In honor of Month of Women’s HistoryWe interviewed executives and pioneers of the VICTORY (Women In Nasdaq) network that discusses their roles, different backgrounds and role models for young women pursuing careers in business, technology or finance.
We spoke to Megan Bisaro, Senior Director of Nasdaq Governance Solutions at Nasdaq.
What does a day in your role at Nasdaq look like?
I’m the new business leader for Nasdaq Governance Solutions in APAC. In this role, I oversee a team of seven spread across Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia and India. My team is focused on helping public, private, and nonprofits use technology and services to achieve excellence in governance to streamline and manage boardroom processes. One of my main focuses in the last year was to add five new employees to my team.
Every day in my role looks different, but one thing that is always consistent is lots of video calls with my team’s remote work environment and geographic spread. My day-to-day business could consist of having one-on-one meetings with each of my team members, organizing virtual events to inform potential clients and clients of important governance trends, and supporting my team with important presentations or contract negotiations.
In your role as a supporter of Nasdaq Governance Solutions, what are some of the biggest trends you see for 2021?
One of the most important trends we’re seeing in 2021 that will affect board members and corporate governance professionals is an increased focus on corporate purpose and stakeholder capitalism. Boards need to be able to articulate how their company’s purpose, culture and values align with their corporate strategy.
Diversity and inclusion at the level of the C-suite, the board of directors and the employees remain an important topic. In doing so, not only gender diversity should be taken into account, but also race, age, skills, experience and background.
In view of the increasing frequency of extreme climate events, the climate risk is a priority for investors and board members. One of the key messages in Larry Fink’s 2021 letter was that companies need to have a strategy in place to adapt to net zero emissions and plan for the risks associated with rising temperatures. This also means a greater focus on standardized ESG reporting and disclosure.
Given the pandemic and the current remote work environment, the focus remains on digitization and cybersecurity as face-to-face meetings have shifted online.
What do you like most about working at Nasdaq?
Since joining Nasdaq through the Boardvantage acquisition, it has never been boring! Nasdaq is constantly innovating and developing creative ways to rethink capital markets and better serve our customers.
I feel fortunate to be part of a dedicated organization that truly values its people and creates positive change in the communities we live and work in, from community projects to providing financial literacy to disadvantaged communities to networks like the Green Team and WIN that employees can participate in.
The leadership of Nasdaq has created an inclusive, dynamic, and supportive work environment and I am fortunate to work among dedicated and talented people.
Talk to us about the effects of working with different backgrounds.
I have the privilege of not only working with a team that comes from different cultural and geographic regions, but also managing a region that is incredibly diverse in terms of different religions, cultures, languages and races.
Diversity in the workplace brings different perspectives and creative ideas to the table. The diversity in the region in which we operate means there is no single cookie-cutter approach to doing business. That keeps us on our toes and always makes the job interesting!
What is your advice to young women who are looking for a path to leadership?
Be confident in your abilities and share your successes. Studies have shown that women are much more likely than men to downplay their skills or attribute their success to others. Don’t let thoughts like “I’m not ready” stop you from facing new challenges. Keep pressing the things you want and realizing your value to the company.
Hard work and diligence cannot be replaced. So raise your hand to take on additional responsibility and you will be noticed. Find leaders you admire and mentor men and women in the company. I’ve been very fortunate in my career to have managers who believed in me and were committed to my success.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
