During this Women’s History Month, we asked three of BNY Mellon Wealth Management’s women leaders to think about the key influences in their career journey. Beyond hard work and dedication to our clients, mentorship also had a distinct influence on their success.

We share some of their thoughts and advice to inspire the next generation of women leaders and to celebrate the impressive careers each has had in finance and at BNY Mellon.

How did mentorship have a positive impact on your career?

I remember the first times in my career where I was able to travel and spend time with clients face-to-face. My mentors invited me to meetings and helped me gain appreciation for the relationships our teams build with clients. These were the most important experiences in my early career. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from talented team members, gaining real-world experience out of the office.

How can someone seek out mentorship opportunities?

Over the past 20 years, I have participated in a number of formal and informal mentorship relationships. Each experience has been unique and helpful in a different way. While participating in a formal program is a wonderful opportunity, I encourage my team members to look for all different types of opportunities to learn from others.

What advice would you give to younger women starting a career in finance?

Always be inquisitive, creative and empathetic. Every task and project probably has a hidden efficiency. Those who take the time to learn other perspectives will continue to stand out and persevere.

How did mentorship have a positive impact on your career?

I have been the beneficiary of some terrific mentors over the course of my career. Two were particularly valuable because they shared candid and constructive ideas for improvement. When one of those mentors retired, he purposefully connected me with a different senior executive giving me a very valuable view of executive-level responsibility. The feedback and connections from my mentors were instrumental in advancing my career and helped me be a better mentor to colleagues.

How do you foster mentorship in organizations you serve?

A client once told me he gave of his time and money as if he were spreading seeds because you never know what’s going to grow. I loved that sentiment and it has become my approach to mentorship. It has motivated me to contribute to the development of others through individual mentoring and also support for nonprofit organizations. Even having a single, confidential conversation with a junior colleague can help them navigate the challenges they are facing—and you never know what will grow out of the time you give.

What advice would you give to younger women starting a career in finance?

Seek out a mentor you trust. Having a safe, confidential person who can be candid and constructive is a powerful thing and getting suggestions and advice from someone with no agenda is invaluable. And as you make career decisions, worry less about what others might think and focus more on what you can learn from a new opportunity.

How did mentorship have a positive impact on your career?

I have been fortunate to work closely with talented leaders. Each of them were mentors to me, leading by example and relishing in providing an environment for their colleagues to thrive. They inspired performance and personal growth with regular praise and credit. Observing the power of positive behavior helped shape how I collaborate with others. Never underestimate the power of kindness.

How do you support mentorship within your team?

I never ask someone to complete a task that I would not do or have not done. I also dedicate time and effort to helping my colleagues achieve success. I’m always happy to explain why a task needs completion, offer advice on how they may want to go about it and acknowledge their accomplishments. And I am candid about when I have stumbled in my career and how I have learned from those situations.

What advice would you give to younger women starting a career in finance?

First, accept the fact that you may fail along the way. It’s okay and the rewards are the valuable lessons learned. If you learn one lesson from failure, the difficult experience was worth it. Second, be curious – you will be amazed by the learning opportunities this thinking creates. And lastly, seek out others. Support and friendship with colleagues of all levels are important to your personal happiness which helps pave the way for professional growth.

About Mentorship at BNY Mellon

At BNY Mellon, we believe that mentoring is a valuable component of professional and personal development.  Many of our businesses have both mentoring and reverse mentoring programs that have successfully supported the development of talent in our organization.  We encourage all colleagues to engage in mentorship to help individuals further develop their career, collaborate cross functionally and enhance their skillsets as well as engage in community service to make a positive impact in the community that they serve.