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WSE Interns Learn About Non-Traditional Career Options in Finance

July 27, 2023

The interns were introduced to an innovative topic in Session 6 on July 25, 2023, which was new to the WSE program: The Future of Finance: Career Paths in Digital Assets and FinTech. A poll indicated that some of the interns had a general knowledge of fintech and digital assets but most did not. The novel session was moderated by Marie Helene Kennedy Payen, FWA member and Senior Director, Operations and Community, New York Life Ventures. She was joined by panelists Yanique Williams, Senior Privacy Program Manager, Fintech, at Meta; Jeanine Hightower-Sellitto, Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer, EDX Markets; Addy Spiller, Senior Director of Product, ORKA Finance; and Liang Zhao, Chief Executive Officer, Vansary.


The session kicked off with a description of digital assets and fintech and how both bridge technology with finance, bringing innovation in a traditional space, and giving more power to people. Both represent a disruption where people are bridging what they have learned and are applying technology to create the future. As one panelist explained, digital assets have value that can be digitized and are identifiable on the blockchain. The value has been created or produced on a chain like bitcoin and can be an NFT like art or a collectible. As a result money coaches and financial coaches like Jim Cramer have emerged and social media is being leveraged to help their viewers learn more about finance. Services are blossoming in print and media that provide resources that people can benefit from. Examples are Mrs. Dow Jones, Vivian, your Wall Street Girlie, and articles being written for online publications like Medium.

The panelists highlighted the key characteristics that are important in these areas which include being innovative, having a positive mindset and a “can do” attitude which makes other people feel better about working with you, and being easy to work with. The ability to effectively communicate is also important as well as managing upwards. The explanation of what it means to manage up was explicit – a manager should not have to guess the status of your work; over-communicate by providing a regular summary; advocate for yourself; and be succinct with bullet points and not a wordy, long document. If interested in this career path, the panelist recommended taking a business writing course.

The interns posed questions regarding starting your own business. A panelist outlined key questions to ask before you take the plunge: 1) What’s the problem you’re solving? 2) How is your business the solution 3) What’s the total available market for the business? and 4) What is your business operating model?


The interns left with the following advice from the team:

  • Build your own network
  • Do something that scares you
  • Trust your process
  • Prioritize self-discovery


The WSE Co-Chairs extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Marie Helene, Yanique, Jeanine, Addy, and Liang for your unwavering support and generosity to the interns and the Wall Street Exchange Program. We appreciate you sharing this innovative and progressive topic with them, and for your many words of wisdom.

FWA Member Darcy Ann Flanders, Founder of BaselineGroupNY, Honored with 2025 WBENC WBE Star Award

February 20, 2025
The prestigious recognition awards 14 woman-owned businesses across the country Darcy Ann Flanders, Founder and Chief Brand Strategist of BaselineGroupNY , has been named a 2025 WBENC WBE Star Award recipient , a national honor celebrating trailblazing women who lead with vision, innovation, and impact while supporting their corporate clients. Selected from a powerful network of certified woman-owned businesses, Flanders stands among 14 honorees nationwide representing WBEC Metro NY, the New York regional partner organization. The award recognizes Flanders as a successful business leader, pushing boundaries, driving innovation, and creating new opportunities for herself, her businesses, and her communities. As the visionary force behind the award-winning creative agency, BaselineGroupNY, Flanders has spent 28 years at the helm transforming brands through compelling stories using visual design. Under her leadership, strategy, and artistry come together to help clients like Capital One, Webster Bank, and Northwell Health cut through the noise with visually impactful creative solutions. For more than 30 years, Flanders has made a name for herself as a trusted leader and partner, combining her extensive expertise with a collaborative approach to help organizations achieve their goals through branding and design. "Receiving the WBENC WBE Star Award is an incredible honor," said Flanders. "At Baseline, we thrive on blending strategy, creativity, and agility to navigate the fast-paced needs of our clients. While we have deep expertise in financial creative services, we proudly serve a wide range of industries, including nonprofit, education, and various service-based sectors. We specialize in bridging the gap between large agencies and in-house teams, seamlessly integrating into existing structures or stepping in as a dedicated creative department for organizations that need targeted support.” Under Flanders’ leadership, Baseline has been a trusted partner in the creative industry since 1997, continuously adapting to the ever-changing landscape. Through the growth of the internet, financial crises, the rise of social media, and the challenges of COVID-19, Baseline weathered each storm—maintaining its reputation and retaining loyal clients who continue to work with them as they join new organizations. The agency has earned recognition from the Financial Communications Society, 2024 MUSE Awards, and 2023 Graphic Design USA. This latest honor from WBENC underscores not just Flanders creative expertise, but her ability to lead and thrive in the face of adversity. BaselineGroupNY looks forward to continuing to deliver the high level of excellence that the 2025 WBENC WBE Star Award espouses for their current and future corporate clients while continuing to influence the future of branding and design. 

Spotlight on FWA President Annette Stewart

January 30, 2025
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.

Registration Open for 2025 FWA International Business Conference

January 16, 2025
Join us in France!  We invite you to join us as a delegate for our upcoming FWA International Business Conference (IBC) , taking place in Paris from March 9–14, 2025 . As always, our IBCs are a great opportunity to learn in an international setting, build your professional career, and grow your network. In Paris you will: Engage with industry leaders and experts on topics such as energy, global markets, technology, women’s leadership, and sustainability Spend time at leading companies, including Skadden, RBC, Natixis, Banque Transatlantique, Crédit Mutuel, Groupe BPCE, and JP Morgan Participate in exclusive panels, workshops, and roundtables hosted by esteemed organizations like Université Paris Dauphine-PSL and JP Morgan’s ‘Women on the Move’ Immerse yourself in Parisian culture through curated evening events, networking dinners, and optional site visits. Click here to view a more detailed agenda (in formation). Conference Fees $1,500 Members* $2,000 Non-Members* *Includes a $500 deposit due by 1/31/2025 to secure your spot (non-refundable should you decide to cancel your registration). Full payment is due by 2/15/2025. Individuals are separately responsible for personal travel and accommodations. Suggestions and recommendations will be provided. Support is available from a travel consultant. Secure your spot today! Deposits are due by 1/31/2025. We look forward to being with you in Paris!

Spotlight on Operations Resource Committee Member Susan Migliaccio

January 9, 2025
Strong governance, risk, and controls expertise supports the FWA’s mission If you have a question about driving technological, financial and strategic transformation, Susan Migliaccio is your go-to expert. With over 20 years of experience, she has a proven track record of advising executives in complex organizations on intricate challenges across finance, operations and technology to achieve their goals. Her unique ability to solve problems from multiple functional perspectives provides valuable insights to her clients and teams. She is adept at building strong relationships with clients and bringing the right people together to achieve consensus and drive change.  Sherree DeCovny, co-chair of the Marketing & Strategic Communications Committee, recently sat down with Susan to discuss how she has brought her expertise to various leadership roles within the FWA.
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