Chen is part of the Group's Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) program. From June 2022-June 2023, Chen served on the Board of Directors of the Financial Women's Association (FWA) and participated in the FWA Pacesetters 2023 Cohort. In 2023, Chen was selected as one of the Next Generation Leaders (NGL) of the Committee of 100, a non-partisan membership organization founded by leaders such as Yo-Yo Ma, I.M. Pei, and Chien-Shiung Wu. Chen received her BA in Honors Business Administration from Richard Ivey Business School, Canada.

FWA JOURNEY & INVOLVEMENT

My initial exposure to the Financial Women's Association (FWA) was through Wall Street Exchange (WSE). In 2013, I was interning in Manhattan and heard about this talent development program, which provided job search and leadership skills for free! I applied right away, as I believed it would enhance my summer internship experience. My WSE cohort was composed of high-caliber, driven peers from diverse backgrounds. WSE was a success because of the efforts put forth by each individual through peer learning, even though clearly our facilitators provided much-needed guidance.

I vividly recall our closing reception where we received graduation certificates in August 2013 at NYSE Euronext. I am still in touch with two friends to this very day—we continue to act as each other's sounding board on major life topics such as career, family, etc. The WSE experience signaled to employers the dedication of prospective analysts, and leveled the playing field for those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, since everyone went through the same "common core" from resume writing to communication skills training.

It was through this program that I saw what FWA had to offer as a professional association. Right after I joined as a member, I rolled up my sleeves. I served on the WSE Committee by organizing content-based events and providing opening remarks at receptions to junior finance talents. I then became a Global Agenda Committee member, with a focus on the latest trends in the interconnected and turbulent global economy. I also briefly served on the President Circle (PC) Committee, where I listened to what corporate partners wanted from organizations like FWA. In the spring of 2019, I attended the International Business Conference (IBC) in India as part of an exceptional delegation. We spent a week in Mumbai and New Delhi, immersing ourselves in the rich cultures and commerce opportunities the land had to offer.

LEADERSHIP & MENTORSHIP

Between 2019-2020, I chaired the Emerging Leaders Committee. By recruiting 19 rising stars at different Wall Street firms, I was able to orchestrate the roll out of a strategic workshop for 40 veteran professionals on career pivots and prioritization skills. Between 2022-2023, I served on the Board of Directors of FWA. One of my most rewarding endeavors was leading three "Courageous Conversations" featuring 13 Hispanic, Black, and Asian leaders in finance for 120 attendees to share best practices on promoting diversity and inclusion on Wall Street.

Those close to me know that personal finance is a passion of mine. Creating the space to discuss what wealth meant to different groups of members fostered stronger bonds. Lifting as we climb, we relied on each other's unique backgrounds and strengths to make informed decisions about money, careers, and communities.

When it comes to FWA, I always observe unparalleled professionalism. The organization has a rich history of accelerating the leadership and success of women—almost 7 decades of servicing the financial industry truly speaks to its unwavering commitment! An interesting fact is FWA's first IBC trip was to China, way back in 1978. Next spring, the trip will take a delegation to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This demonstrates a tremendous amount of foresight and international reach. In short, I seek inspiration from FWA contacts and events all the time.

The second thing that sets the FWA apart from other volunteer-led organizations is its wide network of industrial veterans who are willing to mentor more junior members. I was helped greatly by several mentors both on professional matters and on work-life integration. In turn, I was happy to put WSE on one of my mentees' radar this summer. She is a first generation college student and found WSE to be very helpful. After successfully completing WSE and her internship, she secured a full-time offer when the odds were stacked against new grads! I believe this is just the beginning of a successful career in finance. I am immensely proud of her to have "done it all" while taking care of study, work, and an ailing family member.