As a people business, we consider attracting and retaining the most talented colleagues in the world the key to our success,” said Jenny Johnson, President and CEO. “The Futures Program helps us identify strong new employees, most right out of college; provide exposure to different areas of our company; and find the right job that fits Futures Associates’ skills and career aspirations.”
Franklin Templeton employees were recently asked to vote for their favorite intranet feature article of 2023. First place went to “Futures Program Turns 40; Employees Share Their Experiences in Honor of Anniversary.” The feature received 20% of all votes.
So what is the Futures Program and how has it galvanized and inspired FT employees over the decades? Read on to learn more.
From small acorns grow mighty oaks
Little could anyone predict that an idea scribbled on a napkin would become a world-wide development program, helping early career talent launch their careers in the investment industry 40 plus years later.
The Futures Program is designed to develop a talented and motivated pool of employees who will contribute to Franklin Templeton's position as a global leader in the investment management industry. ‘Associates’ gain valuable business experience, while building deep cross-functional relationships throughout the firm.
One of the primary goals of the program is to bring an Associate’s unique skills, abilities, and insights to the departments they rotate within, while gaining a well-rounded understanding of the firm. To help realize this goal, The Futures Program offers mentorship, pairing Associates with senior business leaders to coach and guide them through their development, and act as a sounding board when approaching new challenges. The Futures Program Alumni group also provides an instant network that spans our global organization.
The Program Experience
Typically Associates join the firm through a number of channels, including employee referrals, internships, university partnerships, trade fairs, and online networking platforms.
And it is truly global, with around 15 new Associates joining each year to work out of offices in the US, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong and Mumbai.
The Program, which is two years in length, draws candidates from diverse backgrounds and offers a large variety of opportunities. Futures Associates experience a series of rotations within different functional areas of the company. Rotations could include US and Global Equities, Fixed Income, Multi-Asset Solutions, Portfolio Management, Marketing, Product, and Sales, to name a few. Each rotation exposes Associates to the people, structure, and processes that contribute directly to the success of the organization.
And it works
Many of the firms’ top leaders have celebrated long and successful careers after placing from the Futures Program and now enjoy giving back. Program alumni regularly create rotational and placement opportunities for Associates, engage in mentorship, and share career triumphs and challenges with them. This active participation from former participants helps engage and energize the current class of future change makers and inspires the next generation of excellence at Franklin Templeton. On a five-year look-back, Franklin Templeton is pleased to find placement opportunities for more than 90% of Associates.
