Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace culture is a goal of almost every organization. The benefits of supporting a sense of belonging and community among employees include increased creativity, innovation, and productivity. Insurance companies and corporate risk management departments, especially, have an interest in representing their customers and reflecting their principles.

Marshall’s EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM (ELP), a program focused on recruiting diverse talent into the risk management and insurance industries, is getting a big boost. The Steve and Sue Wilder Endowed Scholarship for Emerging Leaders was recently gifted by the Wilders, providing opportunities for Marshall students to succeed as they prepare for future career aspirations.

With the generosity of these long-time USC supporters, the new Wilder scholarships will help cover the cost of attendance for Marshall students who participate in the summer program.

Ideals like building a diverse talent pipeline for the risk industry and supporting USC motivated the Wilders to endowing the scholarships. Between Steve’s career rooted in risk management and his role as one of the founding volunteers of the risk management program, and Sue’s longtime involvement with USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, supporting Emerging Leaders was a natural fit for the couple’s interests.

“The Emerging Leaders Program was created at a time when our society was at a low point. It was the height of COVID and a time when it became evident that we needed to increase the role of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in everything we do. Besides the obvious desire to increase diversity in society as a whole, it also became evident that our industry needed to change and adopt a more inclusive attitude — the Emerging Leaders Program was a successful attempt to do that, and the results of the program speak volumes about this unique opportunity,” said Steve and Sue Wilder in a joint statement.

ELP is a partnership between Marshall’s PETER ARKLEY INSTITUTE FOR RISK MANAGEMENT, the insurance industry, and participating colleges. As Emerging Leaders, Marshall undergraduates learn the basics of risk management in the classroom, receive professional development advice by industry leaders, and are further mentored during a paid summer internship at a high-powered firm. Past program employers were among the twelve Risk Management Advisory Council members, including Alliant, Amwins, Aon, Chubb, CRC, Disney, FM Global, Gallagher, Lockton, Marsh, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, and RT Specialty.