“The women I serve with are truly dedicated to lead, mentor, and inspire. It is rewarding to be a part of that community.”
“I have learned so much from so many, made amazing friendships, found business opportunities and felt supported along the way.”
“It takes a village to make progress and positive change in the world. When it comes to my career in finance, I found my village within FWSF.”
Path to the Board: Let’s Hear from Some VPs
By Anne Evers, Membership Committee
This is the last of three Path to the Board articles (miss the earlier ones? Check them out: Path to the Board: First Step ─ Maximize Your Membership by Joining a Committee and Path to the Board: Co-Chairs Speak Out). We've heard from various committee members and co-chairs about why they are involved with the organization. Scholarship Committee Co-Chair Tamarra L. Brown said it best: “Being part of the board is an opportunity to see the hard work of many dedicated members to make FWSF possible. Board members are supportive and active in all aspects of FWSF.”
If you’re new to the organization, give it a try! Raise your hand and volunteer for a committee (see info at end of article about whom to contact). After gaining experience about the inner-workings of the organization on a committee, if you’re ready, the next step is a board position as a committee co-chair, more than likely related to the committee(s) for which you have volunteered. Committee co-chairs serve for a maximum of two years, then either transition to another committee or possibly become a VP.
In this article, Connections got input from three VPs who have been involved with FWSF for a number of years: Susan Mazzetti, VP Programs, Karen Crowley, VP MarCom, and Janeth Medina, VP Diversity and Inclusion. VPs have a few committees in their portfolios. Eventually, some of the VPs may become officers of the board. Read on…
Susan Mazzetti, Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, FWSF VP Programs
Advice for someone looking to maximize her membership, get involved with a committee and/or eventually join the board?
The more you give; the more you get! The best way to maximize your membership is to get involved. The more you are engaged with the organization, the more opportunities you will have to connect with our community and enjoy the benefits. When you attend an event — come early and stay late — give yourself plenty of time to network. Learn more about our committees and join the one that is the best fit for you based on your time, skill set and passions.
How did you first get involved?
I joined FWSF in 2012 after attending an East Bay event. I had coffee with the East Bay Programs Co-Chair at the time and we talked about the programs they were planning. I offered to help connect them with a speaker for one of their programs and soon after was invited to join the committee.
How long have you been on the board?
Five years
Have you held other co-chair positions or been on other committees?
I started as a member of the East Bay Programs Committee, then became co-chair of that committee for two years and now I’ve been VP of Programs for three years.
What do you like best?
The community! FWSF consists of a dynamic group of women who have a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences. I have learned so much from so many, made amazing friendships, found business opportunities and felt supported along the way.
Any surprises?
I can’t help but mention the surprise of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our programming. I am very proud of our organization’s ability to quickly migrate to virtual programs, while maintaining our focus of providing value to our membership. I am so thankful for the support and contributions of all of the women on the board, the co-chairs and members of the San Francisco and East Bay Programs Committees, as well as our entire membership. This is truly an example of all that is great about our FWSF community.
Karen Crowley, Salesforce Solutions Engineer, ICONIQ Capital, FWSF VP Marketing and Communications (MarCom)
Advice for someone looking to maximize her membership, get involved with a committee and/or eventually join the board?
Connect! Joining a committee is a great way to build your community; you’ll accomplish goals together, learn new skills, AND have fun.
Ask another member for a virtual coffee/chat, or if there are any upcoming events that need volunteers. Check out the Members Corner of the FWSF website to view or submit job postings. Finally, update your member profile (https://financialwomensf.org/member-profile-update); this allows other members to learn a little more about you.
How did you first get involved?
Prior to officially joining the board, I joined as a member, and helped FWSF configure Salesforce (which is what I do for my day job). Although we later determined Salesforce was not the right tool for FWSF, this experience gave me a great introduction to the Technology & Infrastructure Committee.
How long have you been on the board?
I have served on the board since 2018.
Have you held other co-chair positions or been on other committees?
Yes, I served on the Technology & Infrastructure Committee in 2018 and 2019, first as a committee member then as VP, and then became the VP of MarCom (Marketing & Communications) in January 2020.
What do you like best?
The women I serve with are truly dedicated to lead, mentor, and inspire. It is rewarding to be a part of that community. When I see the dedication and effort that my fellow board/committee members put in to keep our organization thriving, it gives me a boost of energy. Many of these women have become friends and allies, with whom I hope to stay connected throughout my career.
Any surprises?
Surprises? It’s 2020 – what hasn’t been a surprise?
I am pleasantly surprised with how quickly and effectively FWSF was able to pivot to online events during COVID. This is a testament to the wonderful dedication and teamwork within our organization (so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised!). Everyone “grabbed an oar” and kept us afloat! Being involved with this pivot online allowed me to feel a bit anchored in an otherwise scary and unpredictable time.
I also think I surprised myself this year, by taking on the MarCom role. When Olivia Barbee (the 2020 President) approached me about it, I was a bit skeptical because Marketing and Communications is not an area of focus that I would have sought out. I am much more comfortable in a technical space. But I knew from my previous experience with the board that I would be supported every step of the way. This role became a wonderful opportunity to push myself to learn something new. And somewhat by coincidence, it happened to tie in to some communications goals I am working on in my day job.
Janeth Medina Larios, Vice President, Digital Channels, Bank of the West, FWSF VP Diversity and Inclusion
Advice for someone looking to maximize her membership, get involved with a committee and/or eventually join the board?
Getting involved with one of our FWSF committees is the best way to maximize your membership. You get exposed to the FWSF family more intimately and build long-lasting relationships with colleagues and mentors. I was a Team Lead for Mills College for the Scholarship Committee when I started volunteering for FWSF and moved into the chair position a couple years after. I then took on a leadership VP position within the Scholarship Committee and have recently transitioned into my VP of Diversity and Inclusivity role. During my time with the organization, I have had the opportunity to grow my leadership skills and receive mentoring as I progress in my career. Being a part of this network is invaluable to me. If you want to get more involved, reach out to any of our VPs to learn more about what they have in the pipeline within their committees. We are always looking for awesome volunteers to join our teams.
How did you first get involved?
I had the honor of being part of the 2013 Scholarship cohort when I was completing my MBA at Mills College. Shortly after graduating I raised my hand to be the Team Lead for Mills College. This meant I got to create awareness about the scholarship opportunity FWSF brought to our Bay Area community. Working with students has always been a passion of mine so it was a very fun way to get started within the organization and learn more about other committees and member benefits. It was through my FWSF network that I landed my first job at Bank of the West. I fell in love with the community, their support and have stayed involved ever since.
How long have you been on the board?
I have been on the board for about five years. I joined the board a couple years after serving as a Team Lead. I felt it was a good transition into a leadership position and learned so much. I appreciated the experience within the board because it allowed me to grow a lot as a leader and I was able to transfer a lot of the skills I learned into my full-time work.
Have you held other co-chair positions or been on other committees?
I have spent most of my time with FWSF supporting the Scholarship Program. However, I will be entering my second year as the Diversity and Inclusion VP and I am very excited about the work I get to drive with my committee. Being a welcoming and inclusive organization is part of our DNA and it is something we will continue to foster as we grow.
What do you like best?
What I like best about being a part of the FWSF community are the amazing people. I have met some of my dearest mentors and friends within this community and it is something I will always be grateful for. It takes a village to make progress and positive change in the world. When it comes to my career in finance, I found my village within FWSF.
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Want to Get Involved?
Interested in joining a committee or learning more? As we approach year-end, our committees will be looking for new members. We hope you’ll consider joining one if you haven’t already. As you will hear over and over, getting involved is truly the best way to get the most out of your FWSF membership. Relationships deepen and you can showcase your knowledge and skills.
Contact Alyson at info@FinancialWomenSF.org and she can put you in touch with committee co-chairs.