
Larry Hughes was on campus most recently for a special broadcast by Bloomberg Radio. He and fellow corporate leaders shared views on recruiting, retaining and motivating the millennial generation.
The CEO for BNY Mellon Wealth Management appreciates the opportunity to work with and learn from younger people.
“I enjoy being a sponsor for talented young employees,” says Hughes. “Seeing people in senior roles that I hired years ago to entry-level positions brings a smile to my face.”
He praises the energy that millennials bring to companies such as BNY Mellon. On the flip side, he urges the demographic to learn from their predecessors. The lessons?
“Hard work still matters. Caring about your work, making a big contribution — all that still matters.”
Hughes attended Bentley as a commuter student while working full time for a small marketing company. Moving up the ranks to CEO at BNY Mellon, he has led the company to a total of 42 private banking offices. He holds that wealth management should be “local.” That is, relatable strategies are quite different for a 32-year-old tech entrepreneur who sold his company for $50 million and a retired antique car collector.
“More than 10 percent of our clients are millennials,” says Hughes. “It’s not some future concept, it’s happening now. Our clients are mobile and global, and they expect advice from the team at all times and in all places.”