Resilience and perseverance are the two traits that have come to epitomize Hermina 'Nina' Batson, a strategic, mission-driven global executive recognized for her impressive track record in financial services and regulatory engagement.
As a senior business leader, Nina possesses invaluable expertise and a distinguished background in regulatory relations, risk management, corporate finance, and successful securitization deals. With over 30 years of experience, she has worked at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, MetLife, and JPMorgan Chase. Most recently, Nina served as the Global Head of Regulatory Engagement for Barclays' Internal Audit. She holds Series 79 and 63 certifications and has earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, as well as a Certificate in Accounting from Hofstra University.
As a facilitation leader who brings clarity and strong negotiation skills to complex transactions, Nina manages and oversees diverse global teams, delivering top-tier services within large international financial institutions. As a change agent and problem solver, her confident mindset, combined with effective executive communication skills, has enabled her to build and lead collaborative, high-performing cross-functional teams across various regions, consistently achieving and delivering exceptional results, often during times of significant change.
Nina leverages her extensive skills to collaborate with senior management, business leaders, and various departments, including legal, compliance, accounting, audit, tax operations, and risk management. She fosters positive, lasting change, effectively resolves issues, promotes regulatory readiness and transparency across the organization, builds credible relationships with global regulators, and earns trust with key stakeholders and executive leaders. Her ability to synthesize important information into actionable strategies and navigate supervisory environments has led to revenue growth, cost reductions, improved expense planning, optimized headcount, streamlined processes, better workflows, and increased efficiency.
Nina is also committed to doing the right thing and giving back to the community. She is a member of the Department of Financial Services (DFS) Equity & Opportunity Advisory Council and the Hofstra Zarb School of Business Dean's Advisory Board. She received the Hofstra Zarb School of Business Alumni of the Year Award in 2024. CIO Views Magazine named her one of the ten Most Successful Black Businesswomen Making a Difference in 2023. In 2022, Crain's New York Business recognized her as one of 105 Notable Black Leaders and Executives. She also received the Markets Choice Awards’ Women in Finance: Excellence in Social Responsibility Award.
Though Nina has received numerous accolades in her career, she does not define success in terms of awards or recognition. Over the years, Nina has defined success in many different ways. In terms of promotion, becoming a leader and a manager of many while successfully navigating and balancing her career as a single mother, her daughter recently graduating college, and pivoting her career post pandemic, are a few of her most recent additional success stories. Now, Nina defines success by building knowledge, fostering a sense of family, mentoring, and finding a sense of purpose.
“It also means being passionate about something, working toward that mission, personally and professionally, and achieving it — sometimes laterally and sometimes taking two steps back to leap forward while realizing that you are making a difference by changing the world one person at a time (if not yourself),” Nina said.
Nina first started attending FWA events as a non-member in 2007 during the financial crisis. After attending many events, that FWA President invited her to get more involved, so she joined the FWA and one of its committees. Since 2009, she has been very active, including (in no particular order) serving as:
- First Black and 58th President of the FWA (2021–2023)
- President Elect and Leadership Council Chair (2019–2021)
- Executive Vice President (2018)
- Vice President of Membership and Engagement Division (2017)
- Membership Chair (2016)
- Membership Co-chair (2015)
- Head of Membership Committee’s Ambassador Program (2014)
- MUFG/FWA President’s Circle Relationship Manager (2009–2021)
- FWA Member at Large (2009–present)
- FWA Immediate Past President (2023–2025)
- Co-chair of the upcoming FWA 70th Anniversary Gala
“Having the privilege to provide executive oversight over dozens of personal and professional development initiatives, featuring and honoring thought leaders that enrich the careers of financial services professionals, and having orchestrated hundreds of events, including an international business conference to Bermuda and the 65th anniversary celebration, both in 2023, have been a few other successes that I’m proud of. The FWA has changed my life. I am honored, proud, and happy to give back via this illustrious organization. We’re here for you throughout your financial services career,” she says.
The FWA Voices Committee, chaired by Leya Yusupov, celebrates and amplifies the voices, stories, and accomplishments of the FWA community. Follow FWA on LinkedIn for more FWA Voices stories featuring our members!
