Interns participating in the Wall Street Exchange Program gathered virtually for the program’s sixth session, sponsored and facilitated by MUFG. The session, titled “Own Your Career: Taking Personal Accountability to Drive Your Destiny,” focused on career ownership, mindfulness, and managing workplace stress, essential tools for thriving in today’s dynamic financial sector.
The event opened with a welcome from WSE Co-Chair, Gerri Bostick, who introduced lead facilitator Marguerita Courtney, Managing Director, Global Learning at MUFG. Marguerita then welcomed her colleagues Enid D. Jean-Claude, Deputy General Counsel, Managing Director at MUFG and Raquel Azevedo, Assistant General Counsel, Director at MUFG, who each brought powerful personal and professional perspectives to the discussion.
Marguerita kicked off the session by emphasizing that career mobility is a shared responsibility and interns must take charge of their own development. This includes honest self-assessment, flexibility, and the initiative to seek learning beyond their job description. “There’s no one right way to do things,” she reminded attendees, “so don’t take everything personally.”
Enid and Raquel shared practical tips such as recognizing organizational culture shifts and the critical importance of human connection. As Enid put it, “Everything in life is about the human connection.”
Breakout group discussions followed on the topic of workplace stress and coping strategies. Interns shared challenges such as navigating downtime and finding purpose when workloads are light. Collectively, they offered creative solutions like scheduling coffee chats, shadowing colleagues, and exploring new areas of the organization.
The session included a guided mindfulness exercise led by Raquel, who offered the following tips for success:
- Know yourself
- Be curious and open
- Identify your core values
- Be kind and be flexible
MUFG’s evolving mindfulness initiative, introduced over a decade ago by Director Tsewang Namgyal, now extends to its C-Suite leaders. Interns learned how “slowing down to pause” can boost creativity and resilience. The MUFG team also shared resources including the e-book Integrating Compassion into the Financial Services Industry and recommended Janice Marturano’s book, Finding the Space to Lead.
A heartfelt thank you to the MUFG team for empowering our interns with wisdom that supports not just career growth, but personal well-being. The WSE Co-Chairs, Gerri Bostick and Laura Smith Dunaief, and Committee extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the President’s Circle Firms, Partnership Circle Firms, and Friends of the FWA for their unwavering support and generosity to the interns and the Wall Street Exchange Program.
