Rita Vaswani

Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 | 4:43 p.m.

Rita Vaswani

Occupation: Vice President & Relationship Manager,

Bank of Nevada; President, Las Vegas India Chamber of Commerce

Causes: Rita Vaswani was raised in the Philippines by Indian parents before coming to America in the early 1970s. Today, the Bank of Nevada vice president is also the founding president of the Las Vegas India Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she has provided public relations support for Friends of India; served as a government affairs official for the Asian Chamber of Commerce; has been on the board of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce as well as the Chinatown Lions Association. She has called Las Vegas her home since 1992.

What are the key ingredients to a successful diversity initiative?

Recognizing and promoting diversity means having an appreciation for difference. Have a diversity champion within the organization to further the cause and obtain commitment from senior management. Recognize your employees’ biases and acknowledge them, which fosters mutual respect. This will provide the staff with meaningful input in regard to how the company functions.

Explain the importance of having a diverse work force in your industry.

At Bank of Nevada, we have a diverse group of employees from all the continents, which gives (us the) opportunity to serve a large client base in the community. Diversity isn’t just about being socially responsible; it also drives the bottom line. Bank of Nevada has a work force that is reflective of that diversity.

How has the recession impacted diversity efforts?

It would be all too easy for companies to suspend their diversity strategies. But during times of economic downturn, maintaining a diverse work force is more important than ever. It depends on how a company’s leaders have reacted to the recession. Is your glass half empty or half full? Some companies have imploded, resorted to infighting or made poor operating decisions, which in turn have affected their ability to provide solid service to their clients. Other companies are rising to the challenge presented by looking for new ways to add value to their current customers’ experiences with them and develop new customer relationships. A company with a diverse work force is much better prepared to do this, as it will have a wealth of experience to draw from in these endeavors.

Who is your mentor or hero?

Mentor: Punam Mathur; hero: Mahatma Gandhi