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!

Rising Star: How Mentorship Helped Adelisa Music Find Her Wings

November 20, 2025
FWA–Baruch College Mentoring Program Spotlight Adelisa Music is a rising star with a bright future in finance. A college student at Baruch, she’s built her success through focus, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning. Along the way, the Financial Women’s Association’s Mentoring Program at Baruch College added another dimension to her journey, giving her the guidance and confidence to take her ambitions even further. “My experience with the FWA Baruch College Mentoring Program was more than transformative,” Adelisa says. “It served as a guide and support throughout college, introducing me to people and opportunities that opened doors I didn’t know existed and helped me learn more about my strengths and weaknesses.”

FWA Annual Summit Recap: Disrupting Wall Street

October 24, 2025
On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, the Financial Women's Association's Annual Summit: Disrupting Wall Street highlighted how disruption is touching every aspect of our industry - from our cities and workplaces to the global economy. From Kathryn Wylde's call to rebuild public-private partnerships to Rick Rieder's global outlook, we were reminded that we're living through a new kind of industrial revolution. Every session pushed us to think bigger. We began with a powerful keynote from Kathryn Wylde who reminded us of the urgent need to revive public–private partnerships, particularly amid uncertainty in our own city. Conversations in following panels turned to the adoption of AI within individual firms, and considered how it is changing how we work on a day-to-day basis, fundamental aspects of our organizational structures and how they operate, and wider macro implications of advances in technology which will foundationally impact employment and education. Many speakers addressed the fact that we will need to learn to manage the masses of data at our disposal and the various implications of its usage. We are seeing the rise of the sophisticated retail investor in the markets, and increased discussions about the role of private credit markets. Here in NYC, we are known as the hub for Fintech and second only to Silicon Valley in venture capital. There is a revolution going on here too from increased investment in helping people to build financial resiliency or the disruption of the ecosystem to bring more capital to female or mixed gender led businesses. The enormity of the upcoming wealth transfer to women will only exacerbate this change. Yet amid all the talk of advances in technology and continued innovation, one key message came through clearly: the human component remains front and center. Leaders shared the value they place in collaboration and networking, and numerous speakers emphasized the concept of trust, whether it is between private and public partnerships, the ability of leaders to support their employees as AI is adopted within their firms, the relationships with regulators, or the acceleration of Fintech. Culture and behavior are also key; many of our speakers talked about experimentation, democratization, and staying curious. They reminded us not to be afraid of change and to seek out others to learn from. While some of these things may at times feel daunting, it can also be a time of exhilaration. We at the FWA are excited to be a part of your journey through all of this - supporting our members as they navigate and shape the future of finance. Thank you to our incredible host, Amazon Web Services (AWS), our Summit Sponsors Korn Ferry, Trianz, Concierto, and N-iX, our Promotional Partners Al NYC, TechWalk NYC, and This Week in Fintech, and our event organizers, the FWA Annual Summit and Fintech Committees. To every speaker, attendee, and committee member who helped make the day unforgettable, thank you for showing up ready to learn, share, and make an impact.

Registration is Open for the 2026 FWA International Business Conference in the United Arab Emirates

October 9, 2025
We invite you to join us as a delegate for our upcoming International Business Conference (IBC) , which will be held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on April 19-24, 2026 . This event will provide members with career-enhancing insights and create a unique opportunity to connect with influential leaders abroad. Join us to: Explore new developments in finance, investment, and sustainability in the UAE Develop an understanding of the UAE’s role in global markets and sovereign wealth investment Gain insights into innovation, fintech, and energy transition Engage in discussions about best practices in corporate governance, diversity, and leadership Build your professional network through direct access to regional and global business leaders Click here to learn more!

Hermina “Nina” Batson: Fearless Leadership and a Lasting Legacy in Mentorship

October 2, 2025
What happens when a setback sparks a calling? For Hermina “Nina” Batson, walking away from electrical engineering wasn’t the end of her high school dream; it was the start of a fearless career in financial services—one built on integrity, courage, resilience, fortitude, determination, and a strong commitment to giving back. The daughter of Panamanian parents, Nina grew up on Long Island. At Hofstra University, she took steps to create opportunities for every student to feel included and have the chance to succeed. “Every student must have the opportunity to be successful, even if they don’t know how,” she says, a belief that continues to guide her. Long before Nina became a corporate leader, she taught financial literacy to underserved individuals in the communities she served, helping them understand the basics of money management and find pathways to independence. Mentoring, in one form or another, has always been part of her story.
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