How to Change The Status Quo – By 10 Influential Women in Finance (Part 1)
Women make up the majority of the U.S. population, yet women still hold less than 20 percent of positions of power in the financial sector. The finance industry is still a male-dominated industry despite huge advances.
Recent series profiled numerous women in Authority Magazine who defied the cycle and became influential figures in the financial industry. Here is what 10 women leaders said when they were asked about their intentions if they could start a movement to change the status quo and things for the future.
Julie Fox (UBS – Financial Services Director)
– She encourages women to enter the industry and remain in it. She believes that to do that, all people should work together hand in hand no matter how different they are. She believes that change is possible, and if done right, it can adjust the way business with clients is operating.
Lisa M. Buckingham (Lincoln Financial – EVP)
– Lisa encourages women to be themselves, fearlessly. She believes that authenticity is essential in today’s society as it means knowing what it’s best for you and accepting and embracing your own version of a successful life. Lisa shares that a thing as simple as having the choice to choose what to wear for work can unleash people’s creativity. Hence, being ourselves and being celebrated for it can make the world a much better and more beautiful place.
Cynthia C. Merkle (CEO of Union Savings Bank)
– Merkle strongly suggests education be at the front. She shares her personal experience and how education served her well in her career. She thinks there are a lot of inequalities in education and hopes what she and her team are doing in USB for the educational programs in her community can do some help.
Lindsay Sacknoff (TD Bank – SVP)
– Lindsay is a woman who stands for a healthy environment. She believes that making time for employees and leaders to come together is very helpful to network and gets together. That would be through building this routine of taking walks, exercising, and relaxing together to help encourage a healthy workplace physically and mentally.
Melissa Stevens (Fifth Third Bank – Chief Digital Officer)
– Melissa is holding her voice for America’s future generation. She believes that poverty is really negatively impacting children’s lives and stacking the odds against their ability to lead a better life than their parents. As the wealthiest nation, it’s disturbing to see that there are around 20% of children in America who suffer from poverty and go to bed hungry every night. So for her, she would lead a movement to change that fact.
“Success, they taught me, is built on the foundation of courage, hard-work and individual responsibility. Despite what some would have us believe, success is not built on resentment and fears.” – Susana Martinez
