Ever since Mr. Cooper launched the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, there has been so much to learn about their culture, motivations, backgrounds, passions, goals, and ambitions of vibrant professionals on their different teams. Much has been said (and written) about getting diversity, inclusion, equity, fairness, and teamwork “right” in office settings, but there is so much more to consider.
Over the last several months, the Mr. Cooper team has truly gotten up close and personal with what it takes to build a warm, welcoming, and thriving workplace that celebrates different cultures and ideas. As Mr. Cooper strives to make their workplace one that is stronger and more vibrant because of their personal, professional, and cultural differences, we wanted to share their four notable learning points about inclusion, diversity, and equity at Mr. Cooper.
1. Do not underestimate the importance of education.
Mr. Cooper believes the quest to build and celebrate their diverse and inclusive culture will always be a work in progress. However, a reasonable starting point is making sure everyone understands the subtle differences between diversity and inclusion.
Diversity is understanding that we are all different. Inclusion is about respecting and appreciating everyone irrespective of any differences of any kind. Differences include differences in age, gender, abilities, race, religious orientation, sexual orientation, educational or professional history, and other personal or biographic factors. These are the factors that make us diverse. Inclusion means celebrating – not just tolerating – these differences, and making others feel like part of a community.
2. Everyone on some level wants to be part of a community where they work.
People are at their best – emotionally, mentally, and professionally – when they enjoy what they do and love working where they do it. Everyone wants to have meaningful connections with others, learn new things, and progress personally and professionally.
Toward that end, Mr. Cooper holds many cross-cultural celebrations, such as their annual Diwali celebration Indian cuisine and customs are celebrated for the holiday for all to learn more about the culture. Looking at community and inclusion in a different light, many of their employees enjoyed the educational benefits of participating in a formal session on personal branding and using LinkedIn to represent who they are. These kinds of activities help break barriers, uplift teams, and make people feel better about what they are putting into their work and what they are getting back from it. These are the things the Mr. Cooper team brag about – the things that make them proud to be a Cooper.
3. Informal leadership can be a shining light.
Some team members take the initiative to organize events, manage presentations, and coordinate everything from officer elections to meetings to giving others the opportunity to participate in or showcase interests and passions many of us would otherwise never have known about. This energy, commitment, and passion for the company are contagious, and Mr. Cooper is very lucky to have so many budding leaders amongst them making their mark for themselves and adding value for others along the way.
4. Building the right culture takes time, but it also requires recognition of what you want to achieve.
It takes years and years to build your personal reputation and professional brand. However, being aware of what you are building – and what you want to build – is an important first step in getting to where you want to go. Mr. Cooper recognizes this and understands that the incremental changes that are needed to build a vibrant, thriving community must come from the top down. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is an example of an initiative that came from the very top of their organizational hierarchy.
However, inter-team collaboration, on-the-ground hiring, and the design of their everyday processes and work systems is where the magic happens. That is where you see the fruits of hiring passionate, energetic professionals from diverse backgrounds, people who bring so many different skills, perspectives, and ideas to the table. With the right recipe, you can’t go wrong, but you have to know what you are doing when you set out.
Final Thoughts
The mission of Mr. Cooper’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion is to cultivate, nurture, and maintain a diverse and inclusive environment, one in which team members feel empowered to be their authentic selves and deliver on their core values. Four basic pillars of this office are to support:
- Connections via social gatherings and meet-and-greets.
- Community involvement via in-kind and financial donations, volunteer days, partnerships, and events.
- Career development with executive speakers, networking events, continuing education, and skills-based training.
- Corporate contribution with representation in the community and at industry events, cultural celebrations, heritage events, policy and procedure reviews and enhancements, and mentoring opportunities.
The Diversity and Inclusion office is built on these shared initiatives and Mr. Cooper welcomes people from all over who are looking for a welcoming and growth-oriented workplace to join our team. Learn more about their teams by visiting Mr. Cooper’s careers page or learn more about mortgages and Mr. Cooper’s finance solutions at https://www.mrcooper.com/.