Highlights from the FWA 2023 Annual Summit - The Grit Factor: Change Agents Shaping Our Industry

May 25, 2023

What an exhilarating two days at the FWA's Annual Summit! 


Day 1 Highlights 


We heard from keynote speaker Jean-Yves Fillion, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors at BNP Paribas USA, FWA Male Ally of the Year 2021, who shared his personal commitment: 


“Today as Vice Chairman of the USA, I believe that is my personal duty to ensure that women are given the same level of opportunity here at BNP Paribas as their male colleagues. It's promoting this equality for women as well as equality for all groups that will help drive the success of the bank, the industry at large and candidly the global economy.


It is for such inclusivity that we will attract and retain the top talent to provide our clients with the best-in-class service for which we're known.”

   

The Eurozone Panel and Economic Outlook featured BNP Parisbas panelists from Europe and North America shared insights on the global economy given geopolitical developments, last year’s energy crisis and the  fundamental questions we face regarding energy and transformation. We also discussed how the collapse of banks on both sides of the pond, inflation and insecurities around supply chain are affecting the markets and decision making. 


Dr Melissa Fisher shared key findings from her FWA commissioned research on The Post Pandemic Return to Work in Finance Among Women and Underrepresented Populations

   

Aurora Pllaha, shared the impact that the FWA and her mentor have had on her aspirations and career. She shared, "because of these sessions, I felt more encouraged to answer questions and even start asking them.” Aurora's mentor was Shannon Seidel, currently VP of Process Management at Prudential. “It has been such a privilege to have her as my mentor, because of her versatile background and her inspirational climb up the ladder with the firm.”


Day 2 Highlights 


In our Fireside Chat with Jelena Buraja, Chairman of the Board of Rietumu Banka, the largest local capital bank in Latvia, shared insights on the Latvian financial markets and business issues, that are inevitably tied with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. How the Baltic states are re-orienting to new markets and new regulatory requirements. How can we aspire for the ESG goals at the time of economic uncertainty and how do we deal with persistently high inflation and stagnant economic fundamentals. Plus, we spoke about the role of women in finance – how we all need to encourage ladies to take initiative and make decisions to advance their careers. Jelena is on the 40 Under 40 list of bank executives by Latvian Forbes magazine as the most successful woman in Latvian financial industry (2023).

       

The panel on Fostering a Diverse, Equitable, Inclusive and Supportive Work Culture brought leaders from Citizens, BNP Paribas and SMBC, all members of the FWA’s Presidents Circle, to share their personal, hands-on practical experience in building thriving work cultures and accelerating positive change. 


We heard from the Executive Director and COO of the FWA who shared the work the FWA is doing building the next generation of leaders. This year alone the FWA Next Generation Programs invested more than $330,000 in programs, scholarships and other funding to support 142 young women FWA Mentees attending colleges and universities.


FWA President Nina Batson closed the day with BNP Paribas Vice-Chairman Jean-Yves Fillion.  Attendees and speakers all stayed to enjoy food and cocktails. 


Thank you to all of the 2023 Panelists!

FWA Celebrates Leadership, Legacy, and a Bright Future!

June 18, 2025
By Joanna Jordan, FWA Intern "Give me an F! Give me a W! Give me an A! F-W-A!" This was the level of non-stop energy and overwhelming passion that lit up the SMBC Group offices at our Annual Meeting and New Member Welcome on June 10, 2025. It wasn’t just any Annual Meeting; it was a moment of reinvention. The FWA turned the page and stepped into a bold new chapter with the official welcome of our new President, Albana Theka. Albana didn’t just step onto the stage. She owned it. She stepped into the role with fire, flair, and a plan that’s as fearless as she is. Her speech was not your typical podium read. It was intimate, real and relatable. Albana took the audience on a personal journey, from her roots in Albania to her bold leap to the U.S. in search of purpose. A Google search led her to the FWA in 2019, and the rest is history. From that digital moment to this very real one, her journey came full circle. Now, she’s here to lead. And she’s not playing small. With big goals such as a 20% increase in membership, four new corporate partnerships, a digital transformation, and four brand-new committees (hello Florida, AI, Voices of the FWA, and Lifescape), Albana is shaping a future full of purpose and power. And her energy while doing it? Absolutely contagious. The night wrapped with a surprise musical performance by Albana and George Theka, her husband. It was a heartfelt tribute to the FWA and everything our community stands for, and it was unforgettable. With our 70th anniversary on the horizon, the FWA isn’t just celebrating legacy. It’s rewriting the future, with more voices, more impact, and more fire than ever before. Ready to be part of what’s next? Connect with Albana , follow us on LinkedIn , and join this powerful movement. Let’s build this exciting new chapter together! 

Wall Street Exchange Program Kicks Off at AWS offices in NYC

June 18, 2025
The Financial Women's Association (FWA) proudly kicked off another impactful summer of the Wall Street Exchange Program on June 11, 2025. The program is now approaching its 50th year of advancing excellence, connection, and leadership for the next generation of financial professionals. This year’s program opened with a dynamic, high-energy event hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) at their Midtown NYC office. We are deeply grateful to Megan Restuccia, Priya Chesnutt, PhD, Tomris Postaci, and the rest of the dynamic AWS team for their warm hospitality. It was a seamless orchestration of a powerful evening that brought together 70 exceptional interns representing financial services, insurance, and other finance-related roles across the industry. The kickoff included an engaging speed networking bingo activity, which was a big hit! The interns made meaningful new connections, broke the ice with future collaborators, and began building the kind of professional relationships that often lead to lifelong friendships and mentorships. As one intern said: “This is a huge opportunity to connect with so many people in the finance industry. I’m looking forward to making new friends and having an incredible summer. Thank you all for making this possible.” With the bar set high, the 2025 Wall Street Exchange Program is officially underway, and we look forward to a summer full of learning, growth, and transformative connections. A heartfelt thank you goes to the FWA leadership who helped make this evening possible, including FWA President Albana Theka who welcomed the interns and offered words of wisdom to help them succeed; Alissa Desmarais, Executive Director & COO; and Meredith McGriff, Director of Technology and Communications. Their presence and support are instrumental to the continued success of the WSE program. The WSE Co-Chairs and Committee extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the President’s Circle Firms, the Partnership Circle Firms, and the Friends of FWA Firms for their unwavering support and generosity to the interns and the Wall Street Exchange Program.

FWA Welcomes Board Members for 2025-26

June 12, 2025
Please join us in congratulating and welcoming the new and returning Financial Women’s Association Board Members for the 2025-2026 term. We look forward to working with you to support and serve our community. Thank you for your leadership and service!

Introducing FWA's 2025 Summer Interns

June 5, 2025
The FWA is pleased to welcome Riya Shah and Joanna Jordan from the Jaggar Community Fellows Program at Adelphi University . This competitive program offers paid nonprofit internships, benefiting both organizations and students. Riya joins us as our Database Management & Data Analysis intern, and Joanna is our Marketing and Communications intern.
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