Breaking Barriers: Diversity, Wall Street, and Inclusive Capitalism with Dorien Nunez

In this wide-ranging conversation, Georges Dyer sits down with Dorien Nunez — longtime investment professional, community advocate, senior fellow with the Intentional Endowments Network, and founder of Omni Research. Dorien reflects on his unlikely path into finance, beginning with a life-changing scholarship to St. Paul’s School and early Wall Street internships that opened doors most young people never get access to. He shares how experiences with redlining, the anti-apartheid divestment movement at Harvard, and later discrimination in the finance industry shaped his lifelong commitment to expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion in investing. Dorien traces the evolution of DEI and ESG efforts across decades, from early activism to today’s backlash, offering historical context, practical insights, and optimism grounded in real industry progress — from changing licensing barriers to CFA Institute guidelines to the growing ecosystem of mentorship programs. He discusses his work at Omni Research, including research on closing the racial wealth gap, the backlash aiming to politicize “woke capitalism,” mentorship initiatives, and tools empowering consumers and investors to align investing with their values. This episode offers inspiration, candor, and a clear-eyed look at how structural barriers shape opportunities (or lack thereof) in finance — and how to create a more inclusive industry for the next generation. This episode is brought to you by Metis Global Partners. Keywords: Diversity in finance, racial wealth gap, ESG & DEI, mentorship, emerging managers, inclusive capitalism, financial education, Wall Street careers, systemic change, responsible investing