Liliane Ancona, Managing Director at BlackRock, has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award at Markets Media Group’s 2024 Women in Finance (U.S.) Awards, for her remarkable 41-year career in the financial industry. In her current role, she oversees various functions related to portfolio enablement in support of the middle office platform.

Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award was a humbling experience for Ancona, reflecting on her long career and the honor of being recognized for her dedication and contributions. “Throughout my career, I have focused on transforming organizations for the future, working on acquisitions, integrating them into the organization, and transforming manual pre-trade processes into digital and automated ones,” Ancona said.

She attributes her successes to “tenacity, perseverance, and a constant desire to learn and understand how things work.” Her ability to execute and effect change has been a significant driver of her achievements. Mentorship has also played a crucial role in her career. “In my early career, a female leader saw potential in me and gave me opportunities that I may never had received without support,” Ancona said. 

Two pivotal moments shaped her career. Early on, she was offered the opportunity to move and be part of a new division but stayed in New York due to personal challenges. Later, when BlackRock acquired Merrill Lynch’s asset management division, “moving from a large firm to a smaller one gave her more autonomy and accountability while allowing the opportunity to help shape and contribute to firm’s growth and expansion.” 

Outside of work, Ancona values her friends and family and enjoys traveling and sharing those experiences: “I’ve been fortunate to share great travel experiences with loved ones, which has been very fulfilling.”

She is motivated by the desire to see things improve and by the people she works with. Collaboration and working towards common goals keeps her energized. Her colleagues would likely describe her as knowledgeable, energetic, and always willing to help and provide advice.

Ancona hopes to be remembered for helping others and driving change. ”Seeing people I’ve mentored succeed and knowing that my contributions have had a lasting impact is important to me and one of the most rewarding,” she said. 

Ancona started seeing changes in the industry around the mid-90s, with more women entering financial organizations and greater acceptance and diversity. She stressed that the most significant change she has seen in the industry over the years is the rapid advancement of technology, moving away from manual, paper-based processes to more digital and automated ones.

To stay passionate and dedicated in their work, Ancona advises people “to love what they do and enjoy the people they work with.” 

“If those elements are missing, it may be time to reevaluate. Passion and motivation come from doing the right thing and working with people you admire, trust, and enjoy,” she said. “Finding your passion is crucial; the world has changed, making opportunities more accessible than ever. It’s important to find what excites you and pursue it,” she concluded.