Spotlight on Operations Resource Committee Member Susan Migliaccio

January 9, 2025

Strong governance, risk, and controls expertise supports the FWA’s mission


If you have a question about driving technological, financial and strategic transformation, Susan Migliaccio is your go-to expert. With over 20 years of experience, she has a proven track record of advising executives in complex organizations on intricate challenges across finance, operations and technology to achieve their goals. Her unique ability to solve problems from multiple functional perspectives provides valuable insights to her clients and teams. She is adept at building strong relationships with clients and bringing the right people together to achieve consensus and drive change.


Sherree DeCovny, co-chair of the Marketing & Strategic Communications Committee, recently sat down with Susan to discuss how she has brought her expertise to various leadership roles within the FWA.

Sherree: Susan, to start off, please tell us about your professional background.

 

Susan: I studied Accounting in college, and I have my CPA. I began my career in audit, performing financial statement audits at Deloitte before being recruited by PwC. In 2006, I joined PwC's consulting arm. At PwC, I rose to the level of director, working with clients across diverse industries and sizes – from individuals to Fortune 100 companies. My role was to advise them on complex operations and finance matters, ranging from crisis management and resolution to general business advisory. I had the privilege of working on the ground with global clients in their local country operations, partnering with local PwC colleagues to incorporate cultural considerations into our approach and outcomes.

 

In 2018, I joined Bank of New York as part of the Transformation and Program Management team, providing leadership and oversight on high-priority, cross-functional, strategic bank efforts. My portfolio of work included platform conversions, business relocation and digital transformation to improve the user experience, enhance operational efficiency and mitigate risk.

 

Currently, I’m a director in Securities Services at BNY, where I lead change management initiatives across the Asset Servicing client service teams. I’m responsible for planning, executing and scaling new ways of working to enhance internal and external client experiences, protect and grow client relationships and drive optimal outcomes for both clients and the firm.

 

Sherree: Can you tell us about a time when you had to pivot in your career?

 

Susan:  Absolutely! Anyone who has a long career will find themselves pivoting at one point or another. My biggest pivot was going from the consulting world to being an in-house strategy and change management agent. I had been a consultant for over 10 years at that point, and my biggest challenge was going from a billable environment to an in-house consultant and advisor. The best part of making this transition is that I get to see the results of my projects and see the continuation of my efforts. I would be happy to talk to fellow FWA members who are considering that change in their careers.

 

Sherree: How long have you been a member of the FWA, and why did you decide to join?

 

Susan: About 15 years ago, I started attending some networking events at my firm to broaden my connections. Some people I met suggested that I should check out the FWA as well. I was so impressed by the caliber of the FWA’s programming and the people that I became a member.

 

Sherree: What leadership roles have you held in the FWA, and how have you benefited?

 

Susan: Soon after I joined the FWA, I became an active member of the Professional Services and Liaison Committee, which created programming for accountants, lawyers and other professional services providers. Volunteering on a committee gave me an opportunity to get to know other members in a smaller, regular/recurring setting and quickly build meaningful relationships within the organization.

 

The following year, I was asked to co-lead the Professional Services and Liaison Committee, which I did for a couple years. I served as the FWA’s treasurer for two years. I stepped off the board temporarily, and then returned a couple years later as chair of the Audit Committee – a role I held for three years.

 

More recently, I was appointed to be a member of the Operations Resource Committee (ORC) along with Katrin Dambrot and Stephanie Hauge. Our remit is to support the FWA’s office – sometimes by taking on special projects. For example, this committee reviewed our policies and practices to support the FWA’s move to a virtual office, from inception to its current mature state, to ensure alignment with the risks and opportunities associated with this change. Ultimately, our goal is to leave the FWA in a better place than when we started.

 

On reflection, each role and committee I participated in has a specific focus, so I was able to see the FWA through a few different lenses. Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to share and learn from a diverse group of people who have gained unique expertise from working in different companies. It’s been a very enriching experience.

 

Sherree: How would you like to see the FWA evolve in the future?

 

Susan: The FWA’s vision is to promote professional development and advancement of all women through education, mentorship, networking, alliances and advocacy across the financial sector. As such, I’d like to see the organization continue to identify relevant educational programming for our members and students and be seen as a resource for the latest thought leadership. It’s so important for us to reflect the way the financial services industry is innovating and evolving.

 

Sherree: How have you benefited from the FWA?

 

Susan: I treasure the friendships and relationships I’ve built through the FWA. It’s fantastic to partner with like-minded individuals who have diverse experiences and goals. I always have someone to call when I need to get feedback on my ideas. Importantly, the experience and skills I've gained through my volunteer roles have been invaluable in helping me to drive my career forward.

 

My advice to members is join a committee and be an active contributor because you get out of the FWA what you put into it.







Enhance your FWA involvement today!

Preparing for What's Next: Cailyn Kitchens and the Power of Mentorship

August 13, 2026
by Robert Brown "I believe that mentorship is incredibly valuable, especially during college as you are navigating a lot of changes and first-time experiences." For Cailyn Kitchens, a junior at Baruch College, those words aren't simply a reflection on her college experience. They've become the foundation of how she's prepared for her future. Following her junior-year internship at Scotiabank, Cailyn credits the Financial Women's Association's Baruch College Mentoring Program and her mentor, Laleh Bashirrad, Managing Director at BNP Paribas, with helping her approach one of the most pivotal chapters of her college journey with greater confidence, curiosity, and perspective.

Wall Street Exchange Interns Get an Inside Look at Strategic Communications

August 6, 2026
On July 7, 2026, interns in the FWA’s Wall Street Exchange (WSE) Program came together virtually for the fourth session of the summer, titled “Strategic Communications,” sponsored by Joele Frank. Jordan Resnick, HR Specialist, and Heather Wallach, Talent Acquisition Manager, introduced interns to Joele Frank and the world of strategic communications, a field many interns had never considered as part of the financial services landscape. Jordan and Heather explained that Joele Frank advises companies through their most consequential moments, from mergers and acquisitions to shareholder activism, restructuring, leadership transitions, and crisis response, ranking as the #1 U.S. M&A PR advisor and #1 shareholder activism defense advisor in the industry. To bring the firm’s work to life, Jordan and Heather walked interns through several high-profile engagements, including Joele Frank’s support of Warner Bros. Discovery, a current client, as an example of how the firm helps companies navigate high-stakes, high-visibility situations in real time. The discussion underscored that effective strategic communications require not just managing a narrative, but protecting a company’s credibility with every audience watching, from investors and employees to the media and the public. Jordan and Heather also broke down the many disciplines that fall under the strategic communications umbrella, including investor relations, corporate and media relations, governance and corporate stewardship, design, and digital strategy. They emphasized that the firm hires like a law firm, bringing on Account Associates directly out of undergrad, and encouraged interns interested in the field to build strong writing skills, stay current on financial news through outlets like The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, and consider Joele Frank’s summer internship or full-time Account Associate programs as a path into the industry. Interns had the opportunity to ask questions throughout the presentation before breaking into small groups to discuss their key takeaways from the session and reflect on what they had learned so far this summer. Many interns shared that the session reshaped their understanding of what a career in PR actually looks like, moving past common misconceptions to reveal a discipline built on strategy, judgment, and relationships. Several groups also highlighted the session’s emphasis on soft skills, noting how much communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence matter in a field so often mistaken for being purely about writing press releases. At the conclusion of the session, the WSE spun the wheel to award a CFA Society Student Membership, sponsored by the CFA Society, to Sarah Convery. Congrats, Sarah! A huge thank you to Jordan Resnick, Heather Wallach, and the entire Joele Frank team for giving interns a behind-the-scenes look at the strategic communications industry. 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 for their unwavering support and generosity to the interns and the Wall Street Exchange Program. 

Wall Street Exchange Interns Learn Foundations for Professional Excellence

July 30, 2026
On June 23, 2026, the FWA's Wall Street Exchange (WSE) Program 2026 cohort gathered virtually for the third weekly session of the program. The session was sponsored by Knopman Marks, a boutique NYC-based firm known for its high-performance training for securities licensing exams. Brian Marks, Co-Founder and President of Knopman Marks & Highwire, led a practical, high-energy conversation titled "Foundations for Professional Excellence." The first topic that Brian discussed was the habits that drive a successful early career and why those habits matter well beyond an internship. The skills interns build now are the same ones that separate a good intern from a great one; and that later separate a good professional from a high performer. He described high performance, not as a matter of raw talent, but rather as a set of behaviors one can practice. The habits put in place early are the ones that compound. The interns who start practicing them now are the ones who carry them from an internship with limited responsibilities into executive-level responsibility later. The interns then reviewed a series of four credibility builders and four credibility killers, proactive behaviors that shape how senior professionals come to trust a young professional. Owning your mistakes and learning from them is a key credibility builder and surprising your manager with bad news at the last minute is a major credibility killer. The interns then rated themselves on a Strategic Action Matrix, a four-box framework charting how strategy: “Are you focused on the right things?” interacts with execution: “Are you doing the work to get there?”. He asked interns to consider one or two new habits they could put to work immediately. Brian impressed upon the interns that professional excellence is thinking strategically and executing well, while stepping outside their comfort zone, stretching past their limits and building resilience when the plan changes. Brian then introduced the five strategies in The Intern Success Playbook, emphasizing that interns are building their personal brand every day through what others observe. Whether it's staying focused instead of constantly checking a mobile phone or taking the initiative to connect with colleagues, everyday actions shape how others perceive them. His five strategies focused on working and communicating smarter, building authentic relationships, and paying close attention to perception and details. The interactive format kept energy high. Interns enjoyed the live Q&A, the quiz, and the chance to ask questions. A screen full of Zoom hearts spoke to the value they found in his advice. A huge thank you to Knopman Marks and Brian Marks for investing their time and expertise in the WSE 2026 cohort. The session concluded with the WSE Committee awarding intern Sarah Convery a CFA Student Annual Membership, sponsored by the CFA Society. The WSE Co-Chairs, Gerri Bostick and Laura Smith Dunaief, and the WSE Committee extend their sincere appreciation to Brian Marks and Knopman Marks for their support in making this virtual session a success. We also thank the FWA President Albana Theka, FWA leadership, volunteers, sponsoring firms, and participating employers for their continued commitment to providing this valuable experience to the next generation of financial professionals. 

Wall Street Exchange Interns Learn Networking Best Practices

July 23, 2026
Interns participating in the 2026 Wall Street Exchange (WSE) Program gathered virtually for the program’s second session, an interactive panel discussing “Networking Best Practices.” Sponsored by S&P Global, Northwestern Mutual, and Wells Fargo, the session brought together three financial services professionals to share how they have built and sustained meaningful relationships throughout their careers. The discussion was moderated by Dan Yu, Co-Founder of FutureProof You and Director of Partnerships at the talent development nonprofit Ascend Leadership . After a long career on Wall Street, Dan pivoted to recruiting and career coaching, work that has since taken him from coaching college students to C-level executives. He set an energetic, conversational tone for the panel, joined by Jena Angeliadis, Executive Director and Senior Lead Product Manager at Wells Fargo; Antonietta Gaudio, Recruiting Operations Manager at Northwestern Mutual; and Christina Siekierski, Senior Product Manager at S&P Global.  Jena traced her own path across American Express, JPMorgan Chase, and now Wells Fargo, encouraging interns to think of networking less as a transaction and more as an ongoing practice built on curiosity and follow-through. She pointed to her own career transitions, including launching the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card, as proof that relationships built early in a career often resurface in unexpected and valuable ways later on. Drawing on nearly 14 years in talent acquisition, Antonietta spoke about her “white glove” approach to building trust, urging interns to lead every interaction with empathy and authenticity rather than a polished pitch. She reminded the group that confidence in networking is built from within, and that the goal of any conversation should be genuine connection, not simply a foot in the door. Christina offered a product manager’s view of networking, describing how cross-functional relationships across product, commercial, and client teams at S&P Global have been just as important to her growth as relationships built outside the office. She encouraged interns to treat every colleague, not just senior leaders, as a connection worth investing in. To help interns put the panel’s advice into action, Dan closed the session with five “homework” assignments to complete in the weeks ahead: Update your LinkedIn profile Build a Linktree or dotcard Join or start a virtual networking group Reply to your three oldest unanswered text messages, using voice text Call someone you haven’t spoken with in a year A huge thank you to Dan Yu, Jena Angeliadis, Antonietta Gaudio, and Christina Siekierski, and to S&P Global, Northwestern Mutual, and Wells Fargo, for helping interns build the confidence and tools to network with purpose. At the conclusion of the session, the WSE Committee awarded a CFA Society New York student membership to Angela Lin. 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 for their unwavering support and generosity to the interns and the Wall Street Exchange Program.
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