Redefine Possibility Vol. 3 - December 2024 | Page 11

setting, and more publicly. We've had powerful conversations here in Los Angeles, for example led by our CEO Katie Koch, as well as other fantastic leaders such as Jerilyn McAniff from Oaktree and June Kim from CalSTRS, which is so important to advance the conversation.

What do women earlier in their career tend to ask you most about?

The question I probably get the most is how do you find your voice and how do you get confidence in speaking up? They see us after many more years of experience, but they didn't quite know us when we were in their shoes. So it's a little bit of an uneven playing field and it’s probably on us to be a bit more vulnerable here.  

One piece of advice I offer is, before a meeting, talk to a few people and run an idea by someone. If you talk to a few people about your idea you may gain important perspectives that you can flesh out to be more prepared for questions and feel more confident. Then, recalibrate if something doesn’t land, and don’t be too hard on yourself.

How has your definition of failure changed over the course of your career? 

First, a shift in perspective to look at failure as a great learning experience and opportunity for growth rather than something I should have known. There's something about the pressure that you're supposed to know every single thing.I definitely felt that earlier on when I really, frankly, didn't know a lot or have that much experience.  

Then thinking more broadly, this is where your team comes in, working together to identify what may not have worked and then game plan. The shift is important because then you're bringing important ideas and issues to the forefront and collaborating to make things better.   

How have you been able to thrive as a woman in a traditionally male dominated industry? 

The work has to be there. But also, investing in your relationships. There will be people that see something in you and want to bring you along in what they’re doing and give you opportunities. For me, one example is Penny Foley, a pioneer in Emerging Markets investing who I’ve been fortunate to work alongside at TCW. I would emphasize the investment goes both ways, not only about what they can bring to you but what you bring to them. 

I have always tried to identify opportunities for growth. Thinking more broadly about what’s best for the business and the team has helped me. Also, play to your strengths. I received great advice a while ago to think about the aspects of the job that energize you and keep pursuing those. At the same time, think about the things that don't energize you and maybe that's something to delegate that energizes someone else.

That helps from a longevity perspective too. If you don’t find some aspect of your work fulfilling, it can be a really long road.

I agree. I’ve been fortunate in that aspect. There’s still so much to learn and do which makes the work really fulfilling.   

Something I do want to emphasize is that there’s no one right way to pursue a career. I knew early on that I wanted a family and since my mother died when I was a child, it was really important to me to make memories with my kids starting at a young age. There are trade-offs to that. There are going to be times where you lean in more to work and there might be times that you lean in more to your family, and you have to be really clear on your priorities, because your choices are not necessarily going to be the same as someone else. Being mindful and kind to yourself in those times is really important. Also, I feel incredibly fortunate that my husband is an equal partner and to be part of a team that’s been supportive.   

What do you wish women knew? 

I think women know a lot. It’s more about navigating how to share it. 

You could argue that we as women are socialized to speak in a certain way.  Sometimes, it’s about learning effective ways to communicate in different situations and with different audiences.  

Also, be kind to yourself. Give yourself some grace and compassion. Think about what you would tell a friend if she told you that same story that you're telling about yourself.