This week, Remitly welcomed a new VP of Global DEI, Bobby Wilkinson. Bobby joins us from Charles Schwab, where he was the Managing Director and Head of Diversity and Inclusion. His DEI initiatives were instrumental in securing Schwab’s position as one of Forbes’ Best Places to Work for Diversity in 2023, as well as one of the Best Places to Work by Disability Inc. for two consecutive years. Throughout his career, Bobby has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to DEI principles, beginning with his role as a diversity recruiter and liaison for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) at State Farm. Bobby’s extensive background at Fortune 500 companies, including USAA and TIAA/Nuveen, is marked by his involvement in “Be The Change,” an internal D&I initiative by TIAA/Nuveen that evolved into a brand campaign. His comprehensive expertise spans human resources, operations, and marketing, enriching his approach to DEI with a broad business perspective. He is based in Remitly’s Seattle headquarters.
Bobby’s decision to join Remitly is fueled by the company’s commitment to serving immigrants and their families. His passion for Remitly, along with his broad global insight and depth of experience within financial services, made Bobby the ideal candidate. “It’s critical to have someone in this role whose values are aligned and are mission-driven,” Rene Yoakum, Remitly’s EVP of Customer and Culture, says. “Bobby has a great financial services background from companies that we all deeply respect, and he really understands the space and our business.”
For Rene, Bobby’s expertise and track record in advancing DEI initiatives within the U.S. and on a global scale aligns with Remitly’s mission and strategic objectives. With a workforce of more than 2,700 employees, “we have an opportunity to create a global dream team in the way that we think about diversity,” says Rene. “We want to bring people with all varieties of lived experiences, perspectives, strengths, and expertise because we know that diversity of thought will create better products for our customers.”
Bobby highlights the role of a diverse team in driving Remitly’s customer and business impact, emphasizing the importance of feeling valued, having one’s opinions heard, and seizing opportunities for growth and contribution within the organization. “As a global workforce, we all want to feel a sense that we matter, our opinions are going to be fairly heard, and a chance to develop and contribute to the success of Remitly across the globe,” he says.
Bobby is excited to expand Remitly’s diversity and inclusion program at a time of continued exciting global growth for the company. As he steps into this new role, Bobby sees an opportunity to grow this program alongside the business. “What I hope to accomplish at Remitly is to be part of the growth strategy and propel the company to the 15 and 20-year mark and beyond,” he says. “We want to build that sense of inclusion and belonging for everyone who works at Remitly.”
To explore career opportunities at Remitly, please visit our Careers page.
