Voice of Experience: Daphne Karydas, Director, Senior Equity Analyst, The Boston Company Asset Management LLC

women-workingEarly on in her career, Daphne Karydas learned that a key component of success is to match your skills and talents with your interests and passions. After studying chemical engineering at MIT, Karydas entered the pharmaceutical industry where she worked in research and development at Merck for about 3 years.

Seeking a different career path, she decided to earn her MBA from Harvard Business School and proceeded to work as an Investment Banker in the Healthcare sector at Goldman Sachs for 4 years.

“I was not able to leverage my entire skill set in investment banking,” explained Karydas, “and it was important for me to find a role that fully utilized my skill set and professional interests.”

Career in Asset Management

It wasn’t until Karydas transitioned into Asset Management as a healthcare analyst that she felt truly fulfilled by her career path. “The nature of the industry gives me the opportunity to utilize my scientific background and financial markets training while still being able achieve a healthy work-life balance,” she said.

Now, as a Director and Senior Equity Analyst at The Boston Company, Karydas says one of the exciting aspects of her job is moving away from traditional models and incorporating more alternative strategies to maximize the portfolio performance. “It is challenging but interesting work trying to determine new ways to add value for clients,” Karydas noted.

Women in Asset Management: Mentoring is Key

According to Karydas, there is a still a wide leadership gap in asset management, but she is encouraged by the increasing number of women she sees emerging in the industry. As more female asset managers are coming on to the scene, Karydas emphasized just how important mentoring and sponsorship will be in developing the next generation.

“The cycle of mentoring is critical,” Karydas noted, “and when you have influential leaders taking the time to identify young talent and help them navigate their careers, there can be a big impact..”

Finding a mentor and developing that relationship is important to career advancement, but Karydas also stresses the value of hard work and dedication. “Performance matters in Asset Management so you have to work hard and be proactive about your career,” she advised.

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Voice of Experience: Susan Soh, Partner and Global Head of Marketing and Client Services, Perella Weinberg Partners

Susan SohSomeone once asked Susan Soh, a partner at Perella Weinberg Partners, what she would do if she was to retire today. Her response:

“I would choose to do exactly what I do now because I love it,” said Soh.

If there is one underlying theme that has followed Soh throughout her career, it is that you must be passionate about your work. She first discovered this valuable tenet early in her professional life.

Building a Rewarding Career

Soh, as it turns out, did not always think she would enter the world of financial services. In fact, after graduating from Harvard Law School, she had aspirations of moving to Asia to become a successful attorney. Her trajectory changed, however, when she realized that the corporate legal environment did not ignite a spark in her. “I knew very early on that I would not be happy in a career doing something for which I lacked passion,” said Soh.

Soh, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Yale University, recalled her interest in finance and decided to pursue a career in banking. “The M&A market was heating up at the time and many firms were in search of reformed lawyers to join their team,” explained Soh. She accepted a position as an M&A banker at Bear Stearns. “I worked long, hard hours,” said Soh, “but I loved every minute of it.”

While in this role, Soh expanded her interests and moved to the merchant banking business at Bear Stearns where she worked on private equity investments as well as marketing for the firm’s first institutional fund. That turned into a full-time marketing role, which launched her career in asset raising. When an opportunity presented itself to get in on the ground floor at Lightyear Capital, Soh jumped at the chance to join a venture that appealed to her entrepreneurial nature. It was at Lightyear Capital that she was exposed to the hedge fund industry, an emerging space at the time.

In 2003, Soh entered the hedge fund industry, which brought a whole new world of dynamic markets and different strategies than she had previously experienced in the private equity world. “Very few people make the transition from private equity to hedge funds, so this was definitely new ground for me, but I always found being open to change and new challenges was one of the best ways to advance in your career,” she explained.

During this period, Soh was responsible for hedge fund business development at Highbridge Capital Management. “It was extremely exciting and a great learning experience as I was responsible for marketing each sub-strategy in Highbridge’s multi-strategy fund as a new standalone funds. It was there that I had the opportunity to be mentored by Glenn Dubin, one of the great titans of the hedge fund industry.”

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Intrepid Woman: Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D., CEO of the YWCA USA

rsz_1dara_richardson_heron_ywcaBy Michelle Hendelman

When Dara Richardson-Heron was a young girl, her parents dispelled an important piece of advice. They advised, “Don’t ever be limited by your race or gender.”

“They told me I could succeed at anything I wanted to do in life,” said Richardson-Heron, who added that her parents are her role models because they taught her how to lead with integrity and ethics and to never compromise her standards.

Now, as CEO of the YWCA USA, Richardson-Heron embodies the principles she learned as a young girl through the organization’s mission to empower women by providing them with the tools and resources necessary to make a positive impact in their families and communities.

Challenges Women Face
According to Richardson-Heron, there are three primary factors holding women back from reaching their full potential: gender inequality, racial injustice, and the lack of economic empowerment. “I wish things were different,” she said, “but it is clear that racism still exists and that women do not have equal opportunities.”

She emphasized the importance of evening the playing field for women in business, politics, and the economy by addressing the institutional inequalities and positioning more women to succeed in the highest levels of leadership.

“Many women are alone at the top,” Richardson-Heron remarked, “and we need more resources and support in place to take the demands off of these women so they can focus on being great role models, performing at a high level, and righting the stereotypes that exist against women.”

Change in Action
The YWCA has 227 associations nationwide and each one offers distinct programming to meet the needs of the women in the local community. For adults, the YWCA provides job training, career counseling, education, and even refuge. Children have access to afterschool educational programs including a focus on STEM education which begins as early as preschool.

“When you educate a woman, you educate her entire family,” explained Richardson-Heron. “The core purpose of our programs is to provide self-esteem and confidence in addition to knowledge and skills training.”

One of the most rewarding aspects of leading the YWCA, according to Richardson-Heron, is being able to see the transformation from sadness to optimism in women who have benefited from the organization’s life-changing services. “I visit the facilities –many of which have shelters for women in transition –and it is so humbling to meet women who came to the YWCA with nothing more than the clothes on their back and are in the process of turning their life around.”

Fighting the Good Fight: Advice for Her Peers
“Never give up,” advised Richardson-Heron. “It is not easy being a change agent, but the end result is worth it. You have to be resilient and prove yourself every day.” This is the advice Richardson-Heron gives to female leaders who are leading the way in the fight to balance the scales for women.

As a physician, Richardson-Heron also stresses the importance of focusing on personal health by taking time to relax and recharge. “Saying ‘yes’ to everything will leave you exhausted and ineffective,” she said. “When you take time off and allow your mind and body to take a break, you can come back rejuvenated and renewed.”

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Voice of Experience: Kris Muller, Partner and Assurance Strategy Leader, PwC

Kris Muller PwCFor Kris Muller, Partner and Assurance Strategy Leader at PwC, many doors opened for her throughout her career as a result of saying, “Yes.” Early on in her career, Muller was fortunate enough to be recognized by key decision makers who would recommend her for stretch assignments, thus furthering her career.

“I was lucky in this way,” said Muller, “but I wish I had realized that you can advocate for yourself and have more influence in your career.”

Muller, who will be celebrating 30 years with PwC in August, urges young women to be proactive in their careers. She advised, “Don’t wait for opportunities to fall into your lap. Be vocal and go after exactly what you want.” PwC’s approach to real-time feedback and development, in which leaders provide performance feedback throughout the year, rather than only during the traditional annual performance review process, creates opportunities for such conversations and requests to take place.

Career Path

Muller graduated from college with one goal in mind: to be the best at whatever she did. This drive and dedication has been the foundation for Muller’s rewarding career at PwC. She began her journey at PwC’s Stamford, CT, office where she was part of the Assurance and Audit team.

When Muller’s mentor and coach at PwC approached her about moving to the Washington, D.C., office to start up the technology Internet group there, she accepted the opportunity. “It was during the Dotcom Bubble and we were busy working on countless IPOs,” recalled Muller, who became a partner during this time.

As Muller continued to progress, she joined PwC’s “chief auditor” network, which supports the methodology of the firm and focuses on the consistency and quality of the Assurance practice. She was also the Southeast Software Leader in addition to her responsibility as TICE (technology, infocomm, entertainment and media) team leader at the D.C. office.

In another pivotal conversation, Muller was asked by the same mentor and coach to move to Finland to join the Global TICE group in an Assurance and Audit capacity. She spent five years in Helsinki and was the lead on a top global account for PwC during this time. This experience gave her a whole new perspective, international awareness and broad professional and personal network.

Making an Impact

Currently, Muller is very excited about her strategy role within the US Assurance Leadership Team, which PwC’s current Assurance leader, Vin Colman, asked her to take on. She noted, “I love the forward looking nature of this role and the excitement of bringing it all together, seeing the progress, and being directly involved in the direction of our Firm. Vin has a thoughtful perspective about the transformation of our practice and the opportunities in the profession – it was an easy decision to join Vin and his team.”

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Voice of Experience: Miranda Brawn, Barrister and Director, Daiwa Capital

Miranda Brawn“Believe in yourself and exercise confidence,” said Miranda Brawn, Barrister and Director at Daiwa Capital in London. This, she added will help you face and overcome any hurdles you might encounter as you navigate your career to the top. “No one will invest their trust or confidence in you if you cannot invest it in yourself. Develop your skill base, learn and increase your knowledge to increase your confidence,” added Brawn.

One of Brawn’s first mentors advised her to treat this industry like a marathon, not a sprint. “There are far too many people who burn out and age rapidly due to burning the candle at both ends and not looking after themselves,” she said.

“Achieving a senior leadership role will not happen overnight,” Brawn added. “Stay focused and be patient.”

A Multitude of Experiences

When Brawn decided to enter the financial services industry after completing her A levels, she only intended to work for one year before entering University. Life, as it would have it, had other plans for her as she went on to enjoy a successful and multi-faceted career in the male-dominated worlds of financial services and law.

Since entering the workforce at age eighteen, Brawn has held many different roles at some of the world’s leading financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and Deutsche Bank. She has also worked for law firms where she has acted as a consultant legal advisor. Currently, Brawn is a Director at Daiwa Capital, where her primary role is to manage the company’s legal risk across Europe for the derivatives and securities financing businesses.

“It is a transformational time for the industry right now as changes in banking regulations are presenting new challenges,” said Brawn.

Although she did not follow a strictly traditional path, Brawn is proud of the fact that she was able to complete all of her studies while working full-time in demanding positions. “I am not afraid of a challenge,” remarked Brawn, who has earned her MBA, Law degree, Journalism Diploma, and most recently, completed her studies in Political Philosophy at the University of Cambridge.

It is this same mentality that keeps Brawn busy outside of her daily 9-5 responsibilities. “I have other interests such as being a board director, barrister, freelance writer, motivational public speaker and now a brand ambassador for The Fold London,” said Brawn. Additionally, Brawn is also the founder and CEO of Pluto Law Limited.

Keeping Diversity on the Agenda

Brawn is very passionate about diversity issues, which is why she has been extremely committed to networking, mentoring, and sponsorship initiatives throughout her entire career. “I wish I had realized the value of having mentors early on in my career,” Brawn noted.

She continued, “It can be difficult for women to break into that established ‘old boys’ network especially within Front Office client facing roles where it is still pretty much a male dominated environment.” According to Brawn, women need to increase their networking efforts in order to gain the mentoring and sponsorship relationships that will ultimately have a positive impact on their career growth and advancement.

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Voice of Experience: Kim Posnett, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs

kim posnettWelcome to The Glass Hammer’s Celebration of Asian Heritage Month! All month long we will be profiling successful women here in the US who have Asian heritage as well as spotlighting some amazing women in Asia and discussing what it means to work there.

According to Kim Posnett, a Managing Director in the Technology, Media and Telecom (TMT) group in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman Sachs, diversity is something she became accustomed to early on in her life. “I was born in Nashville, Tennessee and raised in New York City. I grew up as an American kid in multi-ethnic family with a Vietnamese mother and Swiss father,” she explained.

“I was always comfortable being different. More importantly, I grew up with the instinct to bridge gaps and find commonalities among different people. That has carried over into my professional career and has been very helpful,” Posnett added.

Career in Investment Banking

“I had a non-linear career path,” said Posnett, who attended Yale University to study History and Theater. After graduating Yale, Posnett moved to California in her early twenties to work in the media and entertainment industry. Then, in her late twenties, Posnett decided to make a career shift, and attended The Wharton School of Business to study finance and earn her MBA. After graduating from business school, Posnett joined Goldman Sachs. Early in her career, Goldman Sachs asked her to cover internet and eCommerce companies, which she has been doing ever since. Posnett noted, “I am fortunate to work with the leading internet, eCommerce, software and technology companies that are disrupting their industries through innovation and technology.” She finds that working with visionary founders, CEOs and CFOs is the most rewarding aspect of her job, and is something she has remained passionate about throughout her decade of working as a banker in the industry.

“I feel most proud when I know I have earned the trust, respect and loyalty of my clients,” Posnett added. “I am also incredibly proud of our Goldman team’s commitment, integrity and singular focus on helping clients, and helping each other.”

The pace of innovation in internet and eCommerce is exciting for Posnett, who enjoys working in a dynamic sector that is undergoing fundamental shifts. “We are entering a post-PC era,” said Posnett, “where consumers can transact anytime and anywhere off their mobile devices. Companies are leveraging data and analytics to drive personalization and relevance for their customers. Powerful interest communities and vertical content companies are changing the way people browse, discover and shop online. There’s much more — it’s a very exciting time.”

According to Posnett, there can be misperceptions about what a career in investment banking actually means. “I don’t think young people grasp how interesting and dynamic investment banking can be,” she explained, “especially in technology banking, where our clients are entrepreneurs who are changing the world as we know it. The job can be incredibly entrepreneurial and creative.”

Women in Investment Banking

“I think it is really important for young women to figure out what they want in life. Everyone has a different definition of happiness and success,” said Posnett. She explained how lucky she was to have her parents as role models. “They both loved what they did for a living, and as a result, they always encouraged me to pursue what I loved most,” she added.

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Voice of Experience: Grace Wang, Chief Financial Officer, Green Dot Corporation

women shaking handsWelcome to The Glass Hammer’s Celebration of Asian Heritage Month! All month long we will be profiling successful women here in the US who have Asian heritage as well as spotlighting some amazing women in Asia and discussing what it means to work there.

“Early on in your career, the quality of your work will get you noticed.” said Grace Wang, Chief Financial Officer at Green Dot Corporation, “But as you grow older and move up the scale, you have to be cognizant of how you partner, how you are perceived, and how you are helpful to others around you.”

Sharing experiences and giving back to the upcoming generation of women is extremely important to Wang, and she encourages women at all career levels to make sure they are supporting other women along the way.

Making a Difference in Her Career

Currently, Grace Wang serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Green Dot, the top provider of prepaid debit card products and prepaid card reloading services in the United States, and creator of the award winning mobile bank account, GoBank. “Throughout my career, I have always been drawn to roles where I am part of a team that is driving both innovation and change,” said Wang.

Wang began her professional career in management consulting working for A.T. Kearney, and later Booz, where she focused on financial services, telecomm, media, and technology companies. For the last nine+ years, Wang worked at JP Morgan, where she started as the Head of International Strategy and Business Development. In this role, she ran teams in EMEA, Asia Pacific, and Latin America for their $8 billion Treasury and Security Services business.

After this role, Wang advanced to become CFO for Europe, Middle East and Africa for the same business where she was responsible for managing several hundred people primarily based in London. Wang continued to grow with JP Morgan, eventually becoming CFO for their Investor Services business.

“At the beginning of my career with A.T. Kearney, I had the opportunity to help build out the financial services practice,” said Wang. “This experience sparked my passion for building businesses in addition to doing my day job of analysis and advising large banks and corporations.”

One of the most rewarding aspects of working for Green Dot is the mission and purpose driven environment, according to Wang. “This is a company that believes in existing for the consumers, especially those who are unbanked –which is an astonishing 50 million people in the U.S. alone –and need a way to make purchases,” she explained. “The Green Dot product suite gives people that capability.”

For example, Green Dot is currently partnering with the Steve Harvey Show to provide pre-loaded Green Dot prepaid debit cards to individuals who have made an impact in their community. “It is our way to say ‘thank you’ and recognize people making a difference who could use a hand themselves,” said Wang.

She continued, “It’s about launching, promoting, and building new products that are transforming the financial services landscape for the future in a way that is helpful to the people who need it the most.”

An Advocate for Women in the Workplace

A key moment in Wang’s career came when she was nominated for the Asian Women of Achievement Award in the business category while working in London, where she was based for 15 years. “The award was for sponsoring and supporting diversity in the workplace,” said Wang, who founded and led JP Morgan’s Women MDs committee in EMEA along with two other senior women at the firm.

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Voice of Experience: Amy Tsui Luke, Managing Director, Accenture

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Amy Tsui LukeWelcome to The Glass Hammer’s Celebration of Asian Heritage Month! All month long we will be profiling successful women here in the US who have Asian heritage as well as spotlighting some amazing women in Asia and discussing what it means to work there.

“Find your mentors,” advises Amy Tsui Luke, Managing Director at Accenture.

“They have taught me, shared their networks with me and most importantly, stepped in with encouragement when I doubted myself.” According to Luke, the right mentors can help you find confidence within yourself, open doors that lead to career advancement opportunities and offer advice during critical transition points in your career.

Making a Difference at Work and Beyond

After graduating from Wellesley College, Luke began her career in investment banking before attending Harvard Business School to earn her MBA. Now, as a managing director at Accenture, Luke has the opportunity to do what she loves each day.

Luke has always believed in having a clear and direct voice, even if it means occasionally deviating from the status quo. “Early in my career, I found myself in situations in which I felt I needed to make my points of view known,” says Luke. “I decided that if I wanted to be a leader, I needed to speak my mind and have the strength to make tough decisions.” Displaying courage and confidence have been instrumental in making Luke the influential leader she is today.

Not only does Luke find it gratifying to provide her clients with practical business solutions, she also is very active in her community through Accenture’s corporate citizenship initiative, Skills to Succeed. “Education was the gateway to opportunity for my family,” explains Luke, whose grandfather emigrated from China on a scholarship. “He was skilled in engineering but he didn’t speak English and struggled to communicate and fit in. Despite these challenges, he persevered, acquired skills and created a new trajectory for all of us who followed.”

Her grandfather’s experiences inspired Luke to become the executive sponsor of a recently launched LaGuardia Community College program that helps non-native English speakers who hold an advanced degree in accounting or bookkeeping from their home country find jobs in this field in the US. “We provide these students –who typically range in age from 29 to 41 years old –with both hard and soft skills to enable them to pursue jobs with strong career growth opportunities,” she notes.

Inspiring Professional Women

According to Luke, giving back through mentoring is one of the most rewarding aspects of her role at Accenture. She underscores the importance of creating a diverse network that includes many different types of mentors. “Often, I find that people look for a mentor to be an ideal role model across the many dimensions of their lives – professional, personal, etc. This expectation is unrealistic; I advise people to have a variety of mentors along many dimensions with varying skills – a personal ‘Board of Directors’ so to speak. You never know the type of advice and help you may need in life. ” explains Luke.

“I am always ready to help others, lend a supportive ear or provide words of advice. I try to create an inclusive environment, with my team and with my mentees, so they can feel comfortable to try new things, take chances and even make mistakes. It is this combination of exposure and encouragement that builds resilience and confidence.”

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Voice of Experience: Karen Fang, Managing Director and Head of Cross Asset Solutions & Strategies, Global Banking & Markets Division, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Karen FengWelcome to The Glass Hammer’s Celebration of Asian Heritage Month! All month long we will be profiling successful women here in the US who have Asian heritage as well as spotlighting some amazing women in Asia and discussing what it means to work there.

“I have been very lucky in my sixteen-year career to have always been involved with the things that I am passionate about,” said Karen Fang, Managing Director and Head of Cross Asset Solutions & Strategies, Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Career in Banking

Originally from China, Fang attended college at the University of Tokyo in Japan, where she gained a lot of exposure to the world of Investment Banking and Capital Markets as an Economics major. “My fascination with Finance began when I was a sophomore in college and had multiple internships at different investment banks.” said Fang. She spent the majority of her time interning at Merrill Lynch, and ultimately decided to accept an offer as a derivatives structurer from Merrill Lynch in Tokyo after graduating in 1998.

“Because I was trilingual, I was fortunate enough to be transferred to the London office to work on our cross-border structured products business and then eventually relocated to New York,” explained Fang. She worked for a couple of different firms including Goldman Sachs before returning to Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York where she is now the Head of Cross Asset Solutions & Strategies in the Global Banking & Markets division. According to Fang, learning as much as possible about every single asset class, whether it is fixed income, equities, or commodities, as well as the various client industries, to be able to truly understand clients’ strategic issues before responding with effective solutions, is one of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of her role.

“Using technical knowledge to provide C-Suite clients with a complex set of solutions, help them navigate our firm, and deliver the firm’s strengths is very fulfilling,” explained Fang. “I am proud of running a business –and managing a team –that is truly cross asset and cross industry. Given that the banking industry is going through a major transformation as a result of the new regulatory environment post financial crisis, our business model is changing very rapidly,” said Fang, “and a major focus for our team right now is to figure out how to optimize our balance sheet in a way that creates a win-win situation for the clients and our firm.”

This creates a lot of opportunities for Fang and her team to think outside the box and get innovative. “We shine when the problems are complex and the solutions require collaboration of multiple divisions and teams,” she said.

Women in Banking: Embrace Being Different

One of the biggest obstacles that Fang identified for women in banking is the limited amount of networking opportunities that can help foster relationship building and career development. “We need more senior level women leaders in sales and trading, and banking,” said Fang. She applauded the efforts of the industry as a whole to become more diverse, she cited many efforts that Bank of America Merrill Lynch put in over the years to increase Diversity & Inclusion and noted the positive changes that she has witnessed throughout her career in the industry. “Things are very different now, not just in policy, but on people’s minds and in their day to day behavior. More diversity is good for our business.”

“You don’t have to act like a man in order to thrive in a male-dominated industry,” she advised. This is something that Fang wishes she had realized earlier on in her career. “Many women that I coach and mentor have this notion that emulating the behavior of a man will help them go farther in their career, when in fact, that may not be true,” said Fang.

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Movers and Shakers: Lei Chen, Vice President and Head of Enterprise Growth Risk and Information Management, American Express

Lei Chen Lei Chen, Vice President and Head of Enterprise Growth Risk and Information Management for American Express, is very passionate about talent development. This is why she makes it a priority to be actively involved in many of the mentoring, leadership training, and networking programs available to executives at American Express.

“One of the things I am most proud of in my career at American Express is my involvement with the Executive Women’s Interest Network,” said Chen, who led the employee network, and has been instrumental in building it up as a critical platform to help advance and retain women talent through various activities including workshops, guest speaker series, roundtable discussions, mentoring programs and networking events.

“I think it is so important to reach out and help others develop their potential,” added Chen, “and one of the most effective ways to do this is by gathering together, sharing our experiences, learning best practices, and paying it forward.”

Career at American Express
After graduating from Michigan State University with a Ph.D. in Statistics, Chen joined the Risk and Information Management group at American Express where she had the opportunity to develop expertise in almost all areas of Risk Management and across multiple business units.

Currently, Chen serves as Vice President and Head of Enterprise Growth Risk and Information Management where her primary role is to develop risk management strategies and drive growth in the area of non-traditional payment products.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is that I am directly involved in redefining our company’s brand by making our products more accessible and inclusive,” said Chen. “Enterprise Growth group is like a start up inside of American Express. With the launch of Bluebird, a checking & debit alternative, we use emerging technologies to expand our customer segment beyond our premium base, and to enable “financial inclusion” for the underserved population by traditional financial services.”

One of the challenges Chen acknowledged is delivering the brand’s promise for world class customer experience, trust, and security while achieving industry best risk performance.

According to Chen, the leadership support she has received from American Express has played a key role in her personal career development. One of the most notable programs Chen was selected to participate in was the Compass 45 Leadership Program, of which she was a participant in 2006. This was a twelve month program designed to help high potential and high performing leaders further develop their leadership skills through focused training and working on real projects that solve real business problems within the company.

“In addition to strengthening my leadership skills, I built strong connections and network among my peers,” explained Chen. She continued, “Before the program, I used to be a workaholic. Hearing and observing how my peers balanced their work and life, I had my ‘aha moment.’ I was inspired and realized that I can also have it all.”

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