WiS Week 2023 – Leader Spotlights

WiS featured profiles of accomplished women in securitization during WiS Week 2023. These women were nominated by their firms for the outstanding contributions they have made to the Structured Finance Association, their organizations, and the finance industry.

María Paula Moreno
Regional Head Americas Structured Finance
Fitch Ratings

“Making change and empowering younger women in the industry is extremely inspiring. I’m a firm believer in just how much difference a single person can make on a person’s career. I want younger generations to feel there is no limit to what we as women can accomplish, that they know their voices will be heard. And I am confident that I can help reshape the conversation to make sure women’s voice will be heard in the industry.”  Read More

Pat Evans Schulze 
Managing Director, Global Capital Markets
Wilmington Trust

“Find someone in the next level up to connect with. If you can reach out and connect with someone as a mentor, that’s ideal. But if a mentor isn’t in the picture, still look for someone who is open and can find the time to be a resource for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Be a sponge for experiences they share and, when you have made that next step, look behind to see who you can lift up and for whom you can make a difference.”   Read More

Aoiffe McGarry
Managing Director
Citi

“Gender equity starts by understanding the status quo and then working toward recruiting a representative class. Transparency around representation of women in finance allows us to understand the gap, and work together on how we are going to close it. Talent development, equal opportunities, and equal pay policies all have a role to play to increasing the representation of women in finance.”  Read More

Sheuvaun Vernon  
Associate
Schulte, Roth and Zabel LLP

“A good leader has ‘integrity, self-awareness, respect, empathy, and gratitude.’ Women generally do not inherently lack these traits; however, when women are in leadership, there’s often a lack of respect for our authority and a lack of gratitude for our ideas and contributions. It would likewise be helpful for men in the workplace to be self-aware, actively listen to their colleagues, and not take the contributions of the women on their team for granted.”  Read More

Christina Grigorian
Partner
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

“My biggest advice is that you have to devote time at the start of your day to reading as much industry information as you can. I look at least 14 different industry newsletters in the morning. You are a better practitioner and advisor if you have an understanding of the most pressing issues affecting your clients and the industry within which you work.”  Read More

Janet Jozwik 
Senior Managing Director of Product Innovation
RiskSpan

“You need to have women in substantial leadership roles. An all-male executive team or a team where women only hold ‘Back of the House’ leadership roles just will not cut it anymore. I’m fortunate to have worked for strong female leaders throughout my career. These leaders not only provide an example career path for junior women to follow, but they are also are involved in key discussions about advancement and opportunities given to women throughout the organization.”   Read More

Leah Goldmintz
Senior Vice President of Capital Markets
CoreVest Finance, a Redwood Trust Division

“My advice to other women in the industry is to be confident in your abilities and not be afraid to speak up and share your ideas. Your perspective and insights are always valuable, and you should remember that you have a unique voice and outlook to contribute to a conversation. This is advice that I have struggled to keep in mind at various points in my career. However, all my strong women mentors have impressed this advice on me throughout my career and I think it is extremely valuable.”  Read More

Eileen Ho
Partner
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

“Be yourself. Earlier in my career, I felt like I had to conform to a certain mold to be successful. It’s easy to look around and think that to belong, you have to be like everyone else. However, it gets exhausting and I started to question whether this was the right career for me. I decided I needed to be myself, and if that didn’t work out, then this wasn’t the right path for me.  Once I started opening up more, I made closer connections with others in our industry. These connections opened up new opportunities for me, which in turn gave me more confidence.  I felt more invested in not only my work, but also the greater finance community.  Feeling part of something bigger helps when you inevitably hit a rut and need to push through and stay the course.”   Read More

Gannon Schaefer
Head of Securitized Products Sales
BMO Capital Markets

“In my own experience, women are less likely then their male counterparts to raise their hands for “reach” positions and more likely to pass the opportunity to someone else because they are afraid to fail or think they are not ready. Through a few different experiences, I’ve seen that no one is every quite “ready” to step into a role, run with a large client opportunity, or create a new business opportunity. You learn “on the go,” and through hard work, make it a success. Being ready for the next job is less about having the perfect resume and more about having the chance to tackle challenges. Good managers give you the opportunity to take on situations that require you to push yourself and provide feedback. The more you navigate, the more you realize you are capable of the next thing, even if you don’t know exactly what that looks like upfront. I’ve been lucky to have leaders that have shown me what this kind of trust and enablement looks like.”  Read More

Jennifer Kornblau
Global Head of Securitized Products Syndicate
J.P. Morgan

“Every day is a new day, bringing new opportunity. We cover so many clients across a variety of products amid a backdrop that is constantly evolving. We have countless chances to help our clients and to make a difference. One person, action or gesture can have a ripple effect and effectuate change. I feel fortunate to work with incredible people on all sides of the business – managers, teammates, colleagues, clients — who are passionate about what they do and are committed to driving the business onward and upward. I know how lucky I am to go into work every day.” Read More