Carly Maher, Head of Wealth Management Strategy and Business Operations won the Excellence in Wealth Management Award at Markets Media Group’s 2024 Women in Finance Awards.

What was your reaction to winning the award?

Honored is an understatement. However, success isn’t achieved in a silo, and my colleagues and teams from over the years deserve equal recognition.

What have been the main drivers of your success?

As mentioned at the reception, I started my career in the mailroom. Working my way to where I am today required me to make the most of every opportunity people gave me. Whether I felt confident or not, I said yes. Seizing every opportunity helped me become flexible and not afraid of risk or failure—mindsets that have continued to fuel my success.

From these various opportunities, I’ve also learned my strengths and weaknesses. I can move fast and am great at seeing the big picture but am less detail oriented. With this self-awareness, I’ve been able to hire colleagues that aren’t just smart but complement my and the team’s capabilities and close gaps. When you have the right people in place, and then treat everyone with respect and like the CEO of their organization, anything is possible.

What do you know that you wish you had known at the start of your career, and how would it have impacted your choices along the way?

Like many just starting their career, I focused on getting the job. I placed less value on the kind of organization I worked for and what they stood for. As I’ve grown in my career, values and beliefs haven’t just become more important to me—they’ve become integral parts of how I do my job.

For example, at Park Avenue Securities, one of our core values is doing the right thing. Almost daily, I stop and think about this when I am making a decision. Knowing that the organization I work for is aligned to this doesn’t just generate business success, but makes me want to push myself further.

What’s your advice to the next generation of women in finance?

Anyone can be your champion! I didn’t work for a female senior leader for the first 25 years of my career. We’ve certainly come a long way in recognizing female leaders, but I would not be where I am today without the incredible support of male leaders who gave me opportunities to learn and grow.

Also, if you aren’t early, you are late.