Meet Our Mentee - Electra Economopoulos

May 4, 2023

Electra Economopoulos, a recent graduate of Baruch College with a BBA in Marketing Management, had a fulfilling experience as a mentee in the FWA mentoring program. Her FWA mentor, Kim Hanson, played a crucial role in her personal and professional development, providing her with guidance and support in navigating college and finding opportunities that align with her future.


Kim, who is the Head of B2B Thought Leadership Content at BMO Capital Markets and has over 20 years of experience in the industry, offered Electra an internship opportunity on her team. This opportunity allowed Electra to gain valuable experience and expand her network.


Electra was also able to interact with Kim in both a professional and personal setting, often enjoying lunch or dinner with colleagues or attending various conferences and events. Kim also served as a role model, so Electra could visualize the skills she needs to achieve her professional goals. According to Electra, “Working with Kim fast-forwarded my career plans. My BMO work experience and her career advice transformed me from a college marketing major to a professional.”


One experience in the FWA mentoring program that made Electra feel empowered, inspired, and motivated was the annual Conversations with FWA Pacesetters event hosted by FWA at Baruch. Electra enjoyed hearing from the women making strides towards their career goals and ambitions, while also learning about the companies they work at. Each panelist shared both inspiring and impactful work that they do, and career advice.


Electra is eager to advance her career, personal development, and professional relationships while also lifting up other young professionals. The exceptional programming offered to the entire cohort of mentees helped her start the journey of completing those advancements. Electra's experience in the FWA mentoring program and her mentor's support led to her success in her career, and she is grateful for the opportunity.


Inspired by Electra’s story? Ready to mentor a talented college student launching her business career? Contact Baruch College program lead Betsy Werley ([email protected]) or Seton Hall University program leads Donna Harris ([email protected]) or Lu Licciardello ([email protected]).

From Albania to FWA President: My Story, My Vision, Our Future

July 3, 2025
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.

Become a Mentor with FWA’s High School Mentoring Program

July 2, 2025
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.

Wall Street Exchange Interns Learn What It Takes to Deliver and Excel

July 1, 2025
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 .

Women Shaping Fintech's Future: Highlights from Our "Transforming Finance" Event

June 26, 2025
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 .
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