FWA–Baruch College Mentoring Program Spotlight
Adelisa Music is a rising star with a bright future in finance. A college student at Baruch, she’s built her success through focus, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning. Along the way, the Financial Women’s Association’s Mentoring Program at Baruch College added another dimension to her journey, giving her the guidance and confidence to take her ambitions even further.
“My experience with the
FWA Baruch College Mentoring Program was more than transformative,” Adelisa says. “It served as a guide and support throughout college, introducing me to people and opportunities that opened doors I didn’t know existed and helped me learn more about my strengths and weaknesses.”
From the start, she knew she wanted a mentor who could offer both professional insight and genuine guidance. “I recognized the need for someone I could lean on,” she explains. “Importantly, I wanted to learn how to navigate career planning and professional development as a woman.”
That mentor came in the form of Ellen Sills-Levy, President and CEO of ESL Insights, LLC, past FWA President, and a 14-year mentor in the program. Ellen still remembers their very first conversation. “I was struck by Adelisa’s intelligence, curiosity, creativity, and genuine compassion,” she says. “She came ready to learn, but she also brought warmth and perspective beyond her years. Her deep connection to her family and the way she speaks about them has always been an endearing part of who she is.”
Their relationship soon evolved from structured mentoring to something deeper, a partnership built on trust, learning, and encouragement. Over coffee chats and Zoom calls, they discussed everything from professional growth to personal confidence. “Ellen gave me advice that helped me apply for jobs, work on my interview skills, and develop leadership abilities I can use anywhere,” says Adelisa. When she hesitated to apply for a competitive opportunity, Ellen helped her reframe her thinking, and Adelisa landed the position. “Because I had someone to lean on, I was able to feel more confident and get something that I wanted.”
Through that process, Adelisa discovered the power of self-advocacy and persistence. “From my mentor, I gained important skills that include networking, goal-setting, and advocating for myself,” she says. “These lessons helped me embrace a growth mindset.” Ellen adds, “Adelisa continues to inspire me. As she graduates from Baruch and steps into her full-time role at Merrill Lynch, I look forward to seeing her continue to flourish.”
This December, Adelisa will graduate and begin her new position as a Wealth Management Client Associate with Merrill Lynch, a division of Bank of America Wealth Management, a milestone that reflects both her hard work and the mentorship that helped her refine her path. “The guidance and support I received from the FWA Baruch College Mentoring Program have served as a hand when I needed it most,” she says. “Becoming a mentor myself one day would be a great privilege.”
For Ellen, that impact is exactly what makes mentoring so rewarding. “As a past FWA President and a mentor for 14 years, I can say that mentoring has enriched my life in countless ways,” she says. “I’ve learned as much from the women I’ve mentored as I hope they’ve learned from me. Many of these relationships have grown into lasting friendships. This program is one of the FWA’s greatest strengths—a powerful engine for women’s advancement in a world where major challenges persist.”
At a time when some companies are scaling back inclusion and mentoring programs under the banner of “merit,” the FWA–Baruch College Mentoring Program continues to stand for what truly drives progress: access, representation, and belief.
As Adelisa’s story proves, mentorship doesn’t just shape a career—it empowers women to see their own potential and soar.
Get Involved
Are you a professional ready to pay it forward? Or a student seeking guidance? Join us. Learn more about our Mentoring Programs 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])
Ellen Sills-Levy (left) and Adelisa Music (right).
