New York Event Honors BNP Paribas, Raises $150K

Last October, Posse New York celebrated its annual Power of 10 event at the Helen Mills Event Space. The event raised $150,000 and honored BNP Paribas for its commitment to education, diversity and leadership. The award was accepted by Robert Hawley, CEO, CIB Americas.

Since 2015, BNP Paribas SA and its employees have supported Posse New York by volunteering as career coaches and Dynamic Assessment Process (DAP) observers, hiring Posse Scholars, and donating space for DAP sessions. These initiatives have all been championed by Mr. Hawley, who lends his leadership within the Bank and enthusiasm for Posse to create opportunities for future leaders.

The event program recognized the strength of Posse’s dynamic Scholars and celebrated diversity and leadership in higher education and the workforce. Lafayette College Posse alumna Jhenelle Andrade McLeary, a vice president at Barclays, shared her experience of being a Posse Scholar 17 years ago.

“We continue to support each other.”

“Throughout those four years of college, I felt a constant struggle to fit in, to feel comfortable in a world where everything just seemed so unfamiliar,” Jhenelle said in her remarks. “It was my Posse who helped me fight that nervous energy, so I could focus on being the best version of myself.”

Jhenelle reflected that even now, many years later, her Posse is still there to celebrate milestones, most recently her own wedding.

“I looked out into the crowd and was immediately comforted by the familiar and supportive eyes of my family, friends, and of course my Posse,” she said. “We continue to support each other in those personal moments that gives life its meaning.”