles/secondary-images/black-history-month-roundtable-each-one-teach-one-panelists-1166x778.jpg)
KEITH: Franz, my first question goes to you. Can you share your story and how you navigated your career within the financial industry?
FRANZ: I’m coming in on 30 years in this industry and I’m so proud to see how the industry has changed from an ethnic and gender perspective. That being said, we still have a good way to go. I remember when I started being the “only” in a room of advisors and years later when I became a leader I was also the “only.” Fortunately both have changed over time, and it’s great to be at a meeting where a diverse advisor introduces themselves and says, "Thank you for showing me what is possible." As I’ve progressed through my career, I’ve always kept a focus on making sure I work harder than my peers and making sure there’s never a doubt as to whether or not I belong in the room. This mindset applied to my initial days as a stockbroker and then to being promoted to various manager roles and now, being fortunate enough to lead a team as their Regional Director.
KEITH: Thank you, Franz. Being able to see real progress in the industry is inspiring. Moving onto our next question: Itoro, can you share a quote from a Black leader that resonates with you? How do you interpret and apply it to your everyday life?
ITORO: “Feminism is for everybody,” by bell hooks. To me, this is a declaration of community. It invites you to take a deeper look into understanding how feminism can be beneficial for everybody – especially when learning through the voices of Black women. Being a Black woman requires an intersectional approach to feminism and this resonates with me because as I get older, my idea of this concept is ever-evolving and teaches me to create a space that authentically welcomes everyone.
KEITH: That’s excellent Itoro, thank you. Now Savoy, I turn to you: What mentors, role models, or historical figures have helped inspire and guide your personal journey?
SAVOY: I consider myself very blessed to have two parents to always steer me and guide me. I don’t think I would have been able to accomplish what I have in my life so far if it weren’t for them. My dad’s biggest piece of advice when I first started working was to treat everyone the same, no matter who they are. That goes all the way from the CEO to your manager, peers, interns and janitors. You never know what someone is going through when they show up to work. My dad’s pretty frugal and always said that it costs nothing to be kind to people.
KEITH: I met your father, Savoy, and what a gentleman. I can see so much of you in him. Next up, I’m curious to hear: How important has mentorship and community been in your career? Lauralee?
LAURALEE: Mentorship and sponsorship have both played meaningful roles in shaping my career growth. The relationships that I’ve built have helped me discover confidence to reach for new goals, develop stronger leadership skills and have exposed me to new perspectives. They’ve also taught me the value of acting as a guiding light for others.
Which reminds me of my mom, who was my first guiding light and forever mentor. Every day when I was a little girl, she would have me repeat back to her a series of words: You are smart. You are beautiful. You are confident. It was a daily affirmation and it convinced me, when I went out into the world, that that’s who I was.
KEITH: Beautiful. That’s power. It sounds like she was teaching you to fight imposter syndrome – which is real not just for Black people but for all people. Now James, I’ll turn this closing question to you: What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
JAMES: This goes full circle for me and starts with the quote that resonates with me: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others.” So the legacy I hope to leave behind is of meeting the needs of people I come in contact with. This is me doing my part of “Each one teach one.” If I can help people dream bigger and aspire to be more and do more by showing them that I care, and if they can then pay that forward in their daily lives, my legacy will be written.
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Mary Mannion
Senior Associate, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management
Senior Associate, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management
Mary Mannion is a writer and editor for J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. Previously, she was an Analyst within the firm, where she worked in both Asset & Wealth Management and the Consumer & Community Bank. Mary graduated with Hono ...More