Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS) Announces Twelfth Annual Veteran Symposium

By: Bob Woodruff Foundation via Business Wire

September 26, 2022 at 08:30 AM EDT

Military veterans, spouses and corporate hiring managers are invited to attend the 12^th Annual Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS) Symposium on November 3, 2022, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm ET in New York City. VOWS is a consortium of more than 100 firms dedicated to honoring former and current military personnel by facilitating career and business opportunities in financial services and beyond. Citi is the host for this year’s Symposium.

“The Bob Woodruff Foundation is proud to serve as the charitable partner of VOWS and delighted our long-time sponsor Citi is hosting the Symposium this year,” said Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. “Citi, a founding member of VOWS, not only stood by us and the veterans we serve by hosting a virtual VOWS Symposium in 2020 but is also hosting the first VOWS Symposium back in person. Citi’s support for veterans and military spouses is a testament to the strength of its inclusive organizational culture.”

The VOWS Symposium brings transitioning veterans and their spouses together with senior corporate leaders, hiring managers and other key leaders from government and the financial services industry. This year’s Symposium will convene leading thinkers and stakeholders to discuss veteran and military spouse support and retention in civilian careers.

“Today’s veterans face a number of obstacles when entering the workforce, from myths about their ability to succeed in the private sector to gaps in professional networking compared to their civilian peers, making it critical for companies in the private sector to adapt in ways that account for their skills and needs,” says Edward Skyler, Executive Vice President for Global Public Affairs at Citi. “It’s an honor to host the VOWS Symposium at our global headquarters once again this year. We look forward to continuing to foster an inclusive environment for our nation’s veterans as they look to apply their invaluable skillsets to the workforce.”

Registrants will hear from top officials and industry leaders, including Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security John Tien, and Citi Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and Global Head of Talent Erika Irish Brown, who will discuss the importance of military cultural competency and retention of veterans in the workforce. The full-day event will also feature a discussion on supporting those who continue to serve as reservists and military spouses, as well as workshops to help veterans and hiring managers translate military skills to civilian workplace demands. The Symposium is designed to encourage organizations to collaborate, develop, and share recruiting and retention best practices.

Featured speakers include:

Erika Irish Brown, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and Global Head of Talent, Citi
Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO, Bob Woodruff Foundation
Janie Mines, SVP of Inclusion and Innovation, Academy Securities
Edward Skyler, EVP for Global Public Affairs, Citi
Deputy Secretary John Tien, US Department of Homeland Security
Bob Woodruff, Reporter, ABC News, Co-Founder, Bob Woodruff Foundation

With the help of its long-standing strategic philanthropic partner, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, VOWS promotes career development, support and retention of veterans throughout the global financial services industry. VOWS has helped raise over $12 million to support the Bob Woodruff Foundation as they invest in best-in-class programs that empower impacted veterans, service members and their family members across the nation.

Registration to the 2022 VOWS Symposium is now open: bobwoodrufffoundation.org/event/12th-annual-veterans-on-wall-street-vows-symposium/

About Veterans on Wall Street

Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS) is a consortium of more than 100 financial services firms and other companies dedicated to honoring former and current military personnel by facilitating career and business opportunities. For more information, please visit www.veteransonwallstreet.com

About the Bob Woodruff Foundation

The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) was founded in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was wounded by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, BWF has led an enduring call to action for people to stand up for heroes and meet the emerging and long-term needs of today’s veterans, including mental health, caregiver support, food insecurity, and service-connected fertility issues. To date, BWF has invested over $85 million to Find, Fund and Shape™ programs that have empowered impacted veterans, service members, and their family members, across the nation, reinforcing the message that BWF has ‘Got Your Six’. For more information, as well as stories of success and innovation from BWF’s network of partners, please visit bobwoodrufffoundation.org or follow us on Twitter at @bwforg.

About Citi

Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.