Financial and Technology Sectors Draw Talent to Charlotte Region
Since Truist Financial selected Charlotte for its headquarters in 2019, the nation’s sixth-largest commercial bank has been on a quest to inspire and build lives and communities across the Charlotte Region. With a strong culture, mission and values, Truist leads by example and is synonymous with the robust economic development that continues to define the second-largest banking center in the U.S.
Given the sheer scale of the region’s growth — more than 80 people move in every day — companies like Truist are challenged to attract and retain a workforce in one of the hottest markets in the U.S. For Kimberly Moore-Wright, chief teammate officer and head of enterprise diversity at Truist, a key selling point for her team is how financial technology is leading the shifting banking ecosystem in the Charlotte Region.
“People think about Charlotte as this huge financial and banking sector, and it is. But Charlotte is really becoming an innovation incubator and fueling unprecedented growth and opportunity in the innovation space, and that includes FinTech,” she said. “As we’re engaging talent, we’re also showcasing all that the Charlotte Region has to offer in terms of quality of life and rich experiences outside of Truist.”
Charlotte Region ‘Major Player’ in Attracting Tech Talent
According to Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, which collaborates to promote and advance economic development in a 15-county, bi-state region, Charlotte is one of the most rapidly growing tech talent markets in the U.S. and has the fourth-highest millennial population growth among top tech markets. The city’s finance sector has the third-highest concentration of financial services talent among the top 50 metros, and its talent base in the financial services industry continues to grow with the sixth-most in-migration in 2020.
As Moore-Wright notes, the Charlotte Region is a major player in the U.S. in terms of providing opportunities for talent who want to work in the technology space.
“What’s important to Truist is being able to execute digitally and quickly, and we need talent to do just that,” she said. “The Charlotte Region is a great place to find that talent. When you couple the availability of talent with a great quality of life, it’s easy to see why Charlotte is flourishing and will continue its remarkable trajectory.”
‘Center of Our Mission’
Moore-Wright says whenever she talks to talent prospects about the Charlotte Region, the conversation inevitably turns to inspiring and building better lives, both personally and professionally, across a region known for its rich sense of connectivity.
“Truist is very much a purpose-driven company, and we strive to provide a place where people can live out their purpose,” she said. “We offer lots of opportunities for our teammates, who are the center of our mission, to align their purpose with ours. That’s what Truist is all about, and I think this makes the Charlotte Region stronger.”
‘The Next Big Thing’
Asked what her message is to talent who may be considering relocating to the Charlotte Region, Moore-Wright said she describes the region as one on the cusp of “the next big thing,” a message that especially resonates with those in the region’s fastest-growing financial sector, FinTech.
“At Truist, we have built a space for our teammates to co-create,” Moore-Wright said. “This isn’t just about us being in a lab and building something ourselves. This is meeting with clients and being able to bring their visions to life.
“We also offer access for the community to use our space in the center of the city, [encouraging people] to meet with our team to co-create and bring ideas to life that will benefit the community we call home,” she added. “So whether you’re a graphic designer, an engineer or a coder, there is space for you here to create, innovate, expand your mind and move your talents forward.”
Charlotte’s Strength as a Talent Hub
Charlotte’s strength as a talent hub provides the foundation for the region’s economic success. Listen to Moore-Wright discuss how Charlotte’s growing population, young and talented workforce, and innovative spirit fuel thriving financial services and technology sectors at AltogetherBetterCLT.com, and hear from other business leaders who are bullish on the region as well.
