Rosalia Bellia, Co-Head of Global Markets COO, Bank of America, won COO of the Year at Markets Media Group’s 2024 Women in Finance (U.S.) Awards.

What is your reaction to winning the Award?

One word: surprised. My career has always been less about accolades and more focused on delivering results and supporting others. I am both humbled and honored to receive this award, and I am excited to share this recognition with my team and colleagues at Bank of America. As a COO, much of the work is done behind the scenes—strategically guiding efforts and influencing outcomes to achieve success. Although the role may not be glamorous, it is deeply rewarding to know that my efforts contribute meaningfully to the success of the Global Markets business.

Briefly describe your background and career to date.

Before spending 20 years at Bank of America, I worked for two other financial services firms over a span of 10 years, where I gained foundational knowledge in finance. My career journey began as an intern and progressed into a role in financial analysis and planning, collaborating closely with the CFO’s office. From there, I transitioned into strategic planning and business risk management where I developed key skills that later contributed to my role as a COO.

At Bank of America, I started in the private bank, focusing on retail product strategy before moving to the Global Markets group as a business manager. This eventually led to my role as COO. My early years as COO were particularly challenging, as I took on the role in the fixed income division just as the credit crisis hit in late 2007. That period of my career truly tested my resilience, along with so many others.

What is your leadership philosophy, and how has it evolved over the years?

From the outset of my career, I have been fortunate to be surrounded by successful leaders who provided me with opportunities to demonstrate my skills and potential. I was inspired by their ability to inform, influence, and lead. I took note of their approaches in meetings, observing and listening closely. Over time, I developed my own leadership style, drawing from their examples while also aligning it with my personal values and approach.

My leadership philosophy is based on fundamental principles that are both essential and timeless: trust, integrity, transparency, and empathy. However, what truly drives my success is my ability to listen and observe. I build trust by genuinely understanding those around me, whether they are colleagues or external partners. I believe every individual is equally valued, and my goal is to foster an environment of open communication where ideas flow freely, collaboration is encouraged, and everyone feels heard.

Throughout my career, I realized that it is important to acknowledge that being a successful leader is not about having all the answers. It is about empowering others to find their own. Lead by example by showing humility, openness to feedback, and self-awareness. I encourage my team to strengthen their emotional intelligence (EQ) to better understand and manage their emotions

and those of others. As you move forward in your career, being able to connect with and support teams, clients, and others becomes even more important. Tools like empathy, active listening, and relationship building can make a big difference. People with a high EQ are often better at adjusting their communication because they can sense how others are feeling and tailor their message to fit. I call this “tuning the dial.” People who do this well tend to build stronger connections and improve collaboration, both of which are key to leading and managing productive teams.