Team of the Week
Team of the Week: Team Trumid
The Power of the Network Effect
As Rides FAR (For Autism Research) expands to asset classes across the capital markets, Trumid, a financial technology company and fixed income electronic trading platform, was one of the first firms in the credit trading community to jump in and sponsor the event, stressing that at the end of the trading day, what binds Wall Street together is a universal desire to give back.
A strong supporter long before Rides FAR Co-Founder Bryan Harkins joined Trumid’s ranks as Chief Revenue Officer, the firm was naturally drawn to the work being done by the Autism Science Foundation (ASF). Trumid thrives on participation and connection, and the team is passionate about collaborating with clients and the community at large, harnessing the engaging power of the network effect to make a difference.
In this Q&A, Justine Robertson, Alec Buckenheimer, and Roger Tsai from Trumid’s client and technology teams share their excitement and personal connections to the cause as they get ready to hit the trails and roads of Westchester on Saturday, October 1.
Q: Why is it important that your company participates in philanthropic initiatives like Rides FAR as a team?
Justine: Trumid is very much a team-oriented organization. We rely on every team member’s contribution, and it is very symbolic of our brand. With our distributed working philosophy, Rides FAR has given us the opportunity to work together and give back, no matter where we may be physically. Teams across Trumid have signed up, and it’s led to conversations and connections with coworkers who we may not have otherwise connected with day-to-day.
Alec: I agree, while individual action is great, there’s only so much you can do on a personal level to effectively create change. By driving change as a team, not only does it increase participation by connecting people who would not normally get involved with this kind of event, it reaches a much broader population who together bring a greater awareness to Rides FAR and the incredible work ASF is doing. It also builds a sense of camaraderie as a company knowing you are changing the world for the better.
Roger: At Trumid, we believe the power of community is important, and by joining these kinds of initiatives as a team we’re hoping the effect will ripple through a larger audience for greater awareness of this specific topic.
Q: Why is drawing attention to autism and autism research of particular importance to your company and to you personally?
Alec: I grew up with a brother with autism, so the cause has a deep personal connection to me, having seen what it was like for him growing up and the level of support he needs. Most strikingly, though, is that people generally don’t know how to properly interact with people who are different from them. It’s so easy to look the other way and assume you can’t be helpful when there’s something you don’t understand, so even giving people the experience to interact with people with autism helps.
Roger: I also have family and friends who are facing the challenges that come with raising low-functioning autistic children, as well as friends who are high-functioning on the spectrum who struggle with discrimination, relationships, and feeling singled out. Autistic people are gifted and bring so much joy to society, and it would be a shame if our lack of awareness and understanding of ASD prevented us from seeing that.
Justine: As a parent, learning more about the struggles that parents and caregivers of children with ASD go through everyday really resonates with me. I feel connected to ASF, because I want to support an organization that not only has a focus on autism science, but that also provides support to autism families.
Q: What is drawing you back to the Ride this year?
Alec: Last year, I was struck by not just how incredibly well-run the event was but by how strong the community is. We had a great time from start to finish. During the ride, I also made quite a few close acquaintances, and made contacts with people I never would have known otherwise in the industry. I also had the opportunity to listen to Bryan’s sister-in-law speak about her experience raising a child with autism. It was extremely eye-opening to me as someone who has also experienced autism closely to see how similar the struggles of families with autistic children across the spectrum are. I am excited to participate again this year and thrilled that Justine and Roger and other members of the Trumid team are joining the Ride too.