There is one particular initiative and project that truly defines Tamara Wyre’s beliefs and career: a new gender specific investment product that promotes inclusion.
Spearheaded by the Capital One director and senior portfolio manager and having more than 100 individual stocks invested, this investment strategy identifies companies through specific quantitative and qualitative metrics for gender inclusion, diversity and other commendable workplace practices.
“Evidence suggests that having three or more women on corporate boards can lead to improvements in performance as well as in diversity and corporate governance,” Wyre notes. “In our view, building a portfolio under this premise gives investors the chance to support these positive practices while matching or exceeding broader market benchmarks.”
Some of the factors used to analyze companies include: percentage of women in senior management and board of directors, percentage of women and minorities in the company’s workforce and published reports on diversity.
Wyre is also dedicated to changing the way women view money. Wyre notes that women do not necessarily lack the technical skills in managing money, but may lack the confidence in the subject matter of finance.
“Traditionally, in families, women do not take the lead in this area,” Wyre says. “But this can be changed through education and it has to start at a young age.”
Wyre is an advocate in promoting and facilitating financial literacy programs for youth and young adults. She actively mentors young women in the New Orleans public school system, providing career guidance and advice on everything from high school and college courses of study to tips on dress and deportment.
Wyre’s other charitable activities include being a co-chair for the Greater New Orleans Community Corps Council, which is responsible for managing volunteer efforts throughout the New Orleans Metropolitan area for Capital One Bank.
