American Express began to formalize its commitment to diversity and inclusion nearly three decades ago with the official launch of an Employee Network, the Black Employee Network. In addition, the company introduced a Diversity Council, a diversity awareness training and the inclusion of diversity goals in its Performance Management Process. Today, American Express continues to evolve and grow our diversity and inclusion programs and initiatives. Our goal is to create an employee base that is as diverse as the customers and communities we serve. Through the diverse insights and experiences of our employees, we can better serve our customers.

Since 1987, Employee Networks at American Express have provided opportunities that support personal and professional development, skill building and career growth. Completely employee-driven, they bring value to our company in many ways, from creating an inclusive workplace to driving product innovation. Employee Networks encompass the full spectrum of diversity at American Express, including disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, generations, sexual orientation and veteran’s status.

In 2015, with 15 networks and nearly 100 chapters worldwide, our Employee Networks ran many career-focused events including panel discussions, speaker series, leadership spotlights,
clinics, career fairs and virtual forums.