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It was only a couple of weeks ago that I stood in front of many of you at our Annual Members Meeting . The moment I took the stage as the 60th President of the Financial Women’s Association, I felt a wave of gratitude—not just for the role, but for the road that brought me here. That road started thousands of miles away, in a small city in southern Albania. I was 16 years old when I told my parents I wanted to go to America—not just to visit, but to live, to learn, to build something bigger than what I could see around me. Although a difficult decision, my parents supported me. They knew that as a woman, growing up in a country that had seen communism, a difficult transition to democracy, civil war and refugee crisis, I wouldn’t have the same opportunities if I had stayed. That decision would change my life forever.

The Financial Women’s Association (FWA) is now inviting applications for mentors to join our Mentoring Program at the High School of Economics and Finance (HSEF) . This is a unique opportunity to mentor a high school junior or senior and make a meaningful impact by providing guidance, support, and inspiration as she navigates her academic journey and begins exploring future career paths. As a mentor, you’ll: Empower a young woman to succeed in school and beyond Develop your own leadership and coaching skills Connect with a dynamic network of FWA professionals Contribute to building the next generation of women in finance and business Mentor Requirements: Must be an active FWA member Available for structured mentoring sessions Committed to supporting youth development and career readiness Ready to make a difference? Apply here: https://forms.gle/8yy8q2JfWddb2vB27 To learn more about this opportunity, please review the FWA HSEF Program Guide PDF and the Urban Village Mentor Info PDF . Want to make an even bigger impact? We're looking for an enthusiastic and energetic FWA member who is passionate about supporting and empowering the next generation of women leaders in finance to co-chair the FWA High School Mentoring Program Committee and help lead our program at the High School of Economics and Finance (HSEF). Prior mentorship experience is preferred. This role will be part of the FWA Leadership Council. If you are interested, please reach out to FWA Educational Programs Manager Kelsie Piersaint ( [email protected] ) and HSEF Program Chair Meishanka Moodley ( [email protected] ) for more information.

On June 24, 2025, interns in the FWA’s Wall Street Exchange Program came together virtually for the third session of the summer, an energizing and highly practical experience titled “Foundation for Professional Excellence.” The session was sponsored by Knopman Marks, a boutique NYC-based firm touted for its high-performance training for securities licensing exams. Nina Batson, former FWA President, introduced the session presenter Brian Marks, Partner since 2010, Head of Performance, and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. Brian delivered an interactive, high-impact session designed to give interns tangible tools they can immediately apply in their internships and long after. His guidance included: Five Credibility Killers, including two critical missteps: Handing your boss a problem without offering a solution Saying, “That’s not my job” Five Credibility Builders, including: Taking initiative by asking, “What would take this to the next level?” Applying feedback immediately and visibly to show responsiveness He also introduced interns to a Strategic Action Matrix, a 4-box framework that maps strategy vs. execution, encouraging interns to assess where they currently fall. He encouraged them to strive toward the high-performance quadrant where strategic thinking meets strong execution. Brian challenged interns to step outside their comfort zones, just 4% beyond, to stimulate growth, even when facing fear, mental roadblocks, or a lack of confidence. His advice? Take small, consistent actions that stretch your limits and develop resilience. One of the session’s most resonant takeaways was the reminder to “land the plane.” In other words, your work isn’t done until you’ve evaluated the success of a project and reflected on what worked and what didn’t. Interns had the chance to ask questions throughout, and Brian’s thoughtful, actionable responses helped them better understand how to own their effectiveness, work through ambiguity, and build reputation capital within their organizations. A huge thank you to Knopman Marks and Brian Marks for investing in the next generation of finance professionals. 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 .

By Samantha Corredor, FWA Member As fintech rapidly evolves, one thing is clear—women are driving innovation and shaping the future of finance. That vision came to life at our recent "Transforming Finance" event, hosted in collaboration with NYC Fintech Women and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Held at AWS’s New York City office, the evening brought together bold thinkers, trailblazing technologists, and finance leaders to explore how blockchain, cryptocurrency, and AI are redefining the financial landscape. The evening featured two thought-provoking panel discussions that brought together women leading the charge at the intersection of finance and technology. Breaking Barriers – The Institutional Adoption of Crypto, Blockchain, & Digital Assets Moderated by Ruchy Sharma , Principal Analytics GTM Specialist at AWS, this panel explored how institutions are embracing crypto and digital assets despite a complex regulatory landscape. The panelists—all women shaping this space—shared candid perspectives: Elle Leemay Chen – Investor, Reciprocal Ventures Kristen Keyes – Head of Strategic Partnerships & Enterprise Sales, Paxos Caroline Tarnok – VP, Financial & Operational Risk, Coinbase Nelli Zaltsman – Head of Platform Settlement Solutions, Kinexys by J.P. Morgan Each of these leaders is pushing boundaries in a space still largely defined by legacy systems, helping financial institutions adopt and adapt responsibly. The Tech Stack of the Future: Building Secure & Scalable Digital Assets Led by Vivian Lai , Principal Capital Markets Specialist at AWS, this discussion focused on what it takes to build tech infrastructure that can scale with the growing demands of digital assets. The panel featured: Jeffrey Alberts – Partner, Pryor Cashman Eric Kang – Head of DeFi, Ava Labs Jasmine J . – Digital Assets Strategist, Fidelity Digital Asset Management (FDAM), Fidelity Investments Elizabeth Dethy – Principal, Head of Sell Side Product, Talos Panelists provided valuable insights into how tech and finance must work hand-in-hand to ensure security, transparency, and long-term viability. Closing Remarks FWA President Albana Theka closed out the evening by thanking our partners and the FWA community. Since our founding in 1956 by pioneering women in finance, we’ve remained committed to ensuring that women not only have a voice—but also the tools, networks, and visibility to lead in financial innovation. See More from the Event Check out the event photos below! For more highlights and videos, follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram .

What does it take to network effectively in the digital age? During Week 2 of this summer’s Wall Street Exchange Program , Dan Yu, co-founder of FutureProof You , moderated an animated, expert panel on Networking Best Practices that addressed this topic. Panelists included Christina Li, Managing Director and Global Head of Strategic Partnerships at Goldman Sachs; Olivia Ross, Community Engagement Partner for Citizens Bank; and Elizabeth Virga, Director of Regulatory Enforcement for SMBC. In addition to sharing their own compelling experiences, the panelists impressed the program interns with their candor and practical suggestions for building strong networks. Some of the many tips shared included listening with purpose to make informational interviews more constructive, focusing on building deeper relationships with connections, and emphasizing the value of asking others for feedback about yourself. These skills are even more important in the digital age. Panelists also emphasized the importance of optimizing LinkedIn and cultivating their networks through social and other virtual platforms. The session culminated in a collective sharing of helpful books, podcasts, websites, and other resources to continue to improve participants’ networking skills.  The WSE Committee extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to our moderator and panelists for a terrific session. We are also grateful to FWA President’s Circle sponsors Citizens Bank and SMBC, and to Goldman Sachs for their support of the Wall Street Exchange Program .

By Joanna Jordan, FWA Intern "Give me an F! Give me a W! Give me an A! F-W-A!" This was the level of non-stop energy and overwhelming passion that lit up the SMBC Group offices at our Annual Meeting and New Member Welcome on June 10, 2025. It wasn’t just any Annual Meeting; it was a moment of reinvention. The FWA turned the page and stepped into a bold new chapter with the official welcome of our new President, Albana Theka. Albana didn’t just step onto the stage. She owned it. She stepped into the role with fire, flair, and a plan that’s as fearless as she is. Her speech was not your typical podium read. It was intimate, real and relatable. Albana took the audience on a personal journey, from her roots in Albania to her bold leap to the U.S. in search of purpose. A Google search led her to the FWA in 2019, and the rest is history. From that digital moment to this very real one, her journey came full circle. Now, she’s here to lead. And she’s not playing small. With big goals such as a 20% increase in membership, four new corporate partnerships, a digital transformation, and four brand-new committees (hello Florida, AI, Voices of the FWA, and Lifescape), Albana is shaping a future full of purpose and power. And her energy while doing it? Absolutely contagious. The night wrapped with a surprise musical performance by Albana and George Theka, her husband. It was a heartfelt tribute to the FWA and everything our community stands for, and it was unforgettable. With our 70th anniversary on the horizon, the FWA isn’t just celebrating legacy. It’s rewriting the future, with more voices, more impact, and more fire than ever before. Ready to be part of what’s next? Connect with Albana , follow us on LinkedIn , and join this powerful movement. Let’s build this exciting new chapter together! 

The Financial Women's Association (FWA) proudly kicked off another impactful summer of the Wall Street Exchange Program on June 11, 2025. The program is now approaching its 50th year of advancing excellence, connection, and leadership for the next generation of financial professionals. This year’s program opened with a dynamic, high-energy event hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) at their Midtown NYC office. We are deeply grateful to Megan Restuccia, Priya Chesnutt, PhD, Tomris Postaci, and the rest of the dynamic AWS team for their warm hospitality. It was a seamless orchestration of a powerful evening that brought together 70 exceptional interns representing financial services, insurance, and other finance-related roles across the industry. The kickoff included an engaging speed networking bingo activity, which was a big hit! The interns made meaningful new connections, broke the ice with future collaborators, and began building the kind of professional relationships that often lead to lifelong friendships and mentorships. As one intern said: “This is a huge opportunity to connect with so many people in the finance industry. I’m looking forward to making new friends and having an incredible summer. Thank you all for making this possible.” With the bar set high, the 2025 Wall Street Exchange Program is officially underway, and we look forward to a summer full of learning, growth, and transformative connections. A heartfelt thank you goes to the FWA leadership who helped make this evening possible, including FWA President Albana Theka who welcomed the interns and offered words of wisdom to help them succeed; Alissa Desmarais, Executive Director & COO; Kelsie Piersaint, Educational Programs Manager; and Meredith McGriff, Director of Technology and Communications. Their presence and support are instrumental to the continued success of the WSE program. The WSE Co-Chairs, Gerri Bostick and Laura Smith Dunaief, and the entire WSE committee extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the President’s Circle Firms, the Partnership Circle Firms, and the Friends of FWA Firms for their unwavering support and generosity to the interns and the Wall Street Exchange Program.

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!

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.

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

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.