Driving innovation with humanity
Maureen is Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (DIB) and Divisional Chief Information Officer (CIO) and MVP of People Tech at Capital One. Her career has been devoted to harnessing the power of technology to improve people’s lives—driving innovation with humanity. Maureen has a deep passion for people, culture and technology and believes the intersection of the three can help manifest her personal motto of using “tech for good.”
What inspired you to expand your leadership beyond Tech to include Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (DIB)?
My life’s work has been using technology in new ways to improve the human experience and create the space for others to rise and thrive. Being able to combine my passions—technology and DIB—at the enterprise level is an incredible gift and a responsibility I don’t take lightly.
For much of my life, I’ve been an “only.” In school, sometimes the only Black student in an engineering class, and, professionally, at times the only Black person in a room. I grew up in inner-city Miami. I’m the proud daughter of a hardworking, immigrant, entrepreneurial, single mother of five. I had wonderful teachers and mentors, but I also had to fight for opportunities and to stick it out in places where I didn’t feel included or valued. Throughout my career, DIB has always been a calling. It’s important to me to be part of changing the circumstances to make it easier for others to not be the “only” and to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
Throughout my career, my personal mantra has been “tech for good.” For me, tech for good is about driving innovation with humanity. Using tech to drive positive change. My goal is to build upon my tech background and engineering mindset to integrate DIB into the way of life at Capital One with a human-centered, tech-forward, data-backed approach.
Tell us more about how technology, people and culture intersect.
It’s a unique combination. And that’s actually what I love about this. We’re positioning Capital One to embed DIB into the associate experience, using technology and a forward-leaning mindset to find innovative ways to promote a culture of inclusion and belonging. I believe the intersection of technology, people and culture is right where our future is as a company—and combining those elements together, that’s what makes us Capital One.
Technology plays a key role in almost all parts of our lives. I already lead tech strategy for many systems that drive the associate and customer experience. This dual role creates a force to drive DIB forward meaningfully for our people. Think of what more we could do … imagine building towards a future that uses AI while mitigating against bias. Tools that improve understanding of our progress and opportunities in representation. Nudges against unconscious bias. There are countless ways to use tech for good, advancing DIB.
With an integrated focus on technology, people and culture, we’ll deepen our understanding of experiences across all identities, and uncover where there are needs so we can create pathways to thriving for everyone.
How does DIB drive innovation?
It’s so important to grow the diversity of our talent and to create a culture where everyone can thrive. We enrich our teams and our company, and strengthen our ability to innovate. Instead of similar ideas from similar people, we have diversity of thought and methodology, and a more robust understanding of customer needs. We need diversity because technology, products and services are designed for people. Because people are diverse, we need to develop with that principle in mind. It’s logical and makes strong business sense.
Can you share an example of how Capital One is creating tech DIB opportunities in our community?
While most of my career has been spent on tech innovation, I’m excited to bring the same inventive spirit to how we show up as Capital One to the communities we serve. One example is our partnership with the nonprofit Girls for a Change, an organization that prepares Black girls for the world and the world for Black girls, which we’ve supported since 2015. Capital One has a history of supporting Girls for a Change through a partnership with Capital One Coders, where associates teach coding fundamentals to middle school girls.
One new way we’re showing up for Girls for a Change is sponsoring a documentary the nonprofit is featured in. “Daughters,” which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, tells the story of a Girls for a Change's dance for incarcerated dads and their daughters.
How would you describe your leadership style?
Authentic. It’s the only way I know how to be. I’ve found that being my true self at work (and everywhere else) allows others to feel more comfortable and to do the same. Let me be clear, it didn’t happen overnight, but now there’s no going back. I’m also intentional about leading with heart. I come from a big family, and we care deeply for one another. We are a community. I bring that same sense of family and caring to the workplace. Psychological safety is paramount to me, and it’s the bedrock of any high-performing team. Without it, we fail. Establishing trust and letting those I work with know that their health and wellbeing take priority is my primary objective. Once you have that, the work will flow.
Is there an end game to DIB?
Never. There will never be a point in time when we aren’t actively working to improve and elevate DIB. That’s because our world and people’s needs are constantly evolving. This work is continuous and belongs to all of us, not just one group of people within an organization. That may seem intimidating to some, and that’s ok. We will all make mistakes. That much is certain. The important thing is that we strive to understand and to do better - for each other, our associates, customers and communities. Each of us has the power to enable change and make a difference.
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