Title: Vice President and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Company: Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Location: Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, United States
Erika L. Whyte, MBA, Vice President and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Ms. Whyte has established herself as a leading expert in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), with a distinguished career spanning 35 years. Since 2022, she has served as the vice president and director of DEI at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, a leading wealth management and investment banking firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this capacity, Ms. Whyte oversees the firm’s comprehensive, four-pronged strategy to advance DEI. Her responsibilities include attending strategic meetings, ensuring robust course offerings on the company’s learning management system, negotiating contracts with external vendors and managing all employee resource groups. Additionally, Ms. Whyte directs the charitable matching gifts program and emergency grant program, demonstrating her commitment to both internal culture and community impact.
Before joining Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Ms. Whyte was an assistant vice president of enterprise diversity and inclusion at Lincoln National Corporation between 2020 and 2022. There, she played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s approach to fostering an inclusive workplace environment. From 2015 to 2020, Ms. Whyte contributed her expertise as a diversity and inclusion program manager at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where she developed and implemented initiatives that promoted equitable opportunities across the company. Her earlier tenure at JPMorgan Chase & Co. included serving as a risk project manager between 2014 and 2015.
From 2010 to 2014, Ms. Whyte excelled as the vice president and director of client services at The Bank of New York Mellon. She previously worked as a project manager at The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., for five years, beginning in 2005. Ms. Whyte began her career in 1998 as a systems integrations manager at PFPC, where she led technology integration efforts during a period of significant industry change.
Ms. Whyte’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism from Temple University in Philadelphia, completed in 1991 and a Master of Business Administration in project management from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, earned in 2021. She further enhanced her professional skills by earning a Certificate of Completion in communicating with clarity as a manager from LinkedIn Corporation in 2024. Ms. Whyte is also a certified scuba diver.
While in college, Ms. Whyte completed several internships in media. At FOX 29 Philadelphia, she gained firsthand experience in broadcast journalism. She then interned at CBS Radio in Midtown Manhattan, where she edited clips for Walter Cronkite and had the rare opportunity to meet Nelson Mandela after his 1990 release.
Ms. Whyte is actively engaged with several professional organizations that reflect her commitment to leadership development and community building. She has been involved with CHIEF since 2022 and has been a Titan legacy member of TITAN Executive Network, LLC, since 2025. Additionally, Ms. Whyte is a member of the Black Alumni Association. Beyond her professional achievements, she is committed to civic engagement through volunteer work with Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region, Coded by: and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
Throughout her career, Ms. Whyte has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to corporate social responsibility and advocacy. In 2025, she received the Corporate Social Responsibility Award from the Excellence in HR Organization at a ceremony held at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia. A few years earlier, Philadelphia Magazine honored Ms. Whyte for her leadership in promoting diversity initiatives.
Ms. Whyte draws fulfillment in the gratitude expressed by those she advocates for, including individuals with autism, veterans and members of the LGBTQ community, affirming the impact of her work. The foundation for her dedication to making a difference was shaped by personal experiences advocating for her children, who were among the few Black students at their independent school, and by the example set by her mother, an immigrant from Costa Rica who worked as a domestic caregiver. Inspired by these influences and motivated by her own journey navigating underrepresented spaces, Ms. Whyte has consistently championed equity for those whose differences are often misunderstood or overlooked.
Looking ahead, Ms. Whyte aims to ensure that when she steps away from her professional role, someone on her team will be prepared to continue advancing the initiatives she has championed. She envisions fostering a collaborative environment where advocacy becomes second nature within organizational culture rather than an ongoing struggle for equality or recognition. Additionally, Ms. Whyte plans to continue sharing her insights through public speaking engagements, further amplifying her impact on future generations of leaders dedicated to DEI.
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