Voice of Experience: Maureen L. Beshar, Managing Director, Head of Institutional Sales, ClearBridge Investments

MaureenBesharBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Maureen L. Beshar, Managing Director and Head of Institutional Sales and Consultant Relations at ClearBridge Investments, believes strongly in the importance of building self confidence.

She said, “For women in any business – but especially a male dominated business like this – just believe in yourself. Your talents and qualifications are the reason you are sitting in the seat. It’s because of what you offer.”

Having spent three decades in the investment business, Beshar has the experience to know what propels women to the top. “I think women don’t always have the same amount of confidence as our male counterparts. We need to value ourselves more than others value us. That way we can push things forward.”

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Voice of Experience: Leah Modigliani, Senior Vice President, Investment Strategy and Risk, Neuberger Berman

Modigliani_Leah_PicBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“Be yourself,” advised Leah Modigliani, Senior Vice President of Investment Strategy and Risk at Neuberger Berman. She has spent her career studying risk and advising investors on how to manage it. Today, she works with pension funds, endowments, and foundations as a multi-asset class strategist. She encouraged young women to find a way to link their professional interests with their passion.

“Find a way to match what you are interested in with an organization that does it well. Rather than looking to conform, pursue what you are interested in, in a style that’s yours and find a place where you can do that.”

She also encouraged senior executive women to be more vocal about their achievements. “We have to speak up. Understand how to be assertive without being aggressive – there’s a clear distinction in my mind. Then set your expectations high and go for it.”

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Voice of Experience: Anjun Zhou, PhD, Managing Director and Head of Multi-Asset Research, Mellon Capital

AnjunZhouBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

According to Anjun Zhou, PhD, Managing Director and Head of Mutli-Asset Research at Mellon Capital, it’s important to maintain your drive for advancement. “There’s no such thing as staying where you are,” she said.

“There are people at my level who just stop pushing themselves. They say, ‘I’ve reached this point. I’m good enough.’ But if you stop continuing to improve yourself and pushing the envelope, it would do a disservice to you and your company.”

Zhou continued, “I often use the analogy of paddling upstream. If you’re not moving forward, you’re going backward. Don’t be complacent about where you are – always be competitive. This is particularly imperative for research and development. We need to be constantly innovative and think outside box; otherwise we are just going to be left behind.”

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Voice of Experience: Jane Buchan, CEO and Managing Director, PAAMCO

Picture 3718By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“Are there barriers for women in investment management? Yes, of course, began Jane Buchan, PhD, CEO and Managing Director at PAAMCO. “But it’s fascinating, as when I was younger I would have answered no. As you climb up through the pyramid, you see more barriers and more glass ceilings.”

She continued, “They aren’t overt issues. If we pretend that I’m Jack Buchan, not Jane Buchan, people would think I’m at the table because of what I’d done. But as a woman, more and more, you have people saying you’re just here because they ‘needed a woman.’ There are more and more questions of legitimacy, not that you’re here because you’ve earned it.”

Buchan has spent her career in investment management, and now as head of PAAMCO, an institutional fund of hedge funds, she is looking to change the way hedge funds produce returns for her clients. She also wants to see change in the way women are perceived in the industry.

“It’s very hard to deal with. I like what some organizations have done – ensuring there is a diverse pool of candidates for a position, so that it is clear when you pick a person it’s because they are the best person, not just the right gender,” she added.

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Voice of Experience: Janet George, Managing Director, Accenture Technology Labs

janetgeorgeBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

According to Janet George, Managing Director at Accenture Technology Labs, it’s time to start viewing the differences women bring to the table as assets. “I think women are different from men. Our brain structure is different. Our leadership style is different. Our management style is different. Our career styles are different.”

“These differences are strengths when partnering and collaborating in a team environment,” continued George, a technical leader in the emerging technologies space. “They lead to richer discussions. I can tell you – there’s nothing compared to working with smart women.”

“Companies need to take advantage of the value-add that women provide. The challenge lies in under-utilization. We need advocates – both men and women – to change things,” George said. “It’s also important to have advocates in your own career. Being a deeply technical woman, in many cases, is daunting or even isolating. We deal with a lot of complexity. For years I was the only woman with a technical background in the room – and it’s very encouraging to see a changing landscape.”

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Voice of Experience: Jennifer Wu, CFA, Senior Vice President, Institutional Sales and Relationship Management, ING US Investment Management

JenniferWuBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“My advice for women starting out in the asset management industry is to seek out mentors within their respective firms and broadly in the industry,” began Jennifer Wu, CFA, Senior Vice President of Institutional Sales and Relationship Management at ING US Investment Management. “When I entered the industry, I asked people for their insights on career advancement and everyone had the same advice: find mentors who can champion for you.”

She continued, “As long as they are in a position to influence your career development, you need to be open-minded and thoughtful about finding someone who identifies with your ambition, understands your constraints, and someone who is willing to invest in your career.”

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Voice of Experience: Kathy Hannan, National Managing Partner, Diversity and Corporate Responsibility, KPMG LLP

KPMG: Kathy Hannan. Tax department. Photo by Andrew Collings.By Robin Madell (San Francisco)

Ethics. Philanthropic partnerships. Stakeholder engagement. Environmental best practices. Diversity objectives. For Kathy Hannan, these are not just platitudes, but guiding principles. This is both because of what she does, and who she is.

Hannan currently serves multiple executive roles as the national managing partner, chief diversity officer, chief corporate responsibility officer, and global lead partner at KPMG LLP. She has spent nearly three decades at the Big Four tax and advisory firm, whose member firms are among the largest international professional services networks in the world, with 152,000 professionals – including more than 8,600 partners – in 156 countries.

Throughout her long tenure at KPMG, Hannan served in various leadership positions, including vice chair of human resources. She was also the first female area managing partner for the Midwest tax practice. “Throughout my career, I’ve focused on people-related strategic business decisions impacting recruiting, succession planning, career development, training, and benefits,” says Hannan.

Hannan’s list of notable achievements within KPMG include establishing the Women’s Advisory Board (WAB) and Diversity Advisory Board, which serve as counsel to firm leadership on workplace matters. She also established the KPMG Network of Women in 2003 to engage KPMG’s women professionals and deliver a wide array of women’s programs and activities that strengthen strategic alliances locally.

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Voice of Experience: Jennifer Pattwell, Partner, PwC Singapore

JenniferPattwellBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Jennifer Pattwell, a Partner at PwC Singapore, has spent her globe trotting career in pursuit of fun and fulfillment. “It’s something a previous boss and mentor said to me once – there’s no point in doing something if you’re not having fun doing it.”

“If you just take a job to take a job, you won’t have that motivation, and motivation is one of the key things I hold dear. We spend so much of our time at work, it’s important we find that time fulfilling,” she continued.

“Travel was a priority for me at the start of my career, so my career was about fulfilling a key personal priority at the time. It’s about weighing what’s important to you. If you can combine your personal objectives with your career goals, then you are on the right track.”

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Voice of Experience: Kathy Elsesser, Managing Director and Head of Global Consumer Retail Group, Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs

Kathy elsesserKathy Elsesser, Managing Director and Head of the Global Consumer Retail Group in Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs, speaks enthusiastically about the opportunities for women in the financial services. She believes that women can achieve their full potential by being authentic and thinking carefully about what they want in life.

“Know what you want and ask for it. I have noticed a tendency on the part of the women I mentor to take what they’re given and do well with it. But the question I try to ask them is ‘what do you really want?’” She continued, “Ask for the things that will help you get that – versus accepting the things that are presented to you.”

And that mindset can benefit women throughout their career – from the entry level all the way to the top. She encouraged women to think carefully about how their skills and talents could be best leveraged at work. “Especially for women who decide to have a family, I would encourage them to think every day about how they are spending their time. As you get older, you begin to realize that time is a limited resource.”

She continued, “When you have a new project, think about whether this is important, or whether, if you personally do it, it is going to have an outsized return relative to someone else taking it on.”

“I really see women take on what they are given rather than asking whether it’s the best use for their time. If someone else can do it, give it to them and find a higher and better use for your time.”

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Voice of Experience: Beverly Anderson, Executive Vice President and Head of Consumer Financial Services Group, Wells Fargo

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

According to Beverly Anderson, Executive Vice President and Head of Wells Fargo Consumer Financial Services Group, one of the most important lessons she has learned during her career is what it means to be a leader.

“I got some really good advice a few years ago from one of my mentors, and it has helped me so much as a leader,” Anderson said. “I’m an intense person and I push pretty hard to achieve at a high bar. And what I’ve learned about that style is that it sometimes keeps people from coming along with me.”

She continued, “If my style impedes people from getting on board, that destroys my leadership brand and my ability to lead effectively.”

“What I’ve been working on is taking all of that passion and excitement and energy around business achievement, and funneling it in the right way to motivate and inspire the team I work with. It’s a fundamental shift in the way I lead and connect with my teams and partners. It’s been transformative for me.”

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