Paving the Way Forward: Maitri Pandya and the Power of Mentorship

December 12, 2024

When Maitri Pandya first joined the FWA's Baruch College Mentoring Program, she had a clear goal: to learn and grow in her chosen field of investment banking. What she didn’t anticipate was how deeply the program would shape both her academic and personal life. Now a senior at Baruch College, Maitri reflects on how the program has been a cornerstone of her development and how it has sparked a deep passion for mentorship.


“I’ve built meaningful connections with peers and industry professionals, but my mentor, Laleh Bashirrad, has been the most impactful part of this journey,” Maitri shares.


Laleh, a Managing Director at BNP Paribas—a proud President’s Circle Sponsor of the FWA—has dedicated 25 years to the firm. But what truly sets Laleh apart isn’t just her impressive credentials, but her deep empathy and unwavering support for Maitri. From their very first meeting, it was clear that their connection was special. "Laleh is not just a powerhouse in finance; she’s family-oriented, grounded, and someone who genuinely cares about my personal and professional growth," Maitri says.


One particularly poignant moment that stands out to Maitri was during her summer internship with BNP Paribas when she felt the pressure of securing a return offer. "I was overwhelmed by the uncertainty of it all, but Laleh reminded me that ‘everything happens for a reason.’ Her guidance gave me the strength to trust the process," Maitri recalls. With Laleh’s support and reassurance, Maitri successfully completed her internship with the Power, Utilities, and Infrastructure team, later securing a role as an Investment Banking Analyst at BMO Capital Markets after graduation.


“The journey is as important as the destination,” Laleh’s words continue to resonate with Maitri today. It’s a perspective that has helped her stay grounded while excelling in her academic and professional pursuits. It also inspired Maitri to take on a leadership role, mentoring underclassmen at Baruch. "I’m passionate about paying it forward. I’ve seen how mentorship can truly transform someone’s career, and I’m excited to do the same for others."


The bond between Maitri and Laleh goes beyond advice on market trends or career strategies. Through their conversations, Maitri has not only developed technical skills but also learned the invaluable art of balancing work with life. "Laleh has shown me how to pursue my ambitions while also appreciating the small wins along the way," Maitri says.

Maitri's growth story is a testament to the ripple effect of mentorship. The FWA Baruch College Mentoring Program offers more than just career advice—it creates a community of support, empowerment, and shared values. By guiding young women like Maitri, mentors are paving the way for the next generation of leaders, fostering confidence and resilience in a field that still lacks gender parity.



As Maitri prepares to take the next step in her career, she is already looking ahead to becoming a mentor herself. “The FWA program has taught me how powerful mentorship is. I want to be the mentor that someone like Laleh was for me—someone who listens, believes in potential, and encourages growth.”


Mentoring young women isn’t just about helping them climb the career ladder—it’s about creating a lasting legacy of support, empowerment, and progress. Laleh’s belief in Maitri and the guidance she’s received from the FWA program will continue to have a lasting impact on her career.


Are you ready to help pave the way forward? Join an FWA mentoring program and empower the next generation of women leaders. Connect with our program leads to get started:

Baruch - Betsy Werley ([email protected]) or

Seton Hall - Laura Travers ([email protected]) or Laura Bourgeois ([email protected])

 

Thanks to the generous support of sponsors like BNP Paribas and BMO Capital Markets, the FWA’s Mentoring Programs are transforming lives, one meaningful connection at a time.

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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