Leading global investment firm KKR has teamed with Harlem Capital Partners (HCP) to improve its gender and racial diversity. Under the agreement, KKR will be provided access to HCP’s database of evaluated job candidates in order to identify and recruit diverse interns and employees.
KKR Human Resources Director Bola Osakwe said HCP can provide a more in-depth insight about job applicants, such as candidate performance during the application process.
The partnership with HCP is part of KKR’s multiyear initiative to improve the diversity of its employee base. KKR also has an internal mentoring program that aims to connect diverse employees with senior leaders and a summer internship program that seeks minority and women MBA students.
According to KKR’s website, women comprise about 44% of its employees globally and 21% of senior executives, while people of color make up around 41% of its total employees. HCP, which was launched in 2015 by four millennial men of color, focuses on investing in minority and women-owned startups. HCP partner Henri Pierre Jacques said they aim to change the face of entrepreneurship by investing in startups founded by diverse entrepreneurs and they feel fortunate to be part of KKR’s diversity initiative.
