Team of the Week
Team Cboe Global Markets
Championing Autism Research, One Rider at a Time
Effective teams know that success requires not just respect for one another, but for those around them as well. The team at Cboe Global Markets — a global exchange operator and leading provider of market infrastructure and tradable products — prioritizes this ideal by acting as an exceptional global neighbor. Through its contributions to important causes in the communities where its employees work and live, Cboe is highly attuned to the universal nature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and, recognizing the deeply personal connection several of its employees have to the cause, is proud to champion the life-changing work enabled by the Autism Science Foundation.
“Cboe strives to be a local partner and good citizen, and we’re committed to helping all types of market participants build a sustainable financial future,” said Carrie Leonard, Director, Regulation at Cboe Global Markets. “In that same thread, Wall Street Rides FAR and the Autism Science Foundation work to ensure that some of the world’s most vulnerable citizens have the resources they need to live fulfilling lives with dignity, and that’s a mission we are proud to align ourselves with.”
Cboe has been a strong supporter of Wall Street Rides FAR from the beginning, when event co-founder Bryan Harkins, now President of BIDS Trading, spearheaded the firm’s involvement. Having grown its ranks tremendously since 2015, the team is particularly excited to participate this year’s Ride, with associates joining in person at Saxon Woods Park in White Plains, New York, as well as virtually from several of the exchange operator’s global offices, including Singapore, London and Lenexa, Kansas.
“We’re thrilled to be able to come together again for the Ride. For colleagues based outside of New York, we’ve been encouraging them to hop on their bicycles and exercise bikes (anything active on that day counts) in their neighborhood or home,” said Leonard. “We’re also getting into the collaborative spirit, by working to put together a ‘Wall Street Rides FAR – Team Cboe Rides FARTHER’ playlist on Spotify. It will feature song suggestions contributed by Cboe associates, so no matter where the members of Team Cboe may be participating in the Ride on that day, we have each other at front of mind.”
In its commitment to global citizenship and drawing attention to ASD, Wall Street Rides FAR also provides Team Cboe a welcome opportunity to literally go the extra mile to support the Autism Science Foundation.
“We’ve seen the statistics, which show that 1 in 54 children are identified with ASD. Chances are, nearly all of us know someone or have a friend or family member who is impacted,” added Leonard. “The pandemic has also made it extremely difficult for those with ASD, and we believe it’s important to raise awareness and contribute our time and resources to organizations like the Autism Science Foundation.”
“WSRF is also special to me on a personal level. For me and my husband, our bicycles (and Pelotons) and the open trails have been saving graces during this work-from-home, pandemic environment, and helped to provide a sense of calm and normalcy during these unusual times,” added Leonard. “WSRF combines our passions for cycling and for doing good, and we can’t wait to join our Cboe colleagues and the broader financial industry community on October 2 to support the Autism Science Foundation.”
Team Cboe believes the financial services industry can play a unique and transformative role in driving positive societal change, so events like the Ride offer a unique chance for the Wall Street community to come together to support such important cause.
“Undoubtedly, we become much more impactful when we come together as one to support a common cause,” said Leonard. “While our industry can be fiercely competitive on any other given day, the Ride allows us to set aside our differences and collaborate to make a huge difference in our communities."