Oliver Wyman Hosts Wall Street Exchange Interns at Their HQ

July 11, 2024

The FWA Wall Street Exchange interns met with a panel of leaders at the Oliver Wyman offices in New York City on June 26, 2024. The session was held at the headquarters for parent company Marsh McClennan, an international management consulting firm. The topic for the session was “Landing the Full-Time Job and Succeeding in Your Career.”

The organizer of the event was a 2019 Wall Street Exchange intern, Steven Catudal, and he enthusiastically welcomed this cohort to their third session. WSE Co-Chair Gerri Bostick opened the session and introduced the moderator, Rena Zhu, Associate in Financial Services. Rena provided an overview of the parent company, Marsh McClennan, and the role that Oliver Wyman plays as one of the subsidiary companies.


Panelists included: Alice Newkirk, Principal, Corporate & Institutional Banking; Paul Mee, Partner, Digital US Cyber Practice Lead, Finance & Risk, New York; and Vivian Merker, Partner, Performance Transformation Co-Lead, Retail & Business Banking, Finance & Risk, New York. 


The WSE interns asked a series of questions related to their internships and their careers and the panelists generously shared their advice, wisdom and suggestions, including scenarios and stories from their own experiences. Panelists were asked questions such as what their dream job was, what was the coolest project they ever worked on, and how they ended up in financial services. 


In response to a question about the best intern they had ever had, the panelists gave a range of characteristics and actions that the interns could immediately incorporate such as: being curious, exhibiting an understanding of the customer, learning from their mistakes, showing a positive attitude, and being a team player who is always willing to help. One of the “don’ts” the panel suggested is to never wear headphones to a meeting with your boss. The interns were also advised to vocalize what they want and reach out to people who are not on their teams as all of these people are a part of their journey. 


The WSE Co-Chairs extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to Steven, Rena and the panelists from Oliver Wyman for their generosity and guidance to the interns and the Wall Street Exchange Program.


Click here to learn more about the Wall Street Exchange program. For questions about the program, please contact Kelsie Piersaint, the FWA’s Next-Gen Educational Programs Manager.

From Ideas to Impact: The Role of Commitment in Leadership: A Message from FWA President Albana Theka

February 26, 2026
One of the things I value most about the Financial Women’s Association is the creativity of our members. I hear so many thoughtful ideas. New programs. Fresh perspectives. Ways we can continue to grow and evolve as an organization. That energy is a gift and it tells me people care.  At the same time, one lesson I continue to learn as a leader is that ideas are only the beginning. What truly moves an organization forward is what happens next. Often, when an idea is shared, the natural follow-up is a simple question. Who would like to help take this forward? Sometimes there is immediate enthusiasm. Other times, there is hesitation. And that moment is important. It’s not about pressure. It’s about clarity. Many of us are balancing full careers, families, caregiving responsibilities, and personal goals. Capacity looks different for everyone and it changes over time. Being honest about what we can realistically commit to is part of good leadership. The most impactful ideas are the ones that come with a willingness to stay involved. That involvement doesn’t mean doing everything alone. It means helping shape the vision, building momentum, and partnering with others to bring it to life. Organizations thrive when ideas are paired with ownership. When members feel empowered not just to contribute suggestions, but to help guide them toward execution. Even small steps of follow-through create momentum and trust. At FWA, we welcome ideas. We value curiosity and innovation. And we also believe that commitment, in whatever form is realistic for you, is what turns good ideas into meaningful impact. When vision and follow-through come together, everyone benefits. That’s how we continue to build a strong, supportive, and sustainable community.

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Perfection Is the Enemy of the Good: A Message from FWA President Albana Theka

February 11, 2026
In finance, precision, rigor, and discipline are essential, and they will always remain core to how we operate and make decisions. At the same time, there is an important distinction between maintaining high standards and allowing the pursuit of perfection to slow progress, dilute impact, or prevent action altogether, particularly in moments that require speed, adaptability, and judgment. One of the most valuable leadership lessons I have learned is that waiting for perfect conditions often means missing the opportunity to act when it matters most. Markets move quickly, organizations evolve in real time, and the world rarely presents us with complete information or ideal circumstances. If we wait until every variable is known and every detail refined, we often find that the moment has already passed. Perfection is the enemy of the good. Progress, especially in complex and dynamic environments, rarely comes from flawless execution. It comes from informed decision making, from moving forward with intention, and from being willing to adjust as new information emerges. Most meaningful advances are not perfect at the outset, but they are good enough to create momentum, learn from experience, and evolve into something stronger over time. This mindset is particularly important for leaders, and it is especially relevant for women in leadership. Too often, women are conditioned to believe that we must be fully prepared, fully qualified, and fully certain before stepping forward or making decisions. That expectation, often applied more harshly to women than to others, can slow progress and limit both individual and collective impact. Agility is not about lowering standards or acting without care. It is about being responsive, thoughtful, and decisive in the face of uncertainty. It requires confidence in our judgment, trust in the teams we lead, and the willingness to course correct when circumstances change. Moving fast does not mean moving blindly, it means recognizing that learning and improvement often happen through action rather than delay. At the Financial Women’s Association, we strive to lead with this balance in mind. We are committed to excellence, but we also value momentum. We move forward deliberately, but without paralysis. We test new ideas, listen closely to our community, and continuously refine our approach, understanding that progress is an ongoing process rather than a final destination. As leaders, our responsibility is not to eliminate uncertainty, because that is rarely possible, but to navigate it with clarity, courage, and a bias toward action. When we choose progress over perfection, we create space for innovation, growth, and meaningful change.  Let us continue to lead in this way, with confidence, adaptability, and purpose, supporting one another as we move forward together.
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