Movers and Shakers: Catherine Reimer, Vice President, Senior Insurance Portfolio Manager, ING U.S. Investment Management

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

After excelling in mathematics at her Quebec high school, Catherine Reimer, now Vice President and Senior Insurance Portfolio Manager at ING U.S. Investment Management, went on to study actuarial science in college. For her first internship, she worked on the investment side of an insurance company and from there she was hooked. “I really enjoyed the dynamic environment of fixed income,” she said. She began her career working in asset and liability management and then moved to new product development for institutional clients, derivatives and then to Insurance Portfolio Management.

“I had a great boss at the time, who gave me plenty of opportunities to work on new projects. When he moved to the USA, he asked me to work at his new company, so I moved to the USA too.”

In fact, Reimer emphasized the importance of good bosses and mentors she has had along the way in helping build her career. “I’ve never had a formal mentor, but I have been blessed with having really strong male bosses, who opened doors for me and gave me credit when I deserved it. Being surrounded by great people has been the key to my career.”

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Movers and Shakers: I. Javette Hines, Senior Vice President and Head of Supplier Diversity and Sustainability, Citi

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

To Illonka Javette Hines, having a diverse set of interests is a big part of being a successful professional. But it took some time before she learned to share her more artistic side with others.

“I think starting out, I wish I had known that I didn’t have to limit myself,” she said. “I could still be an artist and be a professional person.”

Hines, a published poet and Head of Supplier Diversity and Sustainability at Citi, explained, “You have to do the things you’re passionate about, because that’s going to drive you as a professional. And when you’re talking about your interests at work, it’s okay to share that side of yourself. People want to know about that human side of you.”

And, she continued, it’s also okay to let personal interests be just that – interests. You don’t have to be flawless at every hobby you pick up. “Even if you’re not perfect at it, it’s still okay to go for it. I’m learning to play the guitar, and that doesn’t mean I need to be at the level of perfection. It just means you have to try your best.”

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Movers and Shakers: Joi Gordon, CEO, Dress for Success Worldwide

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide, is a strong believer in women helping women – and she’s happy to help dispel some of old stereotypes about female leaders.

“Some twenty years ago, there was a perception that women weren’t nice to each other,” Gordon said. “When I entered the workforce I was prepared to not be supported by women and to have to fight for my place. But that fight is not one I had to fight.”

“That perception was not real, and I’m proud to say that,” she continued. “Where I am today is because of strong women who lifted me up, supported me, and gave me the guidance I needed.”

Gordon’s organization, Dress for Success, is wholly based on the notion of women helping one another advance – when one woman donates a suit, she helps change another woman’s life.

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Movers and Shakers: Marie Picard, Counsel, ING U.S. Investment Management

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Marie Picard, Counsel at ING U.S. Investment Management, believes strongly in the value of mentoring.

“I really think it’s important to find people who can mentor and advise you – formally or informally. Find people you know and respect and look up to, who you are able to learn from. Foster those relationships. People have a lot to teach you – sometimes you just have to ask,” she said.

She also advised women to be mentors themselves – the confidence boost, she says, can help propel you forward. “Help younger women and men at the firm who may be more junior and put effort into sharing knowledge. It’s really validating and empowering to share the knowledge you’ve accumulated over time.”

“It makes you realize how much you know, and it helps create that network of relationships that’s so important,” she added.

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Movers and Shakers: Jill Huntley, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship, Accenture

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“Seize the opportunities,” says Jill Huntley, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship at Accenture. “There is luck everywhere. It just depends on whether you’re looking for it, if you can see it, and if you are ready to grab it when it’s there.”

For example, Huntley began her career at Accenture 18 years ago as a business consultant. But when she embarked on an assignment to Africa in 2000, she developed an interest in corporate citizenship, which opened doors and led to a global role at the company.

“You don’t know where your first step is going to lead. Take some chances and stretch your self. Look for challenges,” she said. “There are many different roads that will take you through your career.”

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Movers and Shakers: Dina Powell, President, Goldman Sachs Foundation and Global Head of Corporate Engagement, Goldman Sachs

Dina PowellAccording to Dina Powell, President of the Goldman Sachs Foundation and Global Head of Corporate Engagement for the firm, it’s important to be open to new and different opportunities throughout your life.

“One of the things I often say is be careful not to overplan your life. Because the less you are open to opportunities as they come along, the less you have the advantage of a diversity of experience,” she advised.

Powell has spent time in both the public and private sectors, having worked in the White House and for the Department of State before joining Goldman Sachs. She believes this has served her well throughout her career path. “I think having experience in both is key,” she said. “When I think of the many opportunities we have now to work together to solve problems – I think it’s vital to understand how the other side works.”

That breadth of experience is also invaluable when approaching complex challenges in the developing and emerging markets. She said, “When I think of solving global challenges, it’s about making sure all three legs of the stool are represented – the public sector, the private sector, and the non-profit sector.”

“I’ve had the privilege of working with so many women around the world and it’s given me so much faith in women. Women in many parts of the world – Afghanistan, India, Egypt – are faced with so many challenges. Yet they are determined to do everything they can to invest in their communities and their children. When we give women the chance to reach their full potential, it makes a huge difference.”

She added, “Having women as full members of societies really does lead to more peaceful and prosperous communities and a more peaceful and prosperous world.”

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Movers and Shakers: Linda Beaudoin, SVP, Compensation, ING U.S. Investment Management

LindaBeaudoinBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Linda Beaudoin,  Head of Compensation for ING U.S. Investment Management (ING U.S. IM), spent the first 20 years of her career in finance. She started at Aetna working in management reporting, and then moved to the investment side supporting budgeting and analysis and product profitability. A few years after the firm was acquired by ING in 2000, she decided she was ready for a change.

“After twenty years of finance, I decided to take a risk and totally shift gears and move to HR. And it’s the best thing I could have done.” She started out as a generalist, but because of her finance background, Beaudoin quickly took on a comp focus. “That was my niche. I wish I had known that many years ago.”

“Never be afraid to take those risks – as you mature it’s something you become more comfortable doing,” she added.

One of Beaudoin’s proudest achievements came as the result of several acquisitions ING made in 2002 and 2003, including four separate asset management firms. “They had varied company philosophies and plans,” she explained, and the company had to figure out how to integrate them all. “And it was the first time I had worked intimately with senior management,” she recalled.

“I was new to HR and I realized I had a voice at the table. I realized I wasn’t going to get by on hard work alone. I started speaking up and being seen as a leader.”

She continued, “I wish I was more confident earlier in my career – that I had the confidence to speak up, offer my opinions, and ask questions I should have asked.”

“I always got kudos for the quality of my work, but not the recognition I should have gotten. If nobody knows you, it’s hard to progress in your career. My daughter is 27 and I give her that advice all the time. I’m trying to instill in her that guidance.”

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Movers and Shakers: Sue Allon, CEO and Founder, Allonhill

Sue AllonBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

According to Sue Allon, CEO and Founder of Allonhill, a mortgage due diligence and credit risk management firm, one of the most important things people can do when they are building their own companies is speak up, and showcase their thought leadership.

“When Allonhill was founded in 2008, I couldn’t imagine that the financial crisis would get worse. At the time, Wall Street couldn’t speak for itself,” she said. “It was being indicted and servicers were being indicted. But a statement had to be made: mortgages were still a good investment.”

She continued, “Many people felt they couldn’t talk, but I felt I could speak for the industry. There were flaws that needed to be corrected, but I didn’t feel there were problems with mortgage securitizations as a product. So I embarked on a press campaign to talk about mortgage securities.”

It was risky, she continued, but worth it. “It was such a wonderful boost for my company. I was jettisoned to a highly recognized position in the industry. And even when there was no market, we became the number one firm.”

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Movers and Shakers: Jean Balfour, Director, Bailey Balfour Consulting, Ltd.

jeanbalfourBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“Dare to dream,” advised Jean Balfour, Director of Bailey Balfour Consulting. As an organizational development consultant and coach for executive women, Balfour has extensive experience working with women across many industries, and she said one of the key things she has learned from them is the importance of developing your aspirations.

“Dare to think big and dream big,” she continued. “And along with that, find a mentor and sponsor right from day one, who can help you achieve your dreams.”

She advised senior women to “really, really proactively support younger women, and encourage your male peers to mentor or sponsor young women as well, so they have as much support as they can get to move along in their careers.”

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Movers and Shakers: Susan Bulkeley Butler, Founder and CEO of SBB Institute for the Development of Women Leaders

susanbulkeleybutlerBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“Be responsible for who you are and what you want to be and make it happen,” advised Susan Bulkeley Butler, founder and CEO of the SSB institute for the Development of Women Leaders.

This is advice Butler herself has lived – after being the first woman professional hired at Arthur Anderson (now Accenture) in 1965, she found herself passed over for promotion time and time again – until she realized she needed to take control of her career, that is. Butler turned her professional path around, eventually being named the first female partner at the firm. Now retired from the company, Butler is also a published author and leadership speaker, enthusiastically working toward the goal of getting more women into top jobs.

“We have one life and I’m not sure we all make things happen for us, rather than let things happen to us. If we’re not taking responsibility for who we are and where we want to be, then who are we outsourcing this to? Who is making this happen?”

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