DID YOU KNOW? PT. 1
Did you know Denny's first professional role was as a stockbroker?
Four months before graduating college, Denny had his first job interview with a large brokerage firm. Five days later, they offered him a job.
Denny was the only person of color in his hiring class of 35 people, and when he successfully attained his Series 7 & Series 63 Licenses, there were only 15 left who survived the rigorous program.
Denny excelled, where he quickly rose through the ranks as a trader and revenue generator for his team. His success led the directors to ask him to train and guide new hires on passing the Series 7 & 63.
But that wasn't enough!
Denny recognized that other traders on the floor could improve their client interactions, so he recruited a team of other top performers, and they worked with seasoned brokers to develop best practices.
The program proved successful as the department saw increased Customer Satisfaction Index scores and revenue growth.
At this point, Denny wanted a front-facing role with high-net-worth clients but was told by one of the directors that he didn't have the "look" that they favored.
Yes, this is how racism in the workplace looks like, folks.
Despite all his successes, Denny recognized that he would never get a fair shot at his firm.
Did this incident cause him to resent working at his brokerage firm or shy away from his duties?
No, it proved motivational because his parents instilled perseverance in him, so he brushed it off and continued working at a high level.
What happened next?
Vote #dennyfornyc on June 28th!