By 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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By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“My advice for women is to know yourself,” said Julia Fuller, VP of Environment, Health and Safety at Thomson Reuters. She explained, “Focus on what are the things that you really hold dear as your core values. What are you really good at? Know your real strengths. Having that knowledge about your abilities is really powerful.”

After growing her career at the Reuters Foundation and then becoming global head of corporate responsibility for Reuters, she shepherded the program through the 2008 merger with Thomson. Then Fuller turned her attention to women’s advancement. Fuller leads the UK chapter of the Women @ Thomson Reuters network, and also leads the London network Women on the Wharf, a multi-firm women’s networking group which is focused on helping women stay in their careers at the challenging mid-level.

“Be true to yourself and know what makes you tick,” she advised. “Don’t try to be someone else and don’t try to live up to someone else’s dream. Follow your own dreams.”

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By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Jane Newton was drawn to Wall Street fresh out of her graduation from Tufts University. “What better place is there for an econ major who wants to learn about business in the Big Apple?” she asked.  “I wanted to learn from the smartest people around.”

Newton joined JP Morgan, working in investment banking for 12 years, then moving to private banking for another six. “Switching to work with high net worth clients was probably the best strategic decision I could have made – having that direct impact on the important people I work with and their families.”

She continued, “And moving to RegentAtlantic Capital seven years ago was the other best decision I’ve made professionally. The firm has fostered my leadership and created an environment where I can hone my focus and skills toward a specific market.”

Now Partner and Wealth Manager at RegentAtlantic, Newton is also an enthusiastic advocate of networking, especially for women. In 2010, she launched the annual Wall Street Women Forum®, an event designed specifically for high-level women on Wall Street to help them continue their professional success. “Conceiving of the Forum takes me totally out of my comfort zone. I created something from scratch to meet a need I identified. The Forum changes women’s lives in a way I didn’t expect from the beginning and it has touched a nerve. There’s a gap we’ve been able to fill for these professionals,” she explained.

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By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“I wish I could say I had a grand plan about forming my own company,” said Kathleen McQuiggan, Principal of Catalina Leadership, with a laugh. “But I started as an entry level sales assistant at an investment banking firm. And I had this notion of making a bet on people and always following my gut.”

McQuiggan spent six and a half years at the investment bank Alex. Brown, where she started her career, before she was recruited to Goldman Sachs. She rose to become a top quartile vice president in institutional sales at the firm, before striking out on her own.

“It was about me driving things versus letting other things drive me,” she explained. “I founded Catalina Leadership two years ago. I had had a successful career and I was ready for my next adventure. I wanted to leverage what I had learned in my 20 years in financial services sales with a passion for helping women advance their careers and helping companies realize the value of diversity.”

Catalina Leadership is focused on helping companies invest in women. She continued, “Starting my own business was never an avenue I thought I would go down. I’ve learned a lot and been challenged in ways I haven’t been challenged before.”

Currently McQuiggan is retained by PAX World Fund Management to work with them on their strategy for gender equality as an investment concept and building out their practice management Women & Wealth Initiative, which helps financial advisors work better with women clients.

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By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Anika Khan, Vice President and Economist at Wells Fargo, said one key to advancing your career is cultivating a broad knowledge base – but also developing an expertise in a field you are passionate about.

She explained, “If I was to think of one thing I wish I knew when I was starting out it would be to be an expert in something, but know a little bit about everything.”

“When you begin your career, you’re trying to get a sense of everything. But when I became a subject matter expert my career really gained upward momentum.”

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