Nikita Bijlani on Breaking Barriers and Embracing Growth Through the FWA Baruch College Mentoring Program

November 14, 2023

The Financial Women's Association-Baruch College Mentoring Program has been forging powerful connections between driven students and seasoned financial professionals for decades. One of the program's featured mentees, Nikita Bijlani, a standout, exemplifies the program's true success.


Under the mentorship of Aidi Zheng, a Director of Global Markets Corporate Banking and Hedge Fund Credit Risk at BMO Capital Markets, a President's Circle Sponsor of FWA, Nikita Bijlani's career trajectory has undergone a remarkable transformation.


Nikita's journey, shaped by Aidi's guidance, has been truly impactful. In her own words, she reflects on the program's influence: "My experience with the FWA Baruch College Mentoring Program has been very impactful on both me and my career. My mentor, Aidi, has been one of my biggest supporters... I learned to stand up for myself in ways I did not know how to before... The mentoring program pushed me to believe that I could do better and work harder at my goals to achieve them."


Motivated by the pursuit of excellence, Nikita's inspiration to join the program stemmed from her participation in the Rising Starr Sophomore Program at Baruch, a program that highlighted financial literacy and values in line with the FWA. Her mother's achievements in finance further motivated Nikita, so she sought guidance with the hopes of fostering her own potential and self-advocacy skills.


Aidi's mentorship provided Nikita with the motivation to strive for excellence, emphasizing continuous learning and networking for personal and professional growth. A crucial lesson from Aidi was overcoming the fear of asking questions, empowering Nikita to express her opinions confidently.


"A significant takeaway from Aidi was the skill to break the glass ceiling," notes Nikita. When faced with a challenging project outside her comfort zone, Aidi's unwavering support fueled Nikita's determination to excel, demonstrating that the sky is no longer the limit; it's just the beginning.


Entering her junior year with a predefined finance path, Nikita's horizons expanded under Aidi's guidance, prompting her to consider diverse career opportunities within the finance industry. As she envisions becoming a mentor herself, Nikita acknowledges the incredible impact of the FWA community, stressing the importance of giving back to the next generation.


Nikita Bijlani's story stands as a testament to the FWA Baruch College Mentoring Program's ability to ignite ambition, dismantle barriers, and propel emerging professionals toward success. As she prepares for her internship at BMO Capital Markets next Summer, Nikita embodies the FWA's mission to empower women in finance and inspire future leaders to break boundaries and reach new heights.


Inspired by Nikita’s story? Ready to mentor a talented college student launching her business career? Contact Baruch College program lead Betsy Werley ([email protected]) or Seton Hall University program leads Donna Harris ([email protected]) or Lu Licciardello ([email protected]).

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

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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.

Kathryn Mayer Shares Highlights from Our 'Elevate Your Network' Event

May 29, 2025
Highlights from Kathryn Mayer: I’m honored to have been the featured speaker at the Financial Women’s Association (FWA) event, Elevate Your Network, Empower Your Career . A huge thank you to the FWA Membership & Engagement Committee, Erin K. Preston, Samantha DiMercurio, and Marsh McLennan for making this happen. Networking is evolving as many of us are returning to the office again, and FWA members are eager to rebuild their skills. Despite the rainy evening, the energy, engagement, and willingness to be vulnerable made this workshop unforgettable. I opened with this powerful insight: "Research shows that new ideas and career opportunities are most likely to come from weak ties – relationships outside our closest circles."* To illustrate this, I shared my own experience—how a simple question to my book editor led me to a life-changing conversation with keynote speaker and bestselling author Victoria Labalme who is a weak tie. Her advice? Just start calling yourself a keynote speaker. That shift in mindset transformed my approach, leading to new opportunities within weeks. Then, I challenged attendees with an interactive exercise. Each participant partnered with someone they didn’t know, spending five minutes brainstorming a person they wanted to meet or a request they could make to connect with a weak tie. The energy in the room was electric as women realized the untapped potential in their networks. Next, we explored key principles of strategic networking: defining its purpose, differentiating mentor-sponsor relationships, and identifying the 10–15 critical connections that drive success. Attendees then paired with new partners to reflect on how they define themselves—not just professionally, but through their education, family roles, hobbies, volunteer work, and social circles. Many discovered surprising commonalities, from boxing to shared alma maters, reinforcing the power of authentic connections. By the end, everyone walked away having met at least two to three new people and with actionable strategies to enhance their network. If you want to dive deeper, I cover strategic networking in my newly released book, The Productive Perfectionist. I also write a monthly blog on leadership development, so stay ahead of the curve and subscribe! Plus, if you're looking for coaching or training, visit kcmayer.com to connect and to buy my new book! *Gianpiero Petriglieri, “How to Make Better Friends at Work,” MIT Sloan Management Review, volume 65, no.3 (Spring 2024), page 44

Spotlight on Ariel Boverman, Nominating Committee Chair

May 22, 2025
Building and retaining leadership and a pipeline for the future Ariel Boverman is a human resources (HR) professional who has used her expertise to guide executives though organizational change at top firms including Marsh and McLennan, PwC, EY and Wells Fargo Advisors. She represents the Nominating Committee on the FWA’s board, and previously, she served on the board of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In her free time, Ariel loves engaging with diverse people and cultures and being a tourist in her own city. Sherree DeCovny, co-chair of the FWA’s Marketing & Strategic Communications Committee, spoke with Ariel about her background and her role in helping the FWA ensure sustainability through strong leadership. 
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