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GUIDING
PRINCIPLES

Our three guiding principles provide the groundwork for how we approach equity, diversity, inclusion and citizenship and are embedded in all of our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Citizenship efforts.

WE ARE COMMITTED
TO OUTCOMES

We are committed to and focused on meaningful outcomes that drive measurable change. We’ve learned that instilling Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Citizenship and creating a true sense of belonging are inherently complex, so we take a deliberate approach. We’re courageous; we take action—and the lessons that come with it—to continuously improve.

For us, it’s not about hitting targets; it’s about achieving equity.

We often take immediate action to make direct, positive impacts on our diverse workforce, inclusive culture and the communities we serve. At the same time, we are also laser focused on the sustainability of our efforts. Our focus has duality—we want to address near-term needs while also creating lasting progress.

WE ARE DRIVEN BY DATA

We respect data—it empowers us to be fully transparent and holds us accountable with internal and external stakeholders.

Our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Citizenship (EDIC) data journey is ongoing. Quarterly data analyses and annual three-year retrospectives allow us to measure progress, identify trends and be deliberate about where we put our energy and resources. We are proactive about making data accessible among our stakeholders and employees, such as during quarterly EDIC Town Hall meetings, in the new EDIC vertical of the Synchrony website, and through openly sharing our employee inclusion survey results.

We Model Collaborative Governance and Accountability

Collaborative governance is one of our fundamental differentiators. Our entire organization, including our Board of Directors, take an active role in not only championing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Citizenship but holding the company accountable to evolve and address organizational and societal needs.

We created a culture where the expectation for all employees is to speak up and participate, which helps hold our entire organization accountable.

A message from Michael Matthews and Brian Doubles

When we amplified our intentions to advance Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Citizenship (EDIC), we understood that the road to sustained progress would be never-ending. We know that leading change, while exciting, is also challenging and that some of the toughest parts will be continually holding ourselves accountable and maintaining our stride. We know that many are being asked to deprioritize EDIC, in light of the scrutiny and division around it. Not us. We believe in this work.

When new challenges arise, we understand the impact of stopping or shrinking ourselves. Instead, we see this as an opportunity to leverage our collective passion, continue to align to our mission and do MORE.

That includes more self-examination. In 2023, we saw increased social and political polarization around EDIC, and it gave us an opportunity to look closer at our efforts and our impact. Instead of pulling back, we remained focused and expanded our conversations, because we understand that creating spaces for diversity of thought is part of what helps make our work relevant, real and sustainable. We remain unafraid to address tough questions and welcome discussions about the importance of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Citizenship. We want to hear more stories and varied perspectives and enrich our work through those exchanges.

As EDIC continues to evolve, so will our learnings and our aspirations. For us, it’s not about evolving just for the sake of change or to commune with like-minds. It’s about actively seeking out and listening to diverse voices, striving to understand many lived experiences and, ultimately, broadening our community over time. Taking a balanced approach to our efforts, we continue to invite more people into our EDIC community and create environments where everyone feels heard and supported.

We are not perfect but that has never been our goal. Rather, we value progress—even in the midst of learning and growing—and that focus helps us remove barriers to our ability to successfully assess our performance, stay agile and consistently think of new pathways to bring about progress. And we are emboldened by our people continually sharing their feedback on our actions, as they challenge us to be better.

In our second diversity report, we share how our commitment to MORE has resonated throughout our organization and in the communities we serve. Each year we make progress on the aspirations of our EDIC North Star—to enrich every life we touch by leading with Equity in everything we do—and that is inspiring and affirming.

We are proud of our evolution, have momentum to continue to push forward and are motivated to do MORE, see MORE and feel MORE. Thank you for sharing in this journey with us.

Michael Matthews
Synchrony Chief Diversity &
Corporate Responsibility Officer

Brian Doubles
Synchrony President &
Chief Executive Officer