Her Success Matters

In this episode, Christine sits down with Elizabeth Koehler, head of the advisor insights team at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm guiding individuals, financial professionals and institutions in building better financial futures. The theme of the episode is exceptional leadership and what it takes to get there. Specifically, the conversation highlights the sheer importance of women helping other women and a reminder to lead with empathy and compassion. Elizabeth (Liz) Koehler leads by example in the workplace at BlackRock, promoting women to, “take the stage” and own their voice, as well as being a mentor and sponsor to many. Liz is vehemently working toward a diverse and equitable financial services industry by exuding authenticity and embodying integrity. Tune in to this episode to hear Liz’s life hacks, tips and tricks, and how she juggles it all.

In this episode, Christine speaks with Jessica Tuman, senior executive at Voya Financial and head of Voya Cares, about the impacts of the caregiving industry and the increased importance of financial planning since the pandemic. Voya Financial helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings with a goal of becoming "America’s Retirement Company" while being equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible.

Jessica leads the Voya Cares Center of Excellence, which serves the special needs community — including those living with disabilities and special needs and their caregivers — offering access to tailored financial wellness and retirement planning solutions. Jessica brings over 20 years of experience in investment management strategy and solutions, and she is passionate and committed toward helping employees create a more diverse, inclusive and supportive environment for employees with disabilities and their caregivers.

In this episode, Christine speaks with Kris Chester, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Kestra Financial. Kestra has a focused approach to serving financial professionals and their clients, and Kris is responsible for ensuring that Kestra offers advisers the latest technology and highest-quality service while overseeing the continued simplification and streamlining of business processing. This episode is all about the importance of choosing risk, and Kris brings a unique perspective to the table as a working mother who has had to make choices and take risks along the way while valuing flexible leadership and a healthy work/life balance.

In this episode, Christine speaks with Meghan McCartan and Leah Jones about the importance of self-investment, and specifically about investing in financial literacy at a young age. Meghan McCartan is managing director and head of marketing at Hightower Advisors, and Leah Jones is director of financial planning at Hightower Bethesda. Hightower Advisors understands that wealth is about more than money, it’s about freedom, security, legacy and balance. It’s the ability to create your own unique story, for your business and for your clients. Both of our guests bring a unique perspective and not only embody this vision in their careers, but have seen the impact of living it out in their day-to-day lives, passing along the importance of financial literacy through education to their own children and colleagues.

In this episode, Christine speaks with Natalie Wolfsen, chief executive officer at AssetMark, for a discussion surrounding purpose and how women can create meaning in their work while reaching for top C-suite positions. Natalie leads the strategic vision for the firm, which encompasses its platform of curated investment and technology solutions, business consulting and operations support, and strategic acquisitions that serve the best interests of financial advisers and their investors. AssetMark is one of the largest fintech companies in the industry, leveraging technology to fuel its mission to help financial advisers make a difference in the lives of their clients.

In this episode, Christine speaks with Fizza Khan, Founder and CEO of Silver, about the importance of betting on yourself. A pioneer in providing outsourced compliance services to investment firms, Fizza is an expert on regulations governing investment advisers, broker-dealers, and registered and private funds. Silver is a firm that provides regulatory compliance, ESG and due diligence advisory services to the investment management industry. Fizza founded Silver in 2018 so she could align her purpose and profession.

In this episode, Christine speaks with Shareen Luze, head of culture and field experience at RBC Wealth Management-U.S. Shareen holds a very unique title and role within financial services as it’s a newly created position within the firm designed to address employee well-being at a time when, thanks to the pandemic, workers everywhere are feeling the strain of the complex and competing roles they fill at work and at home. Shareen is a 15-year veteran of the firm and as the former head of human resources, she led RBC's efforts to support employees during the pandemic as they struggled to balance roles as caregivers and professionals. She was the driving force behind several initiatives to make sure people had the resources they needed, including emergency school closure leave, coverage for the cost of emergency childcare and expanded benefits to cover virtual medical care. Shareen speaks about her unique career path in the finance world, and as a vocal advocate for removing the stigma surrounding mental health, she shares her personal struggles with anxiety and the tools she’s used to find her voice along the way despite challenges.

In this episode, Christine speaks with Robyn Shepherd, head of corporate engagement at Bridgewater, a global leader in institutional portfolio management and the world’s largest hedge fund. Robyn fills us in on her journey to success as she continues to build communities for the advancement of women in financial services and provide listeners with the tools and influence you need to increase self-improvement throughout your career.

In this episode, Christine speaks with Penny Pennington, managing partner at Edward Jones, about how women can thrive, not just survive, in their careers. Edward Jones is a Fortune 500 financial services firm, and Penny is the first woman to lead Edward Jones in its near 100-year history. She is responsible for the firm’s strategic direction — working together with more than 49,000 associates across North America to make a positive impact in the lives of Edward Jones’ clients, colleagues and communities. Penny shares her personal journey and keys to success as one of the most influential women in financial services.

In this episode, Christine talks with Rajini Kodialam, co-founder and chief operating officer at Focus Financial Partners, about how women can create action plans for success! Focus Financial is one of the leading RIA aggregators in the marketplace, managing $300 billion in client assets. Rajini shares her key ingredients for success, including why women need to embrace self-confidence to succeed and build a solid support system.