Senior DEI Strategist Leader
Edward Jones
Connie McFarland serves as a Senior Strategist Leader at Edward Jones. She creates strategies related to cross cultural agility for both Home Office and Branch Teams. Specifically, Connie leads the firm’s Business Resource Group and DEI 365 strategies, focusing on learning opportunities, programs and experiences to strengthen the culture of inclusion and to foster the growth mindset, cultural awareness and empathy of all associates and leaders, in order to better serve the Edward Jones’ clients.
Connie joined the Edward Jones Research Department in 1994, serving as a Team Leader. In 2004, she was promoted to Department Leader, assuming responsibility for the newly reorganized Equity Service department. In 2012, Connie was asked to lead the Fixed Income Service department, in conjunction with her leadership of Equity Service. Her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion led Connie to her current role in 2014.
During her 29-year career, Connie has been involved in numerous firm-wide efforts at Edward Jones. She led the Edward Jones Service Division’s inclusion and diversity efforts, creating a program, hiring diverse talent ahead of need. She also served as a National Speaker for the firm’s Women Helping Other Women and Diversity Summits. In addition, Connie delivered the firm’s market update on several U.S. radio stations and served on the firm’s Inclusion Council prior to joining DEI.
A native of St. Louis, Connie holds the Series 7 and 63 licenses. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a marketing emphasis from Fontbonne University and earned an MBA from Webster University. Connie and her husband, Kurt, enjoy spending time with their adult children and infant granddaughter, fishing and birdwatching.
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