Her Success Matters

We discuss: The power of leading with empathy and compassion and supporting other women.Tips and tricks surrounding finding a balance between fierce leadership and empathetic management.How to “take the stage” and own your own voice in your career. How these practices lead Liz to receive the 2021 Woman of Year Award from DiversityQ and InvestmentNews' Women in Asset Management Awards—USA Edition. Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | BlackRock | Elizabeth Koehler |  Guest Bio:Elizabeth (Liz) Koehler, CFA, has been in the financial services industry for 19 years and is currently the head of BlackRock's Advisor Insights team, which partners with financial professionals as they grow their businesses and serve clients. Her team is responsible for developing and delivering educational programs for financial professionals and investors, focused on practice management, portfolio construction and financial market insights. Prior to her current role, Liz led the US Wealth business strategy for BlackRock's Multi-Asset Solutions platform, where she was responsible for product management, business development and brand-building. Liz also led Product Marketing where she oversaw the development of content for BlackRock's open-end mutual funds, separately managed accounts and alternative investments. Liz earned a B.S. in Business from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia and a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two sons.

We discuss: How the pandemic has impacted the caregiving industry and how this will impact your financial future choicesTips on how to be best prepared for retirement for yourself and your loved onesAdvice for women in caregiver roles and how to ease those tensions with proper planning and strategy Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw |Voya Financial | Voya Cares | Jessica TumanGuest Bio: Jessica Tuman leads the Voya Cares® Center of Excellence, which serves the special needs community — including those living with disabilities and special needs and their caregivers — offering access to tailored financial wellness and retirement planning solutions. She led the development of the program from the ground up into a strong brand that has been recognized by caregiver.com, Wealth Management magazine, Disability:IN and the Disability Equality Index as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion. Under her leadership, the Voya Cares program has developed into a strong brand and market differentiator for Voya Financial.Jessica brings over 20 years of experience in investment management strategy and solutions. She is committed to helping employers create a more diverse, inclusive and supportive environment for employees with disabilities and their caregivers. To help inform the program, she led groundbreaking propriety thought-leading research with global marketing research firm LRW on caregiving and the effect that it has on individuals and employers that helped raise awareness of and address the unique challenges faced by the special needs community. Jessica led the founding of the CEO Commission for Disability Employment, dedicated to leading the way to an inclusive workforce, and continues as a steering committee member. She also has advocated for the ABLE Act and other legislation that is designed to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and provide equal opportunity and access to employment, recreation and education.Jessica has appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box, and her writing has been featured in The Street Retirement Daily, U.S. News & World Report, THRIVE GLOBAL, Market Watch, Investment & Wealth Monitor Magazine, Money Management Institute Journal of Investment Advisory Solutions, ThinkAdvisor, Barron's and InvestmentNews. She has authored a white paper on the unique elements of funding a special needs plan.Prior to joining Voya, Jessica worked at SunTrust Bank in Wealth and Investment Management and Deloitte Consulting (Banking and Capital Markets). She has a Bachelors degree in Biochemistry (Hons) from the University of Southampton and a Masters degree in Computation from the University of Manchester in the UK.

Episode NotesWe discuss: Advice on how to achieve a healthy work/life balance in your career.Choices and the importance of choosing risk and not being afraid to take necessary risk in your career.How to overcome risk-aversion.How to not only “talk the talk” but also “walk the walk” in your management style.Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Kestra Financial | Kris Chester | Guest Bio: As chief operating officer, Kris is responsible for ensuring that Kestra Financial offers advisors the latest technology and highest-quality service while overseeing the continued simplification and streamlining of business processing. In this role, she leads the client service, onboarding, operations, program management, sales supervision, and technology departments.A strategic, innovative leader, Kris has extensive experience in merger integration, business transformation, product development, and client delivery. Prior to joining Kestra Financial in January 2018, Kris worked at Wells Fargo Bank for 18 years, most recently serving as executive vice president and head of treasury management implementation and delivery. In that capacity, she led a team of more than 750 people that implemented and integrated the bank's treasury management solutions, among other responsibilities.

We discuss: The importance of financial literacy, and why it is never too soon to start investing in financial education.The power of investing in yourself first and foremost in any career.How to get the most out of a professional mentorship, and building a strong foundation to become a successful mentor and leader to others.Leah's children's book on financial literacy, and the positive outcomes she has seen in her son's learning, even at such a young age.Tips, tricks, tools and resources for furthering your financial education at any age and in any career.Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Meghan McCartan | Leah Jones | Hightower AdvisorsGuest Bios About MeghanMeghan McCartan is the managing director and head of marketing for Hightower, overseeing advisor-facing marketing, thought leadership and events, and corporate/M&A initiatives. A big believer in personal marketing efforts to drive growth, Meghan was the architect of the OCMO (Outsourced Chief Marketing Officer) initiative, through which marketing works hand-in-hand with advisory teams to develop and execute strategic marketing and communications plans tailored to their firm. She was recognized as one of “Ten to Watch for 2020” in WealthManagement Magazine for this initiative. As a mom of four girls, Meghan is also passionate about supporting working moms, so she built a conference series which won her Avon's “Women Changing the World” award in 2007. Meghan has over 20 years of industry marketing experience, on both the advisory/broker dealer side as well as financial technology. She holds a master's degree in business administration from Tulane University and a bachelor's degree from William and Mary.About LeahWith almost two decades of asset and private wealth management experience, Leah Jones recognizes that today's world is fluid, and she is always ready to help her clients adapt. Leah joined Hightower as director of financial planning in 2015 and has been in the investment industry since 2003. Leah specializes in developing and implementing complex financial planning strategies and managing investments for her clients. She works extensively advising women and couples through the financial complexities of divorce. Her knowledge and council to clients on investments extends to alternative investments, including hedge funds, private equity and private real estate, investment options often underutilized by private clients.  She is passionate about helping both her clients and children to achieve their life goals. She believes financial literacy education can and should start at a young age. She created a company Good Money Kids to share tips on how to educate kids about basic money concepts and her first children's book Kai Makes Money is expected to be published in December 2021. Leah is the host of two podcasts. The Everything Money podcast provides timely and topical financial information with a goal of helping listeners to make smart financial decisions. Her Divorce Source with Leah Jones is a podcast with the goal of providing practical guidance related to lifestyle and money to women before, during and after a divorce. Leah was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 Financial Professional by InvestmentNews in 2021. Leah majored in Finance and graduated from Smith School of Business, University of Maryland College Park. She holds citations in CIVICUS and Hinman CEO programs. Leah is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®). In addition, she has her Series 7, 65 and 63. Leah lives in North Bethesda, Maryland with her husband, son, daughter and Bull Terrier. She likes competitive activity and enjoyed playing basketball, soccer and softball growing up. Outside of work, Leah enjoys trying to keep up with her kids, photography, and travel.  Leah has a lot of experience traveling; she has visited over 20 countries and lived in Spain, Ecuador and Australia.

Episode NotesWe discuss:How to find purpose in your career and create meaning through your work when you are feeling stagnant.Natalie's journey — challenges and accomplishments — in becoming the CEO of AssetMark.Natalie's tips and tricks surrounding what it takes to be a female CEO.The increasing importance of tech in financial services, including advice for women considering getting into fintech and just tech.Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw |AssetMark | Natalie WolfsenGuest Bio: Natalie is the chief executive officer of AssetMark. She leads the strategic vision for the firm, which encompasses its platform of curated investment and technology solutions, business consulting and operations support, and strategic acquisitions that serve the best interests of financial advisors and their investors. Natalie also serves on the board of directors for the CFP Board and has been featured in CNBC, Barron's, ThinkAdvisor, FA Magazine, Financial Advisor IQ, RIA Intel, and InvestmentNews. Previously Natalie was Chief Solutions Officer at AssetMark. Before joining the firm, she held several leadership positions including head of marketing for New York-based asset manager First Eagle Investment Management, and head of product management and development for Pershing. She also spent several years at Charles Schwab in product development, marketing and strategy roles. Natalie earned a master's of business administration from University of California, Los Angeles - The Anderson School of Management, and a bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Episode Notes We discuss: Advice surrounding the importance of betting on yourself, in both your career and personal life. How Fizza launched her own firm, her journey, and how she overcame obstacles along the way. Advice on how to rewrite rules to create your own vision of success. Management tips on how to nurture your team to have a healthy work-life balance. Education practices surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion. Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Silver | Fizza Khan Guest Bio:A pioneer in providing outsourced compliance services to investment firms, Fizza Khan is an expert on regulations governing investment advisers, broker-dealers and registered and private funds. As a hands-on leader across the firm's flagship service lines – Regulatory Compliance, ESG and Due Diligence Preparation – Fizza ensures Silver's clients are fully prepared to withstand regulator and investor scrutiny. Through leadership positions at compliance consultancies, in-house legal counsel and compliance roles at various financial institutions and law firm practice, Fizza developed an approach for her clients that calibrates best practices with their business realities. Having personally handled numerous SEC examinations while in-house and as a consultant, Fizza knows how to satisfy regulator and investor expectations without creating unmanageable complexity. Prior to founding Silver, Fizza was the chief operating officer for U.S. Compliance Consulting and a managing director at Duff & Phelps. She joined Duff & Phelps in January 2016 as a result of its acquisition of CounselWorks LLC, where she was a Partner.  At both Duff & Phelps and CounselWorks, Fizza managed the day-to-day provision of compliance services to firm clients and built the foundations upon which advice was given. Fizza developed her insider perspective from her experience at a wide range of financial institutions. As senior counsel and the U.S. chief compliance officer for DKR Oasis Management, a global private investment fund manager, Fizza was responsible for all U.S. regulatory matters and supervision of domestic employees. As chief compliance officer for the investment management business of Sandler O'Neill Advisors, Fizza registered the firm with the SEC as an investment adviser and developed and oversaw its compliance program. She also served as the chief compliance officer for the Equities Group at Sandler O'Neill + Partners and, in that capacity, was responsible for the firm's SEC and Finra compliance programs. In addition, Fizza managed a number of formal SEC and Finra regulatory examinations for the Sandler firms. As in-house counsel at Deutsche Banc, Fizza advised numerous registered and private fund managers as to fund and advisory entity structuring, prepared their SEC regulatory filings and, for the registered funds, performed analysis required by the Investment Company Act of 1940. As an associate in the investment fund practice at Kramer Levin, Fizza specialized in the formation and management of registered and private funds. Fizza received a Bachelor of Science in Business from Drexel University, where she concentrated on finance and economics and published a thesis on the effects of derivative trading regulation. She earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law. 

We discuss:Advice surrounding the importance of empathy and leveraging it in the workplace, regardless of gender.Fierce advocacy for employees and how the pandemic shaped Shareen's proactive “treating employees as humans first” approach at RBC.The significance of maintaining an “always-be-learning” mentality.Helping women find their voice in their careers, Shareen's personal journey with discovering her own voice amidst a variety of challenges, and how this has empowered her to mentor others to this end.The bigger the voice, the bigger the impact.Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | RBC Wealth Management-U.S. | Shareen LuzeGuest Bio: Growing up in a household where equality and equity were a core value, Shareen Luze, head of culture and field experience for RBC Wealth Management – U.S., is dedicated to ensuring that our unique culture remains at the core of everything we do as we accelerate our growth and continue to be an employer of choice in the U.S.Shareen provides oversight and counsel on workplace strategy and serves as the company's key champion of the employee experience. She also oversees the implementation of a new 360° Diversity and Inclusion strategy and serves as co-executive chair of the firm's Diversity Leadership Council and executive sponsor of the Women's Association of Financial Advisors (WAFA).Shareen has been with RBC for 15-plus years, first joining in 2006 as an associate general counsel. She transitioned to Human Resources in 2008, and became director of the U.S. Employee Relations team. In 2012, she took on additional responsibilities for workplace risk management before she was appointed Head of HR in 2018. Prior to joining RBC, she worked as a senior associate counsel at a Minneapolis law firm, practicing in the areas of employment counseling and litigation.Luze received a bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Michigan and graduated cum laude from Hamline University School of Law. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Tubman Center, which promotes safe and healthy individuals and families through education and support services.When she's not in the office, Shareen enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. 

We discuss: Advice, tools and influence listeners need to increase self-improvement in their careers.Importance of feedback and how to turn mistakes into tools for self-improvement.The importance of mentors and how they can shape one's career.How women can get involved in communities that promote the general advancement of women and girls in financial services.Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Bridgewater | Robyn ShepherdGuest Biography Robyn Shepherd joined Bridgewater Associates in 2004 and is currently the head of corporate engagement. Reporting to the CEO, Robyn oversees the firm's public affairs, communications and branding functions, as well as the company's initiatives for operational sustainability, social responsibility, and plays a leading role in Bridgewater's diversity and inclusion efforts. She is a partner of the firm and a member of the Operating Committee and Commercial and Business Strategy Committee. Robyn began her career at Bridgewater as a senior investment associate in the account management group and later took on other key roles within the firm's client service and marketing team — first as an associate client advisor covering the firm's international client and marketing relationships, and later as the head of client service analytics. Subsequently, Robyn served as chief of staff to CEO David McCormick, partnering with him on the firm's strategic agenda, business oversight, management of the client service and marketing department, and corporate governance. Robyn was a founding member of the firm's Diversity and Inclusion Council, and the co-founder and senior sponsor of Bridgewater's Women's Influence Network (WIN). In 2020, she was recognized by The Hedge Fund Journal as one of the “50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds.” Before joining Bridgewater, Robyn was an analyst at Lime Rock Partners and an investment analyst at HarbourVest Partners. She serves on the board of Oakland Catholic High School, an all-women's college preparatory school in Pittsburgh, PA. Robyn received her BA in economics from Brown University. 

We discuss: Advice on how to boldly proclaim your passion and to bring the fullness of your passion to work every day.Never be embarrassed to share your point of view — and be willing to be wrong.How to avoid falling victim to the “imposter syndrome” in which people — usually women — don't consider themselves qualified for the opportunities presented to them.Why you should start saying “yes” to challenging things and step outside your comfort zone, even if it terrifies you. Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Edward Jones | Penny Pennington Guest Biography Penny Pennington is the managing partner of Edward Jones, a Fortune 500 financial services firm. As the sixth managing partner in the firm's 99-year history, Penny is responsible for the firm's strategic direction, working together with more than 49,000 associates across North America to make a positive impact in the lives of Edward Jones' clients, colleagues and communities. She was recently named No. 33 in her second appearance on the Fortune Most Powerful Women in Business list.Penny began her Edward Jones career in 2000 as a financial advisor in Livonia, Michigan. In 2006, she was named a principal and relocated to the firm's St. Louis headquarters, where she held leadership roles.Penny earned a bachelor's degree in commerce with a concentration in finance from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She is a graduate of Wharton's Securities Industry Institute and is a CFA charterholder.A native of Nashville, Penny now calls St. Louis home after relocating from Michigan 14 years ago with her husband, Mike Fidler, and two children. She is an active member of the St. Louis community, serving on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees, the Whitaker Foundation and Executive Committee of the Chair's Council for Greater St. Louis, Inc. Penny also actively champions Edward Jones' national presenting sponsorship with the Alzheimer's Association.

We discuss:Advice for women out there struggling to create a foundation of self-confidence.Rajini's pillars of success, which center around building a support system.How women just getting started in their careers curate their own community of support.Why and how women can enter financial services as a second career. Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Focus Financial Partners  | Rajini KodialamGuest biographyRajini is a co-founder of Focus and is responsible for identifying high-quality wealth management firms to join the partnership. Rajini is a practice management expert with proficiency in organizational structure and effectiveness and talent management.Prior to co-founding Focus, Rajini worked at American Express, where she managed interactive services for the U.S. consumer card and travel businesses. Prior to joining American Express, she was with McKinsey & Co.Rajini lives in New Jersey with her husband and two sons. She is an avid gardener, likes to cook and aspires to write a sci-fi novel someday.Rajini holds an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York, a PGDM from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and a B.A. from Delhi University, India.

We discuss:How providing more women-focused sales and marketing closes the gender wealth gap.Resources for women looking to learn more about finance.How the industry can recruit more women into sales and marketing positions.Why remote work syncs better with women and their health.Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Snappy Kraken | Diana CabricesGuest BiographyDiana Cabrices is vice president of enterprise development at Snappy Kraken, an award-winning automated growth program focused on lead generation and client engagement for financial advisors. Diana opens up new enterprises for the firm to sell into and form strategic partnerships with, and helps financial organizations empower their advisors with the technology and content they need to successfully grow their businesses. With over five years of industry experience in varying roles, Diana has worked with thousands of financial advisors on marketing support, succession planning and M&A recruiting. She holds a B.B.A in business economics from Georgia State University, and is a first generation Cuban American with a commitment to empowering women in sales. In her free time, she enjoys salsa dancing, traveling, spending time in nature and practicing a healthy lifestyle.

We discuss:How Rita and Brittany created this mother-daughter duo brand.The inspiration behind their two books, "Own Your Phenomenal Self: A Guide on Character, Success, and Leadership" and "Spoken Art: Too Brave to Back Down."What it means to avoid getting “lost in the sauce.”The concept of the “reset mindset.”How to find your purpose.Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Rita & Brittany Mitchell  |Own Your Phenomenal Self: A Guide on Character, Success, and Leadership | Spoken Art: Too Brave to Back DownGuest BiographyAbout RitaIn a career spanning four decades, Rita P. Mitchell has a proven track record of achievement and success in the highly competitive financial services industry. Rita became president of her own insurance and securities brokerage firm, Mitchell Financial Inc., spoke on the TEDx stage, has been a frequent contributor to Black Enterprise magazine, and became the first-ever recipient of First Horizon's 2018 Inclusion & Diversity Leader's Award. Before retiring in early 2018, Rita served as executive vice president and manager of private client services for Middle Tennessee, First Tennessee Bank, now First Horizon.In addition, Rita is a recipient of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Award of Excellence, the Department of Commerce Regional Minority Service Firm of the Year (eight-state region), Dr. R. H. Boyd Woman Business Owner of the Year, the U.S. Small Business Woman Advocate of the Year, the 2014 YWCA Academy for Women of Achievement and the 2018 recipient of the NashvilleBusiness.Net 100 Leading African Americans.In 2018, Rita wrote her debut book, Own Your Phenomenal Self: A Guide on Character, Success, and Leadership, which serves as a “pocket mentor” to empower young career women to achieve their desired success and is an Amazon bestseller.Rita is a certified John C. Maxwell coach, trainer and speaker. Currently, she serves on the boards of the YWCA USA, Cheekwood, Leadership Nashville Alumni Association and the Founders' Advisory Board of Studio Bank, and is past Board Chair of the YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee.Most recently, Rita published her second book, Spoken Art: Too Brave To Back Down, which is a one-of-a-kind mother-daughter memoir of art, poetry, fashion, and the power of affirmation thinking.About BrittanyBrittany Mitchell is an accomplished marketing professional with 13-plus years of experience from established nonprofits to innovative startups to driving performance for large brands.In 2018, Brittany was recognized as one of Brand Innovators' 40 Under 40 for her work in digital advertising at State Farm Insurance, a Fortune 50 company, where she managed a $250 million advertising budget. An accomplished speaker, Brittany was honored to be a keynote speaker at the 2018 MediaPost Data & Programmatic Summit in Lake Tahoe.While living in Bloomington, Ill., Brittany served on the Boys & Girls Club of McLean County Board, the City of Bloomington Board, and was a founding member of the Bloomington-Normal Rotaract (young professional Rotary club) while serving on the Bloomington-Normal Sunrise Rotary club.Brittany is currently based in New York and works as a commercial lead at LiveRamp, the leading data connectivity platform delivering identity capabilities for the world's top brands, agencies and publishers.Brittany obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in the fields of marketing, international business and French. In 2012, she received her International MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. Brittany has lived and worked in Paris, France, and is fluent in French.In addition, as the CMO of Rita P. Mitchell, Brittany recently published the company's second book, Spoken Art: Too Brave To Back Down, which is a mother-daughter memoir of art, poetry and affirmations.

We discuss:What intentional recruiting and succession planning means.How the industry is changing when it comes to recruiting female and next-gen talent.How firms can create their own intentional recruiting.Goal setting and why that's important when developing these plans.Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Antonia Burchman | Miracle Mile AdvisorsGuest BiographyAs director of growth for Miracle Mile Advisors, Antonia is responsible for implementing innovative growth strategies including M&A process management, recruitment and retention, and brand marketing. Antonia works closely with new advisory teams to ensure seamless transition and integration to Miracle Mile's platform and culture and facilitates long-term success.Prior to joining Miracle Mile Advisors, Antonia worked as an executive recruiter at an international recruiting agency where she worked with a variety of clients, including some of the largest financial services firms in Los Angeles. Before entering financial services, Antonia worked in the marketing division of a global hospitality group based in Los Angeles.Antonia received her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is committed to community empowerment through causes such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, a youth mentorship program and Defy Ventures, a coaching-based movement to reduce incarceration statistics.

We discuss:Dana's mission to bring a more human element to investment strategies.The ways ESG investing can evolve the industry.Why more ESG-based investing can increase the number of women investors.How leaders can mentor other women to be agents of change.Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Dana D'Auria | EnvestnetGuest BiographyAs co-chief investment officer, Dana plays a key role in the ongoing growth and alignment of Envestnet's fiduciary solutions as well as its research, overlay and portfolio management resources. Ms. D'Auria, a member of Envestnet | PMC's Investment Committee, has more than 15 years of experience managing and implementing investment solutions for wealth managers.Most recently Dana served as managing director of Symmetry Partners. She was also president and portfolio manager of Symmetry Panoramic Mutual Funds, the firm's multi-factor family of funds. At Symmetry Partners, Ms. D'Auria led the investments/research, mutual fund, and investment communications departments, and helped develop new investment strategies to meet the needs of clients.She holds the chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation, and earned both her MBA (in Finance) and BA (in English and International Studies) from Fairfield University.

We discuss:   Rosie's push for women to be featured on U.S. currency, including the redesign of the $20 bill with Harriet Tubman.Rosie's movement to change the way Americans acknowledge and visualize women's role in history.How prioritizing diverse leadership will impact the way we can democratize wealth for future generations.Upcoming projects on Rosie's plate, including her new show “Unicorn Hunters”Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Rosie Rios  | EMPOWERMENT 2026 | Guest bio:Former Treasurer Rosie Rios became an Accidental Educator, Historian and Feminist as one of the longest-serving senior Treasury officials in the Obama Administration, starting with her time on the Treasury/Federal Reserve Transition Team at the height of the financial crisis in 2008. She continues her work to empower the next generation of leadership as a visiting scholar at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and focuses on evolving our culture one millennial/post-millennial at a time. Rosie Rios is the CEO of Red River Associates, a real estate investment management consulting firm and a co-host of "Unicorn Hunters," a reality series focused on pre-IPO investments. She served as the 43rd Treasurer of the United States and was the CEO of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the U.S. Mint, including Fort Knox. She also initiated and led the efforts to place a portrait of a woman on U.S. currency for the first time in over a century. Upon her resignation in 2016, she received the Hamilton Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Department of the Treasury. Following her tenure, she was appointed as a visiting scholar at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University with a focus on millennials and post-millennials.  Rosie is a graduate of Harvard University and was selected as the first Latina in Harvard's 385-year history to have a portrait commissioned in her honor. Her portrait was officially unveiled at Winthrop House in May 2019. She currently serves on the board of American Family Insurance, Ripple, Fidelity Charitable Trust, the Schlesinger Council at Harvard, and the Advisory Committee for Artemis Real Estate Partners. She was previously a trustee with the Alameda County Employees Retirement Association (ACERA). In 2019, she was appointed as a member of America 250, the congressional commission to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding in 2026. She serves on the executive committee, is the chair of the finance and audit committees and is leading the strategic planning process. Her personal passion includes serving as founder and CEO of EMPOWERMENT 2026, an initiative that facilitates the physical recognition of historical American women. Its first project, Teachers Righting History, recognizes historical American women in classrooms across the country. She has also launched Notable Women, an Augmented Reality educational initiative in collaboration with Google. In August 2020 she was honored as one of USA Today's Women of the Century. 

We discuss:   The meaning behind a proactive male ally.Cultivating the right work culture to incorporate male allyship.How White Glove's services help drive more opportunities for women in our industry.Specific topics or content that resonates best with women.Tips for creating a speaker faculty that is diverse and inclusive.  Tune in to learn about Brad Swineheart and his tips for male allyship, along with White Glove's mission to attract more women to the industry!  Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | White Glove | Brad Swineheart |  Guest bio: Host and creator of leading financial advisor podcast, Be Advised, and NASDAQ contributor, Brad enjoys amplifying industry innovations and expertise. Over the past five years, Brad has significantly contributed to the success of White Glove — joining White Glove in its infancy, which allowed the company to service more than 10,000 financial professionals and educate more than 500,000 potential clients. In his current role as senior vice president of business development, Brad creates strategic partnerships with financial institutions all across the U.S. and Canada. He is dedicated to helping firms exceed revenue goals organically with strategies to generate new prospects for their financial professionals. Brad has spent most of his life living on the coasts of Michigan. Brad is a fitness enthusiast, and also enjoys fiction writing and playing a bit of guitar to relax    -----------------------------------Her Success Matters: Brad Swineheart, SVP of Business Development, White GloveRecording: Wednesday, June 23, 3:00 PM ET Welcome to Her Success Matters! For today's episode we are going to cover the importance of male allyship and how one executive uses his platform to create a more gender inclusive industry.  With us is Brad Swineheart, Senior Vice President of Business Development at White Glove.  White Glove is a tech-enabled marketing services company dedicated to helping financial advisers grow their business.  Brad, we are so thrilled to have you join us – welcome to Her Success Matters!  Talking points: Please tell us more about you and your role with White Glove!Let's jump into the topic of male allyship. Please share with us what being a proactive ally means to you?In your day to day how are you cultivating the right work culture to incorporate male allyship?What do you think holds some men back from becoming proactive allies?  Will you share how White Glove's services help drive more opportunities for women in our industry?Why do women have an edge as great financial advisers?Will you talk to us about the women-focused content you and White Glove produce?What are some specific topics or content that resonates best with women? Please tell us about the importance of education to drive more women to the industry?White Glove curates content for webinars and conferences to help advisers. Will you share tips for creating a speaker faculty that is diverse and inclusive?Looking ahead, what are some of the new projects you're working on to continuously help create a more gender inclusive industry?How can listeners get in touch with you or follow you on social media? Brad, my final question, tell us why “HER SUCCESS MATTERS”   WRAP: Christine offers key takeaways to summarize our conversation.   Background: Get to know Brad on his podcast: https://whiteglove.com/episode-1-get-to-know-brad-swineheart-2/

We discuss:  Kay Lynn's No. 1 influence throughout her successful career. Steps pioneering women can take to inspire more young women to enter the field. How to train your team to better serve women investors.Merit's women-focused growth strategies as a top hybrid advisory firm. Tune in to learn about Kay Lynn and Merit's mission to move the needle of diversity, equity and inclusion through catered marketing approaches and training programs to better serve women investors! Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Merit Financial Advisors | Kay Lynn Mayhue | Guest bio:Kay Lynn Mayhue serves as president of Merit, which oversees $4 billion in RIA and brokerage assets under management. Having served as a leader in the financial services industry for more than 20 years, Kay Lynn Mayhue now shares her wealth of experience and refined leadership skills with the partners and team of Merit. She works to implement company objectives to advance Merit's mission and to promote growth and profitability as an organization. She oversees operations to ensure production efficiency, top quality, exceptional service, and cost-effective management of resources. Driven by results, Kay Lynn works tirelessly to implement, direct and evaluate the organization's operational and fiscal function and performance.

We discuss:  How Lisa builds trusting and loyal relationships, a business imperative.Risks she took throughout her career that led to her CEO role.Advice Lisa gives women struggling to become self-advocates.Ways Amundi improved its recruiting efforts to include people from all diverse backgrounds.Tune in to learn how Lisa's key pillars of success have led to her role as CEO of Amundi U.S.!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Amundi U.S. | Lisa Jones |Guest bio:Lisa has been working in the investments industry since 1988. She has over 25 years of experience in global financial services developing and building asset management businesses. She was global head of distribution at Morgan Stanley Investment Management and she has had similar positions at MFS and Eaton Vance. She then joined Amundi (ex-Pioneer Investments) as head of the U.S., president and chief executive officer of the USA entity. She was appointed head of the Americas (Canada, USA, LatAm) in 2017. In this role, Lisa is head of group operations in Americas. Lisa has a B.A. in economics from Trinity College.

We discuss:  Steps Mary Beth took to go from aspiring journalist to creating her own business.How flexibility is the key to women establishing their own brands and companies.Ways the pandemic impacted women in terms of Social Security and retirement planning.Common challenges women face with maximizing their Social Security and how can they overcome those challenges.Tune in to learn how Mary Beth has written her own rules throughout her successful career, becoming an in-demand speaker at conferences for financial professionals as well as a frequent guest on numerous radio and television programs!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | On Retirement | Mary Beth Franklin  | Retirement Repair Shop with Mary Beth Franklin Guest bio: Mary Beth Franklin is a contributing editor at InvestmentNews specializing in Social Security, Medicare and retirement income. She has been a financial journalist for more than 40 years, covering everything from the federal budget and tax policies as a Capitol Hill reporter for United Press International to consumer finances as a writer and editor at Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. Mary Beth became a certified financial planner in 2015 and is an in-demand speaker at conferences for financial professionals as well as a frequent guest on numerous radio and television programs. She is the author of “Maximizing Your Social Security Retirement Benefits” and host of the Retirement Repair Shop podcast.

We discuss:  Steps Michelle took to place herself on a path to enter C-Suite roles.Ways women in the C-suite can consciously promote women into higher roles.How the Women Empowerment Network helps Grove Point Financial and the Kestra Holdings ecosystem grow organically.Tune in to learn how Michelle Barry is using her personal experiences and role as president of Grove Point Financial to create more opportunities for women leaders in financial services! Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Grove Point Financial  | Michelle Barry |Guest bio: As president of Grove Point, Michelle is responsible for the firm's overall strategy and decisions that provide platforms and services to its financial advisor community.Her passion is building indispensable support for financial advisors to enable their success with clients in their local communities. For Michelle, being able to innovate is the best part of her job.Before joining Grove Point, Michelle served as president and CEO of another broker-dealer for almost 10 years and held senior roles at two other firms. She has 25-plus years' experience working with financial professionals who advocate for total financial planning and wellness.She holds a BS in marketing, an MBA in finance and an MSM from The American College of Financial Services. She holds Series 7, 24 and 66 licenses and is active in the Financial Services Institute. Michelle, her husband and four children live in the Washington, D.C., area.

We discuss:  How Margaret's mission to humanize finance led to Marstone.Margaret's journey as one of the 2.4% of female founders to receive VC funding.Ways leaders can elevate more women to become founders and CEOs.Tune in to learn how Margaret Hartigan is using fintech to make financial literacy and inclusion accessible for all! Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Marstone | Margaret HartiganGuest bio: Inspired to help demystify finance and make financial literacy and inclusion possible and accessible for all, Margaret founded Marstone, an enterprise-ready tech platform for financial institutions. Marstone offers a flexible wealth management solution that enables financial organizations to efficiently and affordably reach, acquire and retain more clients through its core-agnostic offering that meets client needs as their financial position matures. Prior to starting Marstone, Margaret was a top-quintile financial adviser for 10 years in the global wealth management group at Merrill Lynch, split between New York and San Francisco. A graduate of Brown University, Margaret is an active leader in the alumni and major development efforts at both Brown University and Phillips Exeter Academy. She's a member of the Milken FinTech Advisory Committee, and a former trustee of Sonoma Academy in Santa Rosa, California.

We discuss:Kamila’s personal experiences as a Black woman in financial services.How Kamila and Danielle are establishing pathways for Black women to be leaders.Challenges in increasing diversity, particularly increasing representation for women of color, in the industry.Steps firms can take to address racial and gender disparities.Tune in to learn how Kamila and Danielle are fiercely advocating and amplifying the voices of Black women to create pathways for the next generation to follow their lead! Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | GRID 202 Partners | Kamila Elliott | CNote | Danielle BurnsGuest bio: Kamila Elliott is president of GRID 202 Partners. She has nearly two decades of financial planning and investment experience assisting high-net-worth individuals, endowments and foundations, and business owners with comprehensive wealth solutions and holistic planning.Kamila is on the Board of Directors of the CFP Board. The board is the policymaking and oversight body of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. for over 88,000 professionals in the U.S.Danielle M. Burns is vice president and head of business development for CNote. Prior to joining CNote, Danielle worked for First Affirmative Financial Network in a variety of business development roles from 2004 to 2019, most recently serving as vice president of sales and marketing, where she worked with a highly collaborative team that was responsible for the growth and profitability of the firm’s distribution channels. Danielle participated in all aspects of the sales and marketing process, attended and spoke at industry events and educated advisors on how to navigate the sustainable, responsible, impact investing and ESG landscape. Her background emphasizes business strategy and consulting and executing integrated campaigns, marketing communications, product launch and system development.   

In this episode, Christine Shaw reunites with Suzanne Siracuse, CEO of Suzanne Siracuse Consulting Services, creator and host of The Big Reveal Podcast Series, and former CEO and publisher of InvestmentNews. Suzanne shares her journey as a trailblazing woman in our financial advisory community and the instrumental role she played in building the InvestmentNews brand to support the evolution of the financial advice profession, specifically in the areas of Women’s Leadership, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, NextGen and Financial Literacy.  Suzanne is being recognized with the Trailblazer Award from InvestmentNews, recognizing her role as a champion of gender and racial diversity in the financial services industry.We discuss:  Suzanne’s journey taking risks to catapult her successful career.Why Suzanne created InvestmentNews’ Women Adviser Summit.Advice for women aiming to progress their career paths.Actionable steps leaders can take to pave pathways for future female CEOs.Tune in to learn how Suzanne Siracuse developed game-changing opportunities for InvestmentNews and what projects she is up to today! Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Suzanne Siracuse Consulting Services, LLC| Suzanne Siracuse | Invest in Others | The BIG RevealGuest bio:  Suzanne Siracuse, founder and CEO of Suzanne Siracuse Consulting Services LLC, specializes in advising financial services firms on innovative business strategies, distinctive marketing programs and impactful advocacy initiatives around diversity, financial literacy and next-gen talent. Suzanne is the former CEO and publisher of InvestmentNews, where she oversaw the vision and strategic direction for all their platforms including print, digital, events and research. Suzanne had been with InvestmentNews since its launch in 1998, and formerly held the position of advertising sales director and associate publisher before being named publisher in January 2006. Under her leadership, InvestmentNews launched initiatives to support the evolution of the financial advice profession, specifically in the areas of Women’s Leadership, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, NextGen and Financial Literacy.An industry thought leader, she is a sought-after speaker and moderator on topics ranging from investing and leadership to financial literacy and fintech.Suzanne is also a founding member of the Invent Elite consulting consortium, which focuses on developing, launching, branding and operationally supporting broad-based technology initiatives for financial services firms. In addition, Ms. Siracuse is also the Immediate Past Chair of the Board for the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation, a board member and strategic advisor for Whealthcare Planning, a board member at The American College State Farm Center for Women and Financial Services and a board member of Savvy Ladies. 

We discuss: How Steph turned her adversity into opportunity.Actionable steps women can take to set themselves up for financial success.How women can establish the confidence to share their truth.Northern Trust Wealth Management’s programs to strengthen its women’s initiatives. Tune in to learn how Steph Wagner reinvented her career and educates women today at Northern Trust Wealth Management! Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Northern Trust Wealth Management | Steph Wagner | Women Elevating Advice - Northern Trust Guest bio:  Steph Wagner is responsible for leading the firm’s advisory practice for women facing unexpected transitions, such as the death of their spouse or divorce, and oversees the creation of content, curriculum and programming for women. Over the years, she has developed a specialized expertise in utilizing financial strategies and empowering women with the resources to become effective stewards of their wealth. Steph has also worked extensively with women across the country to help them address the financial impact of widowhood, secure equitable settlements in marriage dissolutions and establish a solid foundation for their next chapter.Prior to joining Northern Trust, Steph served as managing director and co-founder of Sendero Women & Wealth, a division of a registered investment advisory firm based in Central Texas. Prior to that, Steph built a national consulting practice as a financial strategist for high-net-worth women in transition. She was also the founder and CEO of WomenWealthyWise, where she partnered with wealth management firms nationwide to strengthen their women’s initiatives. Prior to starting her businesses, Steph worked in private equity as a vice president at Gemini Investors, a Boston-based private investment firm focused on providing capital to established, smaller middle market businesses.Steph’s expertise has been featured in a monthly column in Entrepreneur Magazine, as well on MarketWatch, Fox News, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider and Huffington Post.Steph is a graduate of the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. She is currently a governor-appointed trustee of the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System, member of Austin20 and former board president and member of Center for Community Solutions, which serves survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Gemma Castle, CFO for Cult Wines, an international leader in fine wine asset management. Gemma shares her insight about working as a woman in the male-dominated fine wine industry, and discusses the success of her all-female team. You will learn: What makes fine wine such a fantastic asset to have in your portfolio.How Gemma’s work helps break down barriers for more women to lead in both the financial services and wine industries.The importance of mentorship and support.And more!Tune in to learn about fine wines as an asset class and what it’s like to be a female working in this industry with Gemma Castle!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Cult Wines | Gemma CastleGuest bio: Gemma joined Cult Wines in January 2018 having spent the previous 10 years in the leisure and hospitality industry. Gemma has held the position of director of finance for the AIM-listed UK and Canadian travel group Travelzest plc before moving to the global hotel group Yotel Limited as finance director. She joins from The Light Cinemas Holdings, having been CFO. She brings extensive experience of the delivery of financial strategy in the fast growth SME sector. Gemma trained as a chartered accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England & Wales

In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Corie Pauling, senior vice president, chief inclusion diversity and equity officer, head of corporate social responsibility at TIAA. Corie describes her career path, sharing how she made the move from civil rights law to her role at TIAA. Corie also discusses her passion for empowering women and members of the Black community to Be the Change.We discuss: How growing up in Detroit shaped Corie’s professional careerThe impact that Corie’s first law firm had on her throughout her career and how they helped her build her confidenceThe importance of pushing yourself outside your comfort zoneWhat makes Corie so passionate about her work in the diversity, inclusion and equity spaceWhat led TIAA to launch the Be the Change initiativeAnd more!Tune in to learn about Corie Pauling’s passion for working in the diversity, inclusion and equity space for women and members of the Black community!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | TIAA | Corie Pauling | Be the ChangeGuest bio: At TIAA since 2006, Corie Pauling became the organization’s senior vice president, chief  inclusion & diversity (I&D) officer and head of corporate social responsibility in 2018. Corie  was instrumental in the launch of the I&D function at TIAA over 12 years ago and served as a  primary legal and business advisor and thought leader in this area. In her prior role, Corie  held the position of senior director and associate general counsel in the Employment, Benefits  & Labor Law Group, providing trusted counsel to TIAA’s executives, its prior I&D leaders and  other human resources leaders and also business managers on a broad range of workforce  issues, and she also managed employment litigation nationally. In the I&D space, she offers extensive experience in strategy development, board interface, EEO policy/training, social  justice platforms, I&D data analytics/metrics, supplier diversity, pay and performance equity,  talent acquisition and engagement, employee/business resource groups, federal contractor  compliance and workplace investigations. She also leads TIAA’s enterprise corporate social  responsibility (CSR) function, which last year led over 230 volunteer projects, 10K employee  volunteers and $11 million in corporate and workforce giving globally, including progressive  pandemic outreach initiatives. Through her groundbreaking leadership and strong enterprise  collaborations, TIAA has achieved powerful indicators of workforce and business innovation  through I&D and CSR strategies, and the organization has garnered lauded employer of  choice recognition by renowned organizations such as DiversityInc, Forbes and others.  A former shareholder with the international employment law firm Littler Mendelson and  also a former partner with the legendary civil rights law firm Ferguson Stein Chambers,  Corie’s experience includes counseling financial services institutions and other Fortune 500  companies as well as representing individual employees in employment and education rights  litigation. She has significant trial and appellate experience on civil rights matters. Having presented before the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the  North Carolina Bar Association, the Practicing Law Institute, the Society of Human  Resources Management and other organizations, Corie frequently speaks at programs on  emerging employment law, diversity, equity and inclusion topics. An engaged civic leader and 13-time competitive marathoner, Corie was incredibly honored  to be listed among the 2021 Elite 100 Black Women leaders by Diversity Woman magazine,  on the 2020 list of North America’s Most Influential D&I Leaders by Hive Learning and also a  2019 Black Enterprise Most Powerful Women in Corporate Diversity and, very meaningfully, the 2012 TIAA Working Mother of the Year in conjunction with the national publication  Working Mother and a 2011 recipient of the Young Civic Leader Award by the Thurgood  Marshall College Fund. Corie also served on the Board of Governors of the North Carolina  Bar Association and as chairperson of the NCBA’s 500-attorney Labor and  Employment Law Section. Among other leadership posts, she served on the Board of  Directors for the Levine Museum of the New South and Charlotte’s Arts & Science Council  Advisory Committee, and co-chaired the Mecklenburg County Bar’s Diversity and Inclusion  Committee. An avid “late bloomer” runner, she is also thrilled to have qualified for and run  the 2018 Boston Marathon, with training underway now for another shot in 2022. Corie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the  University of Michigan and also a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law.

In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Rupal Bhansali, chief investment officer and portfolio manager at Ariel Investments. Rupal shares her journey as a pioneer in financial services as she shattered the glass ceiling at one of the largest minority-owned money management and mutual fund companies in the country. We discuss: How Rupal turned her passion into her professionRupal’s top advice for women in financial services — and for men who support themWhy Rupal says it is a workplace responsibility to promote diversity, inclusion and equityWhy many of Rupal’s mentors have been women she doesn’t even knowAnd more!Tune in to learn how Rupal Bhansali shattered the glass ceiling at Ariel Investments!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Ariel Investments | Rupal Bhansali | Non-Consensus Investing: Being Right When Everyone Else is Wrong | Non-Consensus Investing | Guest bio: Rupal Bhansali is chief investment officer and portfolio manager of Ariel’s international and global equity strategies. In this capacity, she oversees the global research effort and manages multibillion dollar portfolios. She also co-manages the global concentrated strategy. Rupal joined Ariel in 2011 after 10 years with MacKay Shields, where she was senior managing director, portfolio manager and head of international equities. Previously, she spent five years at Oppenheimer Capital, where she was responsible for international and global equity portfolios and was promoted to co-head of international equities. Additionally, Rupal has held various roles at other financial services firms since she began her career in 1989, including Soros Fund Management. In 2009, Forbes International Investment Report named her a “Global Guru,” in 2015, Barron’s recognized her as a “Global Contrarian,” and in 2017 PBS’s Consuelo Mack referred to her as an “unconventional thinker.” In January 2019, Rupal became the newest member of the prestigious Barron’s Investment Roundtable, which showcases “10 of Wall Street’s smartest investors.” She is a frequent guest on Bloomberg, CNBC and Fox Business News, and authored the book, Non-Consensus Investing: Being Right When Everyone Else Is Wrong. In 2020, Rupal obtained the FSA credential, awarded by the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board for professionals who understand the link between sustainability and financial performance. Rupal serves on the Advisory Board of Directors of the Ira M. Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership at Columbia Law School, and the Board of Directors of the 100 Women in Finance Global Association. Fluent in several Indian languages including Hindi, Rupal earned a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting and finance, as well as a Master of Commerce in international finance and banking, from the University of Mumbai. She later earned an MBA in finance from the University of Rochester, where she was a Rotary Foundation Scholar.

In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Jodi Schwimmer, global co-head of the Financial Industry Group at Reed Smith, about the importance of finding the confidence to navigate societal standards for women. You will learn: How Jodi has found value with her male mentors — and the importance of both formal and informal mentorshipWhy you need to be proactive when seeking a mentor or sponsorHow the culture at Reed Smith helps to promote confidence in its employeesHow women can strike more of a balance between home and workAnd more!Tune in to learn more about the importance of confidence for women in the workplace with Jodi Schwimmer, global co-head of the Financial Industry Group at Reed Smith!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Reed Smith | Jodi SchwimmerGuest bio: Jodi serves as global co-lead of Reed Smith's Financial Industry Group. She began her career in 2001 and has spent the last 20 years representing investment banks, specialty lenders, special strategy debt funds, real estate investors and participants in the secondary debt market. She is well-known in the industry for “closing the deal,” and has personally closed hundreds of billions’ worth of commercial mortgaged-backed securities (CMBS) and similar debt securities. Jodi has extensive and broad structured finance skills across a variety of underlying debt obligations.Specifically, Jodi focuses on CMBS, real estate finance, asset-based finance (including cannabis financing, “income share agreements,” and other niche lending markets) and structured finance, concentrating on esoteric structures, debt issuances, preferred equity raises, privately placed prepacked securities, repurchase/warehouse facilities and bridge-to-securitization structures. In connection with these structures, Jodi often counsels specialty lenders and special strategy debt funds on new lending platforms, and has the ability to negotiate highly complex partnership and joint venture relationships in connection with the same. Jodi has developed expertise in grantor trusts, REMICs and also organizes private REITs. Jodi structuring experience extends to public and private commercial mortgage securitizations, including SFR and NPL assets, the repackaging of securities in re-securitizations, CRE CLOs and other structured transactions.Jodi also focuses on federal securities law issues relevant to these types of securitizations, including Regulation AB, Regulation AB II, Risk Retention and Dodd Frank, and advises on related securities compliance matters.Additionally, Jodi has broad-based experience in structuring real estate related junior notes/participation interests and mezzanine loans, and regularly represents clients in the purchase and sale of commercial and multifamily mortgage loans, mezzanine debt, subordinate debt and structured real estate debt instruments. She also has represented lenders in the workout, forbearance, modification and restructuring of debt that is held in secondary market transaction special purpose vehicles.Jodi has been praised for “knowing how to get deals done” and “overcoming roadblocks with other parties” by her clients.

In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Kristi Rodriguez, senior vice president of Nationwide Retirement Institute. Kristi details the steps that Nationwide has taken in the diversity, equity and inclusion space, explaining the research that motivated their efforts. You will learn: The importance of education for advisers and clients to ensure a secure financial futureThe impact that attending a historically black college had on KristiHow company culture can impact someone’s mindset about their workThe impact of race when considering a career in financial servicesAnd more!Tune in to learn what Nationwide is doing in the diversity and inclusion space with Kristi Rodriguez, senior vice president of Nationwide Retirement Institute!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Nationwide Retirement Institute | Kristi Rodriguez | Nationwide Instagram | Nationwide FacebookGuest bio: Kristi Martin Rodriguez currently serves as senior vice president of the Nationwide Retirement Institute for  Nationwide Financial, leading the teams responsible for advocating for and educating members, partners and  industry leaders on issues impacting their ability to have a secure financial future.  In her current role, Kristi oversees an extensive network of knowledgeable professionals who provide hands-on  consultation to develop client strategies and address the major concerns America’s workers face when planning for  retirement. Through timely insights, education and client-ready tools, both financial professionals and individuals are  able to work directly with Nationwide to increase their awareness and knowledge of complex financial topics such as  retirement income planning, health care, long-term care and Social Security.  Kristi has over 20 years of extensive experience in business-to-business and direct-to-consumer strategies and building high-performing teams. She joined Nationwide in 2015 as the vice president of marketing for Nationwide’s retirement plans  business. Before joining Nationwide, Kristi held marketing and business leader roles at Aetna and UnitedHealth Group. Her  experience includes functioning as the enterprise program lead of health care reform for UnitedHealthcare. Additionally,  Kristi led a business development team working with the public sector, labor and trust and national accounts as liaison to  their sales organization. She has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Hampton University as well as Series 6 and 26  securities registrations.  Kristi is an active member of the community, working with several nonprofit and social organizations that aid unserved  communities throughout the country. Kristi was one of the founding members of the Ohio chapter of The National  Association of Securities Professionals, an organization helping people of color and women achieve inclusion in our  industry. She is also the executive sponsor of AWARE and a member of the All Women Associate Resource Group at  Nationwide.

In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Shannon Spotswood, president of RFG Advisory, president of StrongHer Money, and partner at Busy Bees. Shannon shares her incredible journey through the financial services industry, including all the moves that led her to her position as president at RFG Advisory. Shannon discusses the importance of following your dreams as a woman, and describes how she balances her extremely successful career with her family. You will learn: The steps Shannon has taken throughout her careerWhen Shannon realized it was important to take a step back professionally to start a familyThe importance of balance for women between work and homeHow Shannon started a successful children’s clothing brandThe inspiration for StrongHer MoneyWhat’s on the horizon for Shannon professionallyAnd more!Tune in to hear the incredible journey of Shannon Spotswood, president of RFG Advisory!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | RFG Advisory | Shannon Spotswood | StrongHer Money | Busy BeesGuest bio: Shannon Spotswood was named President of RFG Advisory in February 2016. With  more than 20 years of institutional investment experience, Shannon brings  a unique perspective to the Registered  Investment Advisor industry. Her  vision for RFG Advisory is one of rapid,  well-executed growth across the U.S. Her focus is on day-to-day operational  excellence. She is committed to supporting RFG Advisory’s high-growth, hybrid  Registered Investment Advisor by  delivering a robust integrated platform  designed to support independent financial advisors. Recognizing that one of the firm’s competitive advantages is the talent  and commitment of the RFG Advisory  team, Shannon invests significant time in leadership, recruiting and mentoring. Shannon’s passion for investing was sparked in high school with a 14th birthday wish  granted—a subscription to the Wall Street Journal. She began her finance career while in college working at PaineWebber. Since  graduating from the University of Arizona with  degrees in Economics and Political Science, Shannon spent 20 years in San Francisco  working as an Investment Banker, Hedge  Fund Portfolio Manager and Entrepreneur.  An Analyst/Trader at EGM Capital, a hedge  fund, to Investment Banking Analyst and then  Associate in M&A at Volpe, Brown Whelan  & Co, a technology-focused investment  bank, to becoming a Portfolio Manager of a  long-short equity hedge fund at Symphony  Asset Management, Shannon has consistently  pursued opportunities with dynamic growth  companies. After six years as a Hedge Fund  Manager, Shannon became the Director of  Long-only Equity Strategies for Symphony  Asset Management, an ~$18 billion hedge  fund acquired by Nuveen Investments in 2001,  and experienced first hand the excitement of  working directly with Financial Advisors.  After the birth of her 3rd child, Shannon  stepped away from the finance industry for  three years to build a luxury children’s clothing  brand, Busy Bees. Together with her partner,  Busy Bees grew from a trunk-show business based in a garage to a successful brand  featured in Vogue and carried in more than 100 stores nationwide and online. Joining RFG Advisory in 2015, Shannon  recognized the opportunity to combine her  entrepreneurial experience with her passion  for investing to help build an advisor focused Registered Investment Advisor. Enthusiastic, determined and optimistic,  Shannon’s management style is to foster  autonomy, set expectations high and drive  towards achieving Company goals. She  believes that being able to reach these goals  requires each team member to push  themselves, often beyond their personal  comfort zone. Her growth mind-set is the  reason she’s been chosen to lead RFG  Advisory through its next phase of success.

In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Christine Gagnon, chief financial officer at African Asset Finance Co. (AAFC), about the importance of bringing diverse and multicultural teams to underserved markets. Gagnon shares the details of bringing leadership positions to women across the globe, including how her own multicultural experiences shaped her passion and her career. You will learn: What AAFC does and who it servesWhy it’s important not to assume you understand a different culture from your ownThe importance of multicultural mentorshipHow to build a diverse company and team from the ground upWhy you need to be teaching younger generations about financial literacyAnd more!Tune in to learn about the importance of multiculturalism in financial services with Christine Gagnon, chief financial officer at African Asset Finance Co.!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | African Asset Finance Company | Christine GagnonGuest bio: Christine D. Gagnon is chief financial officer of African Asset Finance Co. (AAFC), where she oversees all finance, treasury, accounting, credit and risk functions; she also serves on subsidiary boards. A corporate strategist, senior finance executive and certified public accountant with nearly 20 years of experience, Gagnon previously served as a director at Ernst & Young, holding various leadership positions including EMEIA CFO/COO and global go-to-market lead for the financial crime business and COO of Africa Financial Services. Prior to joining EY, Gagnon held the positions of first vice president at OneWest Bank N.A. and senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers.Gagnon graduated magna cum laude with distinction from the University of Connecticut, earning a Bachelor of Science in accounting, a Master of Science in accounting and a Master of Business Administration. Most recently, Gagnon studied corporate and client service strategy at Harvard Business School and design thinking and innovation at Stanford University’s School of Engineering. She served on the qualifications committee of the California Board of Accountancy and has volunteered as a member of the Board of Directors of LEAD Orange County as well as treasurer trustee of Southwark Playhouse. She regularly speaks on financial industry topics, has served as a professional speaker coach for TEDx London Business School and is an adjunct professor in the Department of Accounting at California State University. Earlier this year, she was recognized as one of the Top 50 Women in Equipment Finance by Monitor Daily.

In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with one of the most powerful women in finance: Nadine Chakar, executive vice president and head of global markets at State Street. Nadine outlines her mission to build a more inclusive future for all women, while sharing her personal story of success, and the importance of her mentors and sponsors throughout her career. You will learn: Nadine’s professional journey and how it has come full circleWhy Nadine believes it’s important to give back to those early in their careers and the communityWhat State Street is doing in the diversity and inclusion spaceWhat State Street’s Numerates initiative is and who it servesAnd more!Tune in to hear from Nadine Chakar, executive vice president and head of global markets at State Street!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | State Street | Nadine ChakarGuest bio: Nadine Chakar is an executive vice president and head of State Street Global Markets. In this role, Nadine oversees all aspects of Global Markets’ trading, product and operations platform, helping to drive successful client solutions. She is also a member of the company’s Management Committee.Nadine has over 30 years of experience of global wealth and asset management experience. Most recently, she served as the global head of operations for the global wealth and asset management division at Manulife. Nadine was also an executive sponsor of Manulife’s global wealth and asset management’s global optimization program. Prior to Manulife, Nadine led the global asset servicing teams for BNY Mellon as the global head of financial institutions and head of eCommerce strategy and research, and financial markets infrastructure.In 2020, Nadine was honored by American Banker as one of the most powerful women in finance. She serves on State Street’s Leading Women group, a mentoring program for senior women throughout the organization, is executive sponsor for the company's Sustainability Employee Network, which tries to raise awareness of sustainability issues and devise solutions to the world's pressing environmental problems. Nadine also serves on the Board of Trustees for Boston Medical Center and holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics and finance from Boston University.

In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Deirdre Van Nest, international keynote speaker, trainer and creator of the Crazy Good Talks Blueprint. Deirdre shares her expertise to help advisers use their communication skills and personal stories to actively engage with their clients. Deirdre shares how she got her start in the industry and what drew her to her work with advisers. You will learn: Why Deirdre felt called to work with advisers — and why financial planning is so important to herThe importance of storytelling in your communicationWhat the Crazy Good Talks Blueprint is and how you can use the framework in your own communicationThe three types of stories you should have in your toolkit as an adviserAnd more!Tune in to learn about effective and authentic communication with international keynoter Deirdre Van Nest!  Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Crazy Good Talks® | Deirdre Van Nest | Crazy Good Talks® Podcast | World-Class Speaking in Action | Fire Your FearGuest bio: Deirdre Van Nest is the go-to expert for financial advisers, leaders and professionals in a client-facing role on improving communication skills 1:1 or with a group, in-person or virtual. She is a top-rated international keynoter and trainer, and the creator of the Crazy Good Talks Blueprint, and The Emotionally Engaging Advisor, two practical communication systems that have taught thousands how to bring in business faster and impact more lives through the power of public speaking, storytelling and making emotional connections. Deirdre is a faculty member at the Hoopis Performance Network, and is called upon frequently for interviews on podcasts and TV talk shows.You can learn more about her services by subscribing to her Crazy Good Talks podcast or going to www.CrazyGoodTalks.com.

Advisors play a critical role in the lives of women across the globe. By helping to educate women about financial literacy, advisors allow women to build autonomy over their own financial decisions and become financially independent.In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Renée Pastor, founder of The Pastor Financial Group, about her experience educating and empowering women across the United States and beyond. Renée shares her personal story about how she made a name for herself in the financial services industry, and explains why she is so passionate about what she does. You will learn: The importance of financial literacy and independence for womenHow Renée got her start as an advisorAbout Renée’s professional experience in Guatemala Why women make such fantastic advisorsAnd more!Tune in to learn about female financial empowerment with Renée Pastor, founder of The Pastor Financial Group!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | The Pastor Financial Group | Renée PastorGuest bio: Renée Pastor is the Founder and Wealth Manager of The Pastor Financial Group in New Orleans, LA. Renée started her career in the securities industry in 1990 where she began helping clients transition into retirement and managing their income for life. She has gained the kind of in-depth knowledge that comes from decades of experience guiding her clients through the ups and downs of the economy and the stock market.Renée's expertise is in retirement planning and 401(k) management for families and individuals nationwide. With a genuine interest and curiosity about the well-being of her clients and their families, she specializes in helping pre-retirees transition into retirement and manage their income for life as well as helping women adapt to changing life. Renée has volunteered time teaching her “Educating Women on Wealth” workshops to women in Guatemala, which have included a variety of women, including two Supreme Court justices and indigenous Mayan women. She is also a member of the United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council and the Greater New Orleans Foundation with the Impact 100. Both organizations are a community of women in philanthropy who direct funds to issues important to women and children.

Creating diverse and inclusive workplaces starts from the top down. Company leaders must acknowledge and recognize where they may have fallen short in the past, and address those issues in order to make real and lasting change.In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Berta Aldrich, managing director of Private Advisor Group, and author of “Winning the Talent Shift: Three Steps to Unleashing the New High Performance Workplace.” Berta shares her findings from her book about how diverse, inclusive and equal workplaces are built, expanding upon her own personal experience. In this episode, you will learn: The trajectory of Berta’s career and how she landed her role at Private Advisor GroupWhy, as women, it’s equally as important to speak about the setbacks in your resume as the opportunitiesHow Berta’s daughter is the reason that she wrote her book — and the staggering findings that came from her researchHow companies can address toxic behaviors and make changes to promote and ensure an inclusive and diverse workplaceAnd more!Tune in to learn how to break down barriers that inhibit hiring, developing and retaining diverse, gender-balanced high performing teams with Private Advisor Group’s Berta Aldrich!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Private Advisor Group | Berta Aldrich | Winning the Talent Shift: Three Steps to Unleashing the New High Performance WorkplaceGuest bio: Berta joined Private Advisor Group in 2019 after holding executive-level marketing and leadership roles at Principal, Vanguard, and FS Investments. She is a highly decorated leader, author and speaker who has led high-performing teams and organizations to industry leadership.A pioneer in talent design, development and industry leading performance, her programs andproducts have been lauded by the Wall Street Journal, Conference Executive Board, BostonResearch Group, Greenwich Associates and Graphis, The International Journal of VisualCommunications, where her team was awarded the global gold medal for advertising excellence.As an active member of the financial services community, Berta has also earned several industry accolades. She received the 2020 Ivy College of Business Women in Inspiration Award for making a significant impact in her career while inspiring other women in business to grow into leaders; was the first recipient of the FCS Jamie E. Depeau Leadership Award for her ability to inspire and help others to think big, break down barriers and perform at their highest potential; named one of Gramercy Institute’s 20 Rising Stars in Financial Marketing; and was Principal’s representative and feature story in Working Mother Magazine’s Top 100 Employers for her ability to ascend through the organization while successfully raising two children with her husband.Berta is married and resides outside of Philadelphia. She enjoys investing her free time mentoring both women and men in a variety of industries, spending time with family and supporting non-profits. In addition to serving as the current President of the FCS Philadelphia Region Chapter, she also served as Co-Chair of the Scholarship Drive at LEADERSHIP Philadelphia and held executive board positions at the Philadelphia Chapter of Go Red for Women, Camphill Special School, Mutual Fund Education Association, and Downingtown Cheer Association. Today, Berta is putting the finishing touches on her first book, scheduled to be published in Fall 2020, which illuminates today’s impediments to corporate high performance while showing boards, executives and teams the path forward.

When actively recruiting women and people of color to your company, it is important that initiatives that are attractive to them are woven into your company’s procedures and values. In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with RBC Wealth Management’s Kristen Kimmell, head of advisor recruiting and field marketing, and Maureen Kerrigan, senior vice president - financial advisor to celebrate the 30th anniversary of RBC’s Women’s Association of Financial Advisors. Kristen and Maureen each share their respective experiences with the association and discuss the initiatives that RBC has implemented to benefit women in financial services. In this episode, you will learn: The details of Kristen and Maureen’s involvement with WAFA and their thoughts on the associationHow the team at RBC, specifically female advisers, have stayed connected to their clients through the pandemicThe practices that RBC has implemented to attract female advisers to the companyWhat the Second Acts and New Beginnings initiative isAnd more!Tune in to celebrate this important milestone at RBC Wealth Management with Kristen Kimmell, head of advisor recruiting and field marketing, and Maureen Kerrigan, senior vice president - financial advisor!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | RBC Wealth Management | Kristen Kimmell | Maureen Kerrigan | ‘A sense of place:’ WAFA celebrates 30 years of supporting women at RBC Wealth ManagementGuest bios: As head of advisor recruiting and field marketing, Kristen leads the firm’s efforts to invite the best talent in the industry to join the firm’s nearly 2,000-strong financial adviser base. In her role, Kristen works closely with the firm’s global head of diversity and human resources to recruit and retain diverse talent in both the adviser and corporate ranks. She is also the leader of the firm’s push to cultivate a diverse and inclusive adviser force and elevate the role of women within the wealth management industry.A nearly 25-year veteran of RBC Wealth Management – U.S., Kristen is known for out-of-the-box thinking and for her ability to bring teams together to accomplish big goals. She most recently served as head of credit strategies and business development. Kristen has also held a variety of roles in finance, capital markets and wealth management, including roles leading technology, credit strategy and business development. She also serves as the co-executive sponsor of RBC Wealth Management’s Women’s Association of Financial Advisors (WAFA).Kristen began her career in the financial services industry as a financial accountant with Marquette Bancshares in 1993. She joined RBC Wealth Management in 1995 and has held numerous positions, including staff accountant, accounting supervisor and fixed income accounting manager. In 2006, Kristen was promoted to director of financial reporting and administration for RBC Capital Markets. She was named director of strategic finance in 2008, where she oversaw all financial aspects of the Private Client Group, including compensation. Kristen became the chief of staff in 2010.She was named co-executive sponsor of WAFA in September 2012. In this role, she provides input and leadership to WAFA on their goals of recruiting and retaining female financial advisers (FAs) and branch directors (BDs) along with enhancing FA productivity. In the community, Kristen is a board member of the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery and the industry association SIFMA Foundation Board.Kristen holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Jamestown University.Maureen Kerrigan has dedicated her efforts to RBC Wealth Management for more than 15 years. An Accredited Wealth Manager, Maureen is recognized for her advanced knowledge of wealth management processes, focused on business and retirement planning, in addition to estate planning for high-net-worth clients. Her expertise includes helping clients articulate their dreams to develop their financial strategies to support the realization of those dreams.When considering the best aspects of her profession, Maureen cites the opportunity to work with people and instill confidence that they can achieve their goals. Maureen approaches every client relationship with the advice to treat all clients the way she would want her parents and family treated.Maureen was named the recipient of the 2019 Women’s Association of Financial Advisors Gail Winslow Award. The WAFA Gail Winslow Award recognizes a woman at RBC Wealth Management-U.S. who demonstrates exemplary efforts to help attract, support and retain women clients and financial advisors. The award was established in memory of RBC WM-U.S. Financial Advisor Gail Winslow, who was a trailblazer with more than 60 years in the financial services industry.A graduate of the University of Hartford, Maureen earned her BA in Accounting before completing her MBA at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.Maureen and her husband live in Narragansett, Rhode Island, and have four grown daughters. The oldest, Courtney Mahoney, has worked alongside Maureen since 2014. Appreciative of time spent relaxing with her family, Maureen is an avid golfer who also enjoys cooking and entertaining. An enthusiastic traveler, Maureen recently embarked on a trip to Ireland’s Springfield Castle — an event made even more memorable by great family meals and lots of laughs.Giving back to the community is important to Maureen, who serves on the Executive Board of the StarKids Scholarship program in Newport, Rhode Island. An emeritus trustee of the Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford where she served as president for four years, Maureen also volunteers as a judge for the SIFMA Student Essay Contest. She has also devoted her time to the East Regional board for the RBC Foundation and is the immediate past president of the RBC Women’s Association of Financial Advisors Board.

The American College Center for Women in Financial Services is the first academic center of its kind, with the focus on research, education, and awareness. The Center is the leading authority on the economic issues and opportunities of American women as consumers and providers of financial products and services. In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Hilary Fiorella, executive director of The American College Center for Women in Financial Services. Hilary shares her experience in the industry, and the serendipitous way she came to her appointment as the executive director. Hilary highlights the work that The Center does for women and women of color, and the importance of education for women about finance. In this episode, you will learn: What The American College Center for Women in Financial Services does and who it servesWhy The Center is committed to action, not just words, when it comes to furthering education for women and women of colorPractices for companies to take in recruiting, hiring, and education for employees and prospectsWhy it’s so important to provide education for women and women of color about financesAnd more!Tune in to learn from Hilary Fiorella, executive director of The American College Center for Women in Financial Services, about the importance of financial education for women and women of color. Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Center for Women and Financial Services | Hilary Fiorella | The American College of Financial Services | Episode 9 - George Nichols III, President and CEO, The American College of Financial Services | Instagram: The Finserv Flock | Twitter: The Finserv FlockGuest bio: Hilary Fiorella is Executive Director of The American College State Farm Center for Women in Financial Services. Prior to joining The College, Hilary was Chief Operating Officer for Money Management Institute, (MMI). In that role, she had oversight responsibility for strategic initiatives and all Operations and Administrative functions within MMI. She was responsible for several development initiatives including Women in Wealth Management, whose mission was to attract, develop and retain women in the industry. She also led Gateway to Leadership, a diversity initiative focused on attracting African-American and Hispanic talent to financial services and Leadership Pathway, which was aimed at helping high potential candidates with five to ten years’ experience gain the skills and connections need to take on additional responsibility and or rise to the next level. Other roles include having worked for Fiserv (Now Tegra118) as SVP, Service Delivery, which encompassed Client Services and Customer Operations. Preceding her role leading Service Delivery at Fiserv, she also led the Product Management, Marketing, and Professional Services departments. Previous responsibility at MMI as the External Affairs Advisor involved managing communications, marketing and branding. Hilary is a graduate of Temple University.

Impact investing involves working with companies with the intention to generate measurable, beneficial social impact alongside a financial return, allowing investors to showcase their values and intentions. With the application of a gender lens, investors can make responsible decisions that align with their gender values as well as their social values.In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Kristin Hull, founder, CEO and CIO of Nia Impact Capital. Kristin shares her experience with impact investing, and how her values are reflected in her company’s practices. In this episode, you will learn: What impact investing is and why it’s importantHow socially responsible investing has changed over the past decades — and why Nia Impact Capital uses a less traditional screening approach when working with companiesThe importance of diversity reporting and how it can change company practicesThe work that Nia Investment Capital is doing in the gender, race and equity spheresAnd more!Tune in to hear from Nia Impact Capital founder and CEO Kristin Hull as she shares the importance of impact investing from a gender and a racial equity point of view!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Nia Impact Capital | Kristin Hull, PhD | Instagram: Nia Impact Capital | Twitter: Nia Impact Capital | The Money Doula BlogGuest bio: Kristin is a conscious investor empowering individuals, families and organizations to invest in alignment with their values, for the world they want to see. Kristin launched Nia Global Solutions in 2013 to bring activism and impact investing into the public markets. In doing so, she developed Nia’s six solutions-focused investment themes, weaving a gender lens throughout the investment thesis.​Kristin founded Nia Community Investments in 2010, a 100% mission-aligned investment fund focused on social justice and environmental sustainability in Oakland. Prior to Nia Community, Kristin served as president and chair of the Board of the Hull Family Foundation from 2007 to 2011, where she oversaw all of the investment efforts, transitioning the endowment from a traditional investment portfolio to one of the country’s first 100% mission impact invested portfolios. Kristin is also a co-founder of Impact Hub Oakland, a co-working space nurturing entrepreneurs and social change makers.Prior to dedicating her career to conscious investing, Kristin served as an educator and classroom teacher. In 1997, Kristin co-founded the North Oakland Community Charter School, and served on the founding board of the George Mark Children’s House, the first freestanding children’s hospice and palliative care center in the U.S.Kristin is devoted to promoting inclusion and diversity in leadership, to re-envisioning capitalism and to changing the face of finance. She serves on the board of directors for the Mosaic Project and Community Action Fund for Women of Africa (CAFWA) and is an advisor to Playworks, the Nicholson Foundation, and ToSomeone.Kristin holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education from the University of California at Berkeley, an M.A. in Research in Bilingual Education from Stanford University. She earned her B.A. and teaching credentials at Tufts University. 

As a financial adviser working with female clients, it’s important to remember that women have their own concerns and priorities when they’re building their wealth. You can’t just tweak your strategy for male clients — you need to tailor your plan to address women’s priorities. In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Heather Ettinger, founder and CEO of Luma Wealth Advisors, to discuss the importance of educating and empowering women to build their own wealth. Heather discusses her experience as an adviser, and shares why she is so passionate about working with women and what sets their priorities apart from those of men. In this episode, you will learn: Why it is so important to have an integrated approach to financial services, especially when working with womenHow financial wellness plays into a person’s overall integrated wellness What inspired Heather to write her book, Lumination: Shining a Light on a Woman’s Journey to Financial WellnessWhy some advisers tend to “pinkify” their strategy for female clients — and why this needs to changeAnd more!Tune in to learn from Heather Ettinger, founder and CEO of Luma Wealth Advisors, about the importance of working with women to meet their needs!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Luma Wealth Advisors | Heather Ettinger | Lumination: Shining a Light on a Woman’s Journey to Financial WellnessGuest bio: As a champion for women and girls for over 30 years, Heather Ettinger is widely recognized for her unique experience and dedication to helping women build their financial acumen and wealth, culminating in the founding of Luma Wealth Advisors in 2017. She specializes in helping clients and their families create strategic financial plans to guide them through life transitions, such as the loss of a spouse, divorce and job changes and to align their resources around family values and impact in their communities.Heather co-authored two studies about women and their unique needs entitled “Women of  Wealth: Why Does the Financial Services Industry Still Not Hear Them?” and “Women of Wealth: What Do Breadwinner Women Want?” Heather has been featured in many publications including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and Bloomberg and is a frequently requested speaker for industry associations, company women’s initiatives and wellness events. For conceiving new ideas and tools that have propelled the financial industry forward, she was recognized as a 2019 “Icons and Innovators” honoree by Investment News. In 2019, she also proudly accepted The Ruth Bader Ginsburg award for advancing the aspirations of women from the Women’s Vote Project.Ms. Ettinger remains an ardent supporter of her alma maters including Dartmouth College, where she earned a B.A., and Laurel School for girls, where she now serves as an Emeritus Trustee. She is active with In Counsel with Women and the nationally recognized wealth management study group, Family Wealth Advisors Council. She has served on numerous non-profit and private company boards across a wide range of industries including distribution, manufacturing, technology, trust services, financial services and healthcare.Her most recent board service includes University Hospitals Health System, The Private Trust Company, Asurint One Source Technology, Schwab Institutional Services Advisory Board, and Racing Towards Diversity.Ms. Ettinger considers raising her three children with her husband, Jeff, to be her greatest and most rewarding accomplishment. Her favorite activities include playing ice hockey, skiing and hiking.Interested in having a greater impact on your family giving or in your community, or learning more about aligning your financial resources for impact?Connect with Heather at heather@heatherettinger.com or on social media.

A career in financial services is about so much more than dollars and cents — so much of work with clients is about helping them achieve their goals, navigating emotional conversations about money and life, and giving back to the community. In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Judith Lu, founder and CEO of Blue Zone Wealth Advisors about Judith’s unconventional path to financial services. Judith shares her passion for giving back and helping people and how she has applied this to every aspect of her financial services career. In this episode, you will learn: What makes women so well suited to a career in financial servicesThe skills Judith believes are critical to success as a business ownerWhat blue zones are and how they apply to overall lifelong wellnessWhy women have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19And more!Tune in to learn more about the emotional side of financial services with Judith Lu, founder and CEO of Blue Zone Wealth Advisors!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Blue Zone Wealth Advisors | Judith LuGuest bio: Judith Lu is the Founder and CEO of Blue Zone Wealth Advisors where she brings over 20 years of experience working with high net worth individuals, families and not-for-profit organizations on financial planning, portfolio construction and wealth management. For her work, she has been recognized by Forbes as a “Best-In-State Wealth Advisor” in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and a “Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisor” in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. She was also named by InvestmentNews as one of their 2019 Women To Watch.Judith founded Blue Zone Wealth Advisors with the belief that financial health should be an integral part of a person’s overall well-being. Blue Zone shows clients how financial health and longevity are possible through clarity, purpose and empowerment. 

When it comes to representation in the workplace, specifically in financial services, it’s important to elevate diverse voices, to listen intently to their experiences, in order to invoke change for the future. In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Danielle Burns, vice president, head of business development at CNote. Danielle shares the important work that CNote does to elevate and amplify the voices of women and people of color in financial services, and shares why it is both her professional and personal passion to ensure that Black women are accurately represented at the table and in the diversity and inclusion conversation. In this episode, you will learn:How Danielle first met Christine through social media — and how she called on InvestmentNews to further improve their diversity practicesThe importance to elevate the voices of women of color, listen and take actionHow stepping outside of her comfort zone allowed Danielle to make an impactWhy being intentional is the best way to create a diverse and inclusive environment And more!Tune in to hear from Danielle Burns, vice president, head of business development at CNote, as she shares her mission to elevate the voices and experience of women and people of color in financial services.Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | CNote | Danielle BurnsGuest bio: Danielle M. Burns MBA, AIF is Vice President, Head of Business Development for CNote. Prior to joining CNote, Danielle worked for First Affirmative Financial Network in a variety of Business Development roles from 2004 to 2019 most recently serving as Vice President of Sales and Marketing where she worked with a highly collaborative team that was responsible for the growth and profitability of the firm’s distribution channels. Danielle participated in all aspects of the sales and marketing process, attended and spoke at industry events and educated advisors on how to navigate the Sustainable, Responsible, Impact (SRI) investing and ESG landscape. Her background emphasizes business strategy and consulting and executing integrated campaigns, marketing communications, product launch and system development. Danielle began her financial services career in 1994 with Wachovia Corporation where she worked for both Wachovia Bank and Wachovia Securities performing a variety of management duties over her nine-year tenure. Danielle serves on the board of Green America, a not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1982, whose mission is to harness economic power to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. Additionally, Danielle serves on the SRI Conference & Community Advisory Board. The SRI Conference & Community is the longest running gathering of asset managers, financial advisors, researchers, academics, mission-driven organizations who share the common goal of deploying private capital to address some of our most pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges.Danielle is a certified trainer for Walking on the Glass Floor which promotes Diversity and Inclusion for Women in Leadership and is passionate about working to narrow the wealth gap and create investment and economic inclusion for all. Danielle holds an MBA with an emphasis in marketing and the AIF® designation.

The financial services industry has been a predominantly male-led field. In recent years, more and more women have entered the industry and are earning leadership positions in the ever-coveted C-suite. In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Pam Stross, CEO of TruClarity Management Solutions about how female leaders can establish pathways for the next generation of female advisors to aspire for those C-suite roles. Pam shares her own experience in leadership in the financial services industry as well as her advice for those just entering the field.  In this episode, you will learn: Why Pam’s first job interview in financial services was one of the most influential events in her careerPam’s experience as a female leader in financial servicesWhy it’s important for female leaders to provide mentorship to the next generation of advisorsHow remote work is changing the career game for womenAnd more!Tune in to learn about being a female in the C-suite in financial services from Pam Stross, CEO of TruClarity Management Solutions!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | TruClarity Management Solutions | Pam StrossGuest bio: With more than 35 years of combined experience as a senior executive in the financial services industry and as a small business owner, Pam is the Chief Executive Officer of TruClarity Management Solutions. With her strong operational, administrative, and project management background, Pam brings a unique combination of skills to the TruClarity team. As past Chief Administration Officer for a Florida-based financial institution, she navigated the daily operations, including adherence to strict regulatory requirements while ensuring an unparalleled level of customer service company-wide. Pam earned a B.S. in finance from the University of South Florida.

As 2021 quickly approaches, it’s important to keep in mind what worked in the past for your practice, and how you would like to improve as you move forward into the new year. In the third and final part of this mini-series, Erin Botsford returns to discuss key takeaways for advisors in 2021 with Christine Shaw and Nicole Casperson. Erin shares her tips for success, ways to ensure clients don’t expect you to be in every meeting, and the ways that Erin gives back to children in need.In this episode, you will learn:Why you should still be prospecting in the virtual environment — and how to use the new normal to your advantageThe importance of breaking up long-term plans into shorter goals Both Erin’s and Christine’s experience building their careersErin’s tricks for training her team and prospective clientsWhy Erin is passionate about giving back to an orphanage in ZambiaAnd more!Tune in for the final episode in this mini-series with Erin Botsford!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | The Advisor Authority | Elite Advisor Success System | Erin Botsford | The Ebenezer FoundationGuest bio: Erin Botsford, CFP is The Advisor Authority.Having spent 30 years in the financial services business and achieving at the highest levels (Barron’s Top 100 in all categories – Independent, Advisor and Women Advisor), Erin sold her business in 2017 in a successful exit, a step most advisors want to achieve at the end of their careers.Today she is the creator of the Elite Advisor Success System™ a system that teaches advisors how to quickly grow their businesses exponentially and build firms that have all the elements needed for a future succession or exit. Her program delivers the 5 keys to business success in easy to understand modules and in less than six months, advisors can learn what might otherwise take them decades to figure out on their own. Erin believes in the power of “modeling” and allows advisors to simply copy her success blueprint.  Erin is also the author of two books, Seven Figure Firm, How to Build A Financial Services Business that Grows Itself and The Big Retirement Risk: Running out of Money Before You Run out of Time.With 30 years of field experience and an authentic personal story, she can relate to advisors at all levels. An international speaker, Erin shares her 30 years of wisdom at industry conferences worldwide. To find out more, check out www.erinbotsford.com.

Building a seven-figure firm is entirely reachable for advisors who have the right mindset—a success mindset. In part two of this mini-series, Erin Botsford returns to speak with Christine Shaw about her secrets to building a seven-figure financial services firm. Erin explains her Elite Advisor Success System, discusses her book “Seven Figure Firm”, and shares her process when it comes to helping advisors grow their practice. In this episode, you will learn:Why prospects referred to Erin’s office as “The Web”Erin’s prospecting tactics and what sets her apart from other advisorsWhy some women are afraid of having successful careersThe importance of getting to know prospective clients on a personal level before working togetherWhat it looks like to take Erin’s courseAnd more!Tune in for more extremely valuable information from Erin Botsford about ways to grow your business!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | The Advisor Authority | Elite Advisor Success System | Erin Botsford | Seven Figure Firm: How to Build A Successful Financial Services Firm That Grows ItselfGuest bio: Erin Botsford, CFP™ is The Advisor Authority™Having spent 30 years in the financial services business and achieving at the highest levels (Barron’s Top 100 in all categories – Independent, Advisor and Women Advisor), Erin sold her business in 2017 in a successful exit, a step most advisors want to achieve at the end of their careers.Today she is the creator of the Elite Advisor Success System™ a system that teaches advisors how to quickly grow their businesses exponentially and build firms that have all the elements needed for a future succession or exit. Her program delivers the 5 keys to business success in easy to understand modules and in less than six months, advisors can learn what might otherwise take them decades to figure out on their own. Erin believes in the power of “modeling” and allows advisors to simply copy her success blueprint.  Erin is also the author of two books, Seven Figure Firm, How to Build A Financial Services Business that Grows Itself and The Big Retirement Risk: Running out of Money Before You Run out of Time.With 30 years of field experience and an authentic personal story, she can relate to advisors at all levels. An international speaker, Erin shares her 30 years of wisdom at industry conferences worldwide. To find out more, check out www.erinbotsford.com.

Building a successful business starts with establishing goals and understanding what it takes to make it happen. In part one of this mini-series, Christine Shaw speaks with Erin Botsford, founder and CEO of The Advisor Authority, founder of Botsford Financial Group and a Barron’s Top 100 Advisor. Erin shares how she got her start in business, the goals that she set for herself, and how she has exceeded and surpassed those goals throughout her 30+ years in the industry. In this episode, you will learn:How Erin’s upbringing impacted her view of financial servicesWhy, when working with a heterosexual couple, Erin refuses to meet with the man without his female counterpartThe importance of education for women and female advisorsHow Erin has managed to take care of more than 500 orphans in ZambiaWhy Erin says you have to write out your goals in order to achieve themAnd more!Tune in for the first part of this series with Erin Botsford, founder, CEO and Barron’s Top 100 Advisor!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | The Advisor Authority | Elite Advisor Training Program | Erin Botsford Guest bio: Erin Botsford, CFP™ is The Advisor Authority™Having spent 30 years in the financial services business and achieving at the highest levels (Barron’s Top 100 in all categories – Independent, Advisor and Women Advisor), Erin sold her business in 2017 in a successful exit, a step most advisors want to achieve at the end of their careers.Today she is the creator of the Elite Advisor Success System™ a system that teaches advisors how to quickly grow their businesses exponentially and build firms that have all the elements needed for a future succession or exit. Her program delivers the 5 keys to business success in easy to understand modules and in less than six months, advisors can learn what might otherwise take them decades to figure out on their own. Erin believes in the power of “modeling” and allows advisors to simply copy her success blueprint.  Erin is also the author of two books, Seven Figure Firm, How to Build A Financial Services Business that Grows Itself and The Big Retirement Risk: Running out of Money Before You Run out of Time.With 30 years of field experience and an authentic personal story, she can relate to advisors at all levels. An international speaker, Erin shares her 30 years of wisdom at industry conferences worldwide. To find out more, check out www.erinbotsford.com.

In financial services, the client base is diverse in economic status, gender, and background, and it’s important to remember that the workforce should represent that as well. In this episode, Christine Shaw spoke with Ann Senne, head of advice and solutions, about her experience with economic and gender diversity in financial services. Ann shares her path to leadership at RBC Wealth Management - U.S. and explains why she is passionate about educating future generations about the importance of female representation in the industry. In this episode, you will learn:How Ann got her start in financial servicesWhy Ann believes male allies are so important for females in the industry—and how her’s was instrumental in a major promotion in her careerAnn’s thoughts on the conception that you need to have wealth in order to advise others on their financial situationHow biases play into hiring processes—and how to combat those biasesAnd more!Tune in to learn from Ann Senne, head of advice and solutions at RBC Wealth Management - U.S. about economic and gender diversity in financial services!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | RBC Wealth Management - U.S. | Ann SenneGuest bio: Ann is an energetic and compassionate leader focused on unlocking the potential of each employee to fuel enterprise growth, innovation and success. As head of the RBC Wealth Management – U.S. Advice & Solutions group, she is responsible for designing the financial planning experience for the firm’s 1,900 financial advisors, delivering comprehensive and competitive solutions and equipping advisors with practice management, training and support to best serve their clients. Given the firm’s focus on digitally enabled, holistic, goals-based advice, the work of Ann’s team is integral to the firm’s overall success.Ann draws from more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, where she has held several leadership roles, including the head of client experience and head of managed solutions for RBC’s Global Wealth Management division. In addition, she was senior vice president, head of product at U.S. Bank and served as chief operating officer at LoCorr Fund Management. Ann holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and an MBA in finance and strategic management from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota. She earned a CPA designation and completed the Securities Industry Institute program at Wharton in 2010.A leader committed to teamwork, mentoring and collaboration, Ann serves on RBC’s Diversity Leadership Council and as executive sponsor of the firm’s newly formed women’s employee resource group. She’s also a mentor in RBC’s Diverse Perspectives Mentoring Program and in Money Management Institute’s (MMI) Gateway to Leadership Program. In her community, Ann currently serves on the board of the Minneapolis nonprofit WithAll, working to increase prevention of eating disorders, support recovery and promote legislative change. She previously served on the board and as treasurer of the Minneapolis nonprofit Tubman, focused on people dealing with relationship violence, substance abuse and other trauma.

It’s important to remember that there is no perfect playbook for female leadership. Instead, drive yourself and your career forward with grit and perseverance, and the mindset of intentionality and empowerment. In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Wendy Hartman, president of Buckingham Strategic Wealth, one of the largest RIAs in financial services. Wendy shares her path to holding a role in the company that is most typically held by a man and explains the importance of work/life balance as a leader in business, but also as a wife and mother of two boys.In this episode, you will learn:Why Wendy had a male mentor who helped her to grow into her leadership positionThe importance of grit and perseverance as a leader to invest in yourself and your careerThe steps that Buckingham Strategic Wealth has taken to empower female employees at all levelsWhy it’s important to be intentional with your timeAnd more!Tune in to hear from Wendy Hartman, President of Buckingham Strategic Wealth!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Buckingham Strategic Wealth | Wendy HartmanGuest bio: As president of Buckingham Strategic Wealth, Wendy Hartman is responsible for providing strategic leadership to the firm by working with the board of directors and our advisory department leaders to oversee and implement goals and team plans to achieve our firm’s strategic priorities. She is charged to ensure the effective delivery of our overall client experience in conjunction with our advisor experience. Her leadership of the firm is not a responsibility she takes lightly. After decades of serving as a wealth advisor, she understands firsthand the power and reward of watching clients, their children and sometimes grandchildren meet their financial goals. She is proud to lead a firm that safeguards so many financial futures and allows clients to spend their time enjoying life and fulfilling their dreams that matter most.Wendy began her career here as a wealth advisor, specializing in collaborating with families across multiple generations to preserve their legacy and pass on the values that made them successful to their future generations. Before taking the reins of the entire Buckingham experience, she most recently served as a managing director for Buckingham, with oversight of our client service and client development departments. Her time as both an advisor and director helped afford her unparalleled experience and insight for her current role as the firm’s leader.Before joining Buckingham in 2010, Wendy was a strategic advisor with Enterprise Trust Company. She served as a portfolio analyst with First Banks, Inc. and an equity analyst with Bank of America Capital Management.She holds an MBA from Saint Louis University and a bachelor’s degree from Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. Wendy also holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional designation. She recently accepted a three year-term as a member of the Midwest NAPFA Board. She is a lifelong resident of St. Louis, where she lives with her husband and two sons.

One of the best mindsets to have is to discover how your uniqueness can become a competitive advantage in moving up the ladder as a female leader in financial services.In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Tiffanie Gray, first vice president and branch manager in Greenwich, CT for Wells Fargo Advisors. Tiffanie shares her experience as a woman and person of color in financial services, explaining that she is often the only woman in rooms (and Zoom meetings) full of men. In this episode, you will learn:How Tiffanie has uncovered her self-confidence and self-worthHow Tiffanie’s geographic location has changed her peers’ attitude on her work ethicThe importance of mentorship in Tiffanie’s careerThe importance of spotlighting the successes of women in financial servicesAnd more!Tune in to learn how to channel Tiffanie’s confidence in your uniqueness as an asset to you in business!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Wells Fargo Advisors - Greenwich, CT | Tiffanie GrayGuest bio: Tiffanie Gray is the Branch Manager for the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wells Fargo Advisors. She has been in the financial services industry for 15 years and joined Wells Fargo Advisors in 2017 as the Associate Market Manager in Dallas, TX. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors, she spent five years at UBS Financial Services where she held several positions; Complex Operations Manager, Regional Operations Processing Center Manager and Market Administrative Officer. Prior to joining UBS, Tiffanie spent eight years on the institutional side of the business. Originally from Texas, she started her career in 2005 as an Account Executive for Banc of America Securities Prime Brokerage in Dallas servicing start up Hedge Funds in the Southwest. Three years later, Tiffanie moved to New York and became a Relationship Manager for BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage where she serviced Hedge Funds in the New York Metro area. After five years with BNP Paribas, Tiffanie decided to move into Wealth Management and accepted the role of Complex Operations Manager with UBS.Tiffanie currently holds the 7, 63, 66, 9, 10 & 24 registrations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University. She is a member of 100 Women in Finance and The Association of African American Financial Advisors. 

Finding the perfect work-life balance was difficult even before people were working from home. Now, more than ever, employees are walking a fine line to balance their work with their families, education, and home life.In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Mimi Nguyen, co-founder of Mana Search, about how Mimi balances her career in FinTech with parenting, pursuing a PhD and teaching in a MA program at Central Saint Martins University in London, England. Mimi shares her personal experience and the steps that her company takes to help headhunters build diverse teams in financial services. In this episode, you will learn:The path that Mimi took when it came to starting her career — and how it has shiftedWhat Mana Search does to help companies build diverse and innovative teamsWhy company culture is so important when it comes to hiring practices, and how this has changed amid COVID-19The importance of setting boundaries for your work-life balanceAnd more!Tune in to hear this conversation with Mana Search co-founder Mimi Nguyen!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Mana Search | Mimi NguyenGuest bio: With 10 years in the industry and a background in tech consulting at Accenture and the Boston Consulting Group, Mimi Nguyen is the co-founder of Mana Search R&D Mana Labs and an Associate Lecturer of MA Innovation Management at Central Saint Martins. Mimi is also a PhD candidate at Imperial College London, Faculty of Engineering and Royal College of Art. Mimi's research explores cross-functional remote teams and how we can increase creativity and innovation, as well as team productivity in a virtual world of work. The study on socio-cognitive aspects of online collaboration aims at finding a solution, leveraging natural language processing from machine learning, to improve the way we communicate and build better teams. Mimi's research at Imperial College London explores diverse teams and leveraging creativity and innovation, as well as team productivity in a virtual world of work.Mimi is also a co-host of Searching For Mana podcast - interviewing some of the leading and influential men and women in the FinTech industry.

Having the right mentor (or mentors) is crucial for cultivating successful female leadership.In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Michelle McDonough, Chief Operating Officer at Trillium Asset Management. With 10 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry, Michelle explains the importance of having strong mentors and allies in your corner, and how she gives back as a mentor to others in the field (and on the football field). In this episode, you will learn:How Michelle got her start in financial servicesHow her background in sports helped Michelle to overcome imposter syndromeWho Michelle considers to be her mentors, professionally and personallyThe importance of having diverse leadership to attract talentThe ways that Trillium gives back to its employees and communityHow Michelle’s involvement with the Boston Renegades football team has shaped her perspectiveAnd more!Tune in to hear from Trillium Asset Management’s Michelle McDonough about why her success matters!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Trillium Asset Management | Michelle McDonough | Boston RenegadesGuest bio: Michelle McDonough joined Trillium as the Chief Operating Officer in 2010 and is responsible for all non-investment related activities at the firm. She has more than 20 years’experience in financial services and has spent a significant part of her career running compliance, IT, trading and managing client services. She began her career at Adams Harkness & Hill in 1999, working on both the broker dealer and asset management division.She is on the board of The Exchange, a financial services networking organization focused on sharing of best practices for compliance, technology, and operations. Michelle serves on the Board of Ambassadors for the Home For Little Wanderers, where she has been active in raising money for the annual Generous Masters Golf Tournament. She is also actively involved in managing the Boston Renegades, a semiprofessional woman’s tackle football team in Boston. Michelle holds a B.A. from Salem State College.

The most successful female leaders are those who are unafraid to take risks and showcase their passion in their life and career. In this episode, Christine Shaw speaks with Ida Liu, Head of Citi Private Bank North America, as Ida shares the path that led her to her position at Citi. Ida explains how following her passion has helped her to break the glass ceiling, as well as the bamboo ceiling, as a successful Asian-American woman in the financial industry. In this episode, you will learn: Why Ida took the risk to leave financial services early in her career to pursue a role in fashion — and how she has merged the two worlds togetherWhy Ida has a diverse group of mentorsThe importance of metrics for actionable progressCiti’s commitment to closing the racial equity gap How “risky” moves can be the most important moves to make to further your careerHow Ida pursues her passion for helping women succeed outside of the workplaceAnd more!Tune in to learn more about Ida Liu, Head of Citi Private Bank North America!Resources: InvestmentNews | Christine Shaw | Ida Liu | Citi Private Bank - DiversityGuest bio: Ida Liu is the Head of Citi Private Bank North America and a member of the Private Bank Global Leadership Team. Ida has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry with a proven track record of delivering results, developing and executing strategy and building exceptional teams. Ida leads the Private Banking activities in 25 offices across the United States and Canada and delivers robust global, wealth management solutions to ultra-high net worth and high net worth clients, family offices, global clients and foundations & endowments. Ida and team are focused on deepening and acquiring new client relationships and delivering firm wide Citi solutions. Additionally, Ida sits on the Citi Women Steering Committee, Citi’s global strategy to focus on the advancement of women. Prior to being named Head of North America, Ida was Citi Private Bank’s Global Market Manager for New York, and under her leadership, the New York business experienced double-digit growth year after year.  Prior to being the Global Market Manager for New York, Ida founded Citi Private Bank’s North America Asian Clients Group. She started her career at Citi Private Bank in 2007 by launching and heading the Fashion, Retail and Entertainment Group. Before joining Citi, Ida was at Vivienne Tam, a women’s wear design house, where she was Global Head of Sales, Marketing, Public Relations and Business Development. Prior to this, Ida spent seven years in investment banking with Merrill Lynch’s mergers and acquisitions, and technology, media and telecommunications investment banking groups in New York and Hong Kong. She started her career in mergers and acquisitions at BT Wolfensohn (now Deutsche Bank).  In 2020, the American Banker awarded Ida as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance and Barron’s recognized Ida as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance. She is also a 2015 Crain’s 40 Under 40, 2014 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, 2014 Financial Times Top 100 Advisors, 2011 Top 50 Outstanding Asian Americans in Business, 2011 Honoree for the Women’s Venture Fund and 2010 Emerging Leader Award from the National Association of Asian MBAs. Additionally, Ida is a member of The Committee of 100 (C100) and Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). She previously served as a Board Member for Wellesley College Alumnae Association, Harvard Kennedy School Women’s Leadership Group, Volunteers of America and as an Advisor to Asia Foundation’s Lotus Circle. Ida is a frequent contributor to Bloomberg TV, MSNBC and has been a featured speaker at many industry events.  Ida holds a BA with honors from Wellesley College, a Merrill Lynch Executive MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Kennedy School Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and conversant in Italian and Russian.