Events
We have a number of phenomenal events held throughout the year.
The cultures and diversity of investment firms have increasingly become important areas of focus. WIN will explore asset management industry perspectives on DEI and various initiatives companies are taking to drive change.
Birgit Boykin
Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for the Americas
BlackRock
Birgit Boykin is the Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for the Americas, a member of the San Francisco Leadership and the global Talent Management Leadership Teams. In her role, she leads the strategy development and execution of DEI initiatives focusing on embedding DEI across the firm’s talent and culture globally. She focuses on building, developing and retaining a diverse talent pipeline while fostering a connected, inclusive and equitable culture where BlackRock employees thrive and contribute to their full potential.
Prior to joining BlackRock, Birgit led Global Partner Affairs for Booz & Company (renamed Strategy& when acquired by PwC) and was responsible for the strategy and execution of performance and talent management, compensation, incentive design and broader partner value proposition for the firm’s top 300 leaders. As a member of Global People Strategy team, Birgit regularly reported to the firm’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors she was appointed to support the firm’s Compensation Committee. During the post-merger integration of Booz & Company into PwC, Birgit led the design of the global partner evaluation approach and subsequent translation into the local territory compensation systems for the entire Strategy Consulting business. She was a member of the global Strategy Consulting Leadership Team. Earlier in her career at Booz & Company, she led a number of client-facing strategy consulting projects.
Prior to joining Booz & Company in 2004, Birgit worked in Public Relations for Publicis Dialog in New York for three years and EXXON Corporation in Germany and Switzerland for 10 years in a number of Sales, Marketing and Business Development roles.
She has a BA with Honors in Business Economics from Wirtschaftsakademie in Hamburg, Germany and an MBA with Honors in Finance and Public Policy from The Wharton School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Maureen O’Brien
Vice President, Corporate Governance Director
Segal Marco Advisors
Expertise
Ms. O’Brien is a Vice President in Segal Marco Advisors’ Chicago office. Ms. O’Brien has extensive experience in shareholder advocacy and specializes in engaging companies on behalf of investors.
Professional Background
Ms. O’Brien joined Segal Marco Advisors in 2011 and currently serves as Vice President, Corporate Governance Director where she leads corporate engagements on behalf of Segal Marco’s clients and oversees the proxy voting service. Her work in shareholder advocacy began in 2003 as a Research Analyst for the Investor Responsibility Research Center. Since then she has specialized in engaging companies on behalf of investors. Prior to Segal Marco, Ms. O’Brien was Head of Engagement at Conflict Risk Network, where she held dialogues with companies operating in Sudan and other conflict zones.
Ms. O’Brien served on the Council of Institutional Investors Corporate Governance Advisory Council from 2015 to 2018. She is the Chair of Segal Marco’s ESG Committee.
Education/Professional Designations
Ms. O’Brien received her M.A. from American University in Washington, D.C. and her B.A. from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Published Works and Speeches:
- “Financial System Impacts of the Rise of Passive Management,” The National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS) – Annual Conference, January 2021
- Segal Marco Advisors “2020 Corporate Governance Report”
- “The Mainstreaming of ESG Investing,” International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans – U.S. Employer Outlook: Benefit Strategies for the Future Virtual Conference September 2020.