The Oakmark family of mutual funds is an extension of Harris Associates’ value-focused approach to investing. For more about our selection of funds, visit Oakmark.com.
Our Vision
Harris Associates is committed to bringing together individuals whose diverse backgrounds, opinions and perspectives maximize our expertise in finding value and delivering an excellent client experience. Inclusion is embedded in the culture of collaboration, curiosity and openness.
Our Mission
People are Harris’ most valuable asset. The collective sum of employees’ individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent represent a significant part of not just the firm’s culture, but its reputation and success. Harris embraces differences in experience and background and welcomes diversity of opinions and thought when making decisions. As such, it is committed to cultivating, fostering and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council
The DEI Council was established in January 2019 and is responsible for identifying opportunities to develop, promote and integrate DEI principles throughout the organization. The Council, chaired by the firm’s president, is composed of a diverse group of employees who all share a commitment to and passion for DEI. New members are periodically selected through a formal application process, which is open to all employees.
People are the lifeblood of our organization, and principles of respect, teamwork and open debate have permeated our firm culture since its inception in 1976. With those tenets in mind, the DEI Council helps Harris be a stimulating, inclusive and diverse place to work.
Chris Keller, President and DEI Council Chair
Harris’ most valuable asset is its people—and the firm’s continued success is dependent on accessing the best individuals in the marketplace. The firm’s talent acquisition strategy illustrates its commitment to increasing diversity and fostering an inclusive workplace, which positively impacts the value provided to clients.
To support the firm’s pay-for-performance compensation philosophy, Harris conducts annual compensation reviews to assess pay equity, including, but not limited to, reviewing this information by age, gender and race/ethnicity. It takes into account a number of factors that are part of the “bottom-up” review: job factors, external conditions and peer data, which all form part of our review of year-end compensation awards before they are finalized.
The DEI Council invites employees to build employee resource groups (ERGs) to foster inclusive communities around shared identities or experiences. ERGs develop goals and strategies independently and can use a variety of methods to cultivate advocacy, community, inclusion, education and cultural competency.
Harris currently has three ERGs:
The firm looks forward to more grassroots ERGs coming together to strengthen its inclusive culture.
Embedding DEI within Harris’ learning and development processes allows the firm to better support its newest hires, provide greater transparency to learning opportunities and available career paths, and increase overall awareness for those who are continuously developing leadership and managerial skills. Some examples include:
In addition, the DEI Council supplements Harris’ learning and development programs with unique, customized trainings and events through a partnership with Paradigm Reach, a consultancy that specializes in implementing data-driven DEI strategies. Harris’ People team has been leading the effort to incorporate Paradigm modules into team development programs with the integration of micro-learnings on DEI topics.
Harris encourages employees to participate in meaningful volunteer activities. One of the ways it does so is through the Days of Service, which are quarterly outings meant to broaden volunteer offerings within the firm. Employees are further incentivized to participate with paid volunteer time off (VTO).
DIVERSITY
Diversity is the amalgamation of qualities that makes every individual unique: characteristics, experiences, cultures, perspectives and cognitive approaches.
EQUITY
Equity is ensuring that policies and processes are impartial and fair and provide just outcomes that acknowledge and respect every employee’s unique individual needs and goals.
INCLUSION
Inclusion is fostering an environment where each individual feels welcomed, respected, valued, supported and encouraged to bring their authentic self to work.
As Harris Associates works to increase diversity, the firm’s inclusive culture is essential to enable employees to provide their unique perspectives and collaborate to drive better decision-making and deliver an excellent client experience.
Core Competencies
Employee Experience Group
DEI Council Observations Program
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
In September 2024, Harris | Oakmark employees volunteered at the Lincoln Park Zoo for its annual day of service.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Harris Associates partners with Genesys Works, connecting high school students with valuable internship opportunities.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
In 2024, Harris | Oakmark continued its ongoing partnership with Sport Dans La Ville.
We invite you to explore our open positions. If you don’t see one that fits your skills and interests, join our talent community through the Discover Your Potential section. By registering, you’ll receive notifications when opportunities that match your background and career goals become available.
Please contact Human Resources if you need assistance.
