Elizabeth (Liz) Barnhill is part of the Pricing & Margins team in OCC’s Dallas office; she also serves as a leader of the employee network group, Women’s Leadership Network (WLN). Her OCC story describes how she enjoys championing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at work and how OCC’s commitment to DEI makes her feel proud to work here. Read it below!
Liz Barnhill – Manager, Pricing & Margins – in OCC’s Dallas office.
Our team is responsible for validating and publishing the prices for both OCC's internal downstream processes as well as external users such as Clearing Members. Compared to previous companies I’ve worked for, I feel like the work at OCC is more interesting. The size of OCC’s Dallas office also allows me to know a lot more of my colleagues and have a more personal connection.
I enjoy being part of the WLN leadership team, and I’m excited about what we'll accomplish this year. I previously moderated a fireside chat with a senior leader from an exchange who is also a fellow working mom. She was very approachable and took the time to chat with me before the event; I found it valuable to hear about her career path, and I appreciated her candidness in speaking about her experience as a woman in a high-profile leadership position in our industry. It’s great that we have that kind of talent taking the time to speak with us and that we can learn from their experience through our annual events.
OCC is an organization that values diversity, gives me the opportunity to raise the visibility of underrepresented groups, and recognizes that we can do better with representation. In addition to my work with WLN, I'm happy to pitch in when other DEI initiatives need a hand, whether it's figuring out where to hang the balloon arch for Pride Month or moving furniture around to dance for Diwali. I’ve also been involved in enhancing employee resources for things like coming out as trans at work, and it makes me proud to work for a company that strives for continuous improvement like this.
Our Collective Commitment: Sharing OCC Stories
At OCC, we are one team, driven by a powerful purpose: serving a critical function in the financial markets, while inspiring confidence in everything we do. To meet critical regulatory obligations, we undertake ambitious, rewarding projects – taking pride in our work and empowering colleagues’ professional growth. By embracing diverse perspectives and fostering meaningful connections, we come together to help shape the future of our industry.