03.19.25

Mentorship and Allyship at the 2025 BISA Conference Women’s Networking Lunch

by: BISA Staff

Every year at the BISA Annual Conference, women in the financial services industry gather to support and uplift each other at the Women’s Networking Lunch sponsored by Symetra. This year’s event featured inspiring stories and advice from Anamika Alam of Citizens and Diane Young of Navy Federal Financial Group, with Dayna Cerrone of Symetra acting as moderator.

BISA members Andrea Sakomoto, Melissa Clark and Jermaine Perrien moderated the session, asking the panelists questions about their early lives, influences, mentors and advice.

Anamika Alam’s journey began in Bangladesh. At 15, she emigrated with her mother to New York. Immersing herself in her studies — encouraged by her mother — she found an early mentor in her math teacher, who helped her with SAT preparation and encouraged her to advocate for herself.

Diane Young also named her parents as early influences. They instilled in her the importance of being educated and knowledgeable, even if it made her stand out. This lesson has been crucial to her confidence and success in the corporate world, teaching her when to listen and when to speak up.

Career Growth Points

After college, Alam started her career as a mortgage broker. While raising two young children, she transitioned to the financial industry, beginning in a call center and gradually moving into the wealth channel. She recalls a colleague who mentored her, shaping her into a better leader and helping her overcome barriers.

In 2023, Alam was recognized as a BISA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Rising Star. She credits Maggie Wall and John Schoone, her mentor, as instrumental to her growth at Citizens and BISA. Alam is now a member of BISA’s Future Leaders Committee.

Young’s career took off after working in public relations and marketing agencies. She was hired at Merrill Lynch to expand a program she had created. Throughout her career, she often originated her job roles. She advises professionals to raise their hands and volunteer for new roles and responsibilities, even if it frustrates others.

A pivotal experience for Young was when a mentor supported her in a challenging role. She wrote a proposal to develop a national seminar program and reported monthly to senior executives. One executive often interrupted her during the presentations. One of his colleagues advised her to prepare for the meeting in advance by meeting individually with each executive beforehand. This strategy helped her gain support, allowing her to professionally handle the interruptions by citing prior discussions and approvals. Eventually, this strategy worked well, and later, the executive asked Young to advise his daughter when she started working.

 

Above: Attendees of the Women's Networking Lunch

Building Strong Mentoring Relationships

Young and Alam were both asked by the moderators to share their advice for mentor-mentee relationship. Young advises active listening on the part of the mentor — do not be afraid to play devil’s advocate. Challenging your mentee to hone their thoughts and understand the value they bring to their role is crucial. The worst that could happen is that the C-suite does not agree.

Alam highlighted two key takeaways from her mentors: be a good listener and be empathetic. These principles guide her as she mentors others in the industry, aiming to support them and show them networking opportunities.

Best Pieces of Advice

The discussion then moved to the best pieces of advice the panelists have received:

Young shared:

• When dealing with a difficult manager, regularly update them and seek their opinion. It's important for them to know you value their input. This approach has worked for her ever since.
• Know your audience and meet with them individually before presenting to a larger group. This strategy has helped her navigate challenging situations.
• Be courageous and stick up for your style. Leaders may advise you to change your approach, but it's important to know what works for you and be confident in your collaborative, multilevel style.

Alam shared:

• Network and get to know your mentors. Be open to learning new skills and receptive to feedback. Developing yourself and articulating your message effectively is key to presenting to senior leadership.

The session concluded with a Q&A segment. Imani B. Washington (left), a college student attending the conference as part of BISA’s partnership with FARE, asked Alam for advice for young minorities entering the financial industry.

Alam responded by encouraging young minorities to be courageous and brave, and to seek out mentors who have their best interests at heart. Reflecting on her own journey, she noted that many of her managers didn't look like her, which sometimes made her hesitant to ask questions. If she could offer advice to her younger self, it would be to embrace empowerment, curiosity and the courage to ask good questions. Sharing her story has been a significant part of her growth, and she encourages others to do the same.