Strategic planning and vision to advance women in financial services
FWA President Annette Stewart’s accomplishments are impressive, to say the least. Not only is she a first-generation college graduate, but she’s also a lawyer and holds an MBA degree. She has nearly 18 years of experience on Wall Street, and still managed to strike the ideal work-life balance. In her most recent role, a senior director focusing on U.S. Business Acceleration and Integration at RBC, she worked remotely from her home in Memphis, TN and traveled to New York City for monthly meetings.
Sherree DeCovny, co-chair of the FWA’s Marketing & Strategic Communications Committee, talked with Annette about her career, her leadership journey at the FWA and how the organization has contributed to her success.
Sherree: Please tell us about your background and career journey.
Annette: I grew up in San Antonio, TX. My first mentor was my grandmother, who left school after the third grade. She was the one who pushed me to strive for excellence in my education and career, and I owe my success to her.
I’m so proud to be the first in my family to attend college. I graduated from Texas State University with a BA in Sociology and Business Administration. I won a scholarship to attend University of Iowa College of Law and was awarded a JD degree and went on to complete an MBA program at University of Michigan.
Atticus Finch, the main character in To Kill a Mockingbird, was a role model for me. My goal in law school was to become a district attorney so I could help people. But after working a summer job in a DA’s office, I discovered that path wasn’t for me. I spent my last semester in law school in London, and that’s when I started thinking about applying my knowledge of case law, the Constitution and contract negotiation to the world of business.
After graduating from University of Iowa, I moved to Chicago and was hired by Citadel Investment Group to review derivatives documentation and serve as a go-between for the lawyers and traders. I like to think that there’s a reason and purpose to everything. I wouldn’t have gotten the job at Citadel without the law degree, and that job launched my career in financial services.
In 2007, Goldman Sachs recruited me, and I moved to New York. After leaving the bank in 2009, I held roles at Markit, Barclays Capital, PwC, Credit Suisse and HSBC. Most recently, I was a senior director at RBC, focusing on U.S. Business Acceleration and Integration where I was responsible for strategy and solutions that solve highly complex business problems. The areas that came under my remit include regulatory directives in global cybersecurity, transformation and onboarding as well as capital markets technology infrastructure.
Sherree: What was your leadership journey at the FWA?
Annette: I joined the FWA when I worked for Goldman Sachs. Some FWA members took me under their wing, and I started to get more involved in the organization. For example, I served as a mentor for the Murry Bergtraum High School program, which I enjoyed because many students had a similar background to mine.
My first FWA leadership position was co-chair of the Emerging Leaders Committee and then chair of the Membership Committee. I also chaired the Men’s Alliance, which was important to me because men have sponsored me in my career. Eventually, I served as secretary, president-elect and now president.
Sherree: How did you benefit from your FWA experience, both personally and in your career?
Annette: The key benefit for me has been the networking and connections. I’ve not only had the opportunity to learn from other members’ experiences, but their honest feedback has helped me navigate and advance my career.
In addition, the leadership skills I’ve acquired by participating in various committees, the Leadership Council and the board have been invaluable in my day-to-day work. These skills have given me the confidence to work with people who have different personalities and perspectives. I’ve learned to listen to people, inspire and motivate them, and work as a team.
Sherree: The workplace has changed a lot over the last few years. How has the FWA changed with it?
Annette: I’m living proof of how the workplace has changed over the last few years. I currently live and work remotely in Memphis, TN. I come to New York City about once a month for work and FWA events.
Like other organizations, the FWA changed out of necessity when Covid struck. We operated virtually throughout the pandemic, but now in the post-Covid environment, our members expect and demand a hybrid offering.
Yet, our core mission remains the same: to advance women in financial services. A top priority is to retain and increase our individual and corporate membership. As such, we need to communicate the value of the FWA and the network. Whether you work full-time/in-person, hybrid or fully remote, you need to take the time to see people, shake a hand or give a hug. I call it “watering the garden” because you never know when you’ll need career support. Our high-quality educational programming enables our individual members to keep abreast of industry trends and our corporate members to showcase their expertise. Finally, our mentoring programs are critical for developing and retaining talent.
My presidency ends on June 30, 2025. I’m looking to close out my term with a great International Business Conference in France on March 9-14. I’m also setting a path for the next Technology Summit in the fall.
Sherree: What advice do you have for our current and prospective members?
Annette: I’ve been fortunate meet so many senior women, attend great events and build my leadership skills through the FWA. I’m thankful for the community and opportunities and friendships that the FWA has provided me.
I would encourage members to take advantage of the FWA’s powerful network to build friendships, relationships, knowledge and skills that can lead to new career opportunities and advancement. Get involved in a committee. Use the FWA to make a difference in someone’s life by being a mentor and helping others. Make the FWA be what you want it to be. I would also call on our Leadership Council to step up because they’re our future board members.
