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Michelle Buonfiglio:

I like to say that my role is connecting the dots, to really bringing together J.P. Morgan’s resources, impactful external organizations, bringing great companies and individuals together for networking, connectivity, and helping with business growth. I'm very passionate about making an impact and really helping to bring forth resources that people don't know exist.

Shaunté Robinson:

In this work, it's particularly special because we’re really transforming the lives and the mindsets of business owners to leave a legacy for their families, for business communities, and then all the stakeholders that they impact.

Danielle Davis:

When you're working with a business owner that tells you, “I started this business in order to help my family, my life, my communities,” you’re making an impact, a change to how they do that. And so my reason and my why for waking up every morning is if I can help that business be able to do that on a larger scale and get them to where they wanna be or where they’re looking to go, it's a passion. I always tell the business owners that I work with that JPMorgan Chase is more than just a bank. I think our connections to other organizations, corporations that we work with are critical and key for you as a business owner.

Marvin Clark:

Diverse clients haven't always had access to informational resources. So my goal is how do I level that playing field and bring those resources to bare to help them grow and scale and give them the resources they need to get to that next level.

END

Entrepreneurs across all demographics—especially Black, Hispanic and Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals; LGBTQ+ individuals; women, and veterans—face a number of challenges when launching and scaling their companies. 

At JPMorgan Chase, we’re dedicated to building strong relationships with our clients and driving connections to help all entrepreneurs succeed.

“It’s particularly special because we're really transforming the lives and the mindsets of business owners who leave a legacy for their families.”

Watch the video, part of our new “Thriving: Conversations with bankers” series, to hear from our team of experts who understand the unique challenges diverse and underserved business owners face.

Meet our newest banker

Laura Higgins

Name: Laura Higgins

Title: Pacific Head for Diverse Businesses, JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking

Experience: I have a long career in banking, primarily in technology leadership roles. During my time in Global Supplier Services, my role expanded into the Supplier Diversity space, facilitating the growth and development of diverse-owned companies. Since taking on my role at JPMorgan Chase, I have become even more involved with diverse-owned businesses.

How would you define a successful banker-client relationship? A successful banker-client relationship is one where the banker and client talk all the time to regularly vet ideas and brainstorm.  It is one where the banker is bringing ideas and opportunities to help their client grow and improve their business.

What do you find most rewarding about your work? I love engaging historically underestimated founders and finding ways to support their goals. I also love coaching our bankers on how to use our diverse businesses team to accelerate their efforts by helping demonstrate our passion for supporting communities.

How do you aim to help diverse-owned businesses grow? Every company is different, but I work to identify paths to growth for them. The key is to understand the specific situation with a particular company and then curate actions that will support the leadership in achieving their aspirations.

    

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking has a team dedicated to supporting diverse-, women- and veteran-owned businesses, and we are focused on providing these founders and business leaders with the resources they need to succeed. Discover how we can help you thrive.

Learn more

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Visit jpmorgan.com/cb-disclaimer for disclosures and disclaimers related to this content. 

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