Kisondra Tanev enjoys sailing in Long Island Sound with her family in part because it involves extensive planning, pulling together wind speed, tide levels, weather outlook and other information that inform critical decisions. Her love of planning and analysis has also been a major benefit to BofA's clients in the rapidly changing power and utilities sector that today intersects technology, infrastructure and public policy.
"With electrification, AI-driven load growth, decarbonization, grid monetization … it's a culmination of all the interests I've been drawn to," Tanev said.
That's been a boon to longtime BofA clients NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy, whose merger earlier this year BofA advised. Tanev and her team had informed Nextera about Dominion's progress addressing a range of issues that improved deal's dynamics.
"It's not just the execution of one deal at hand, but the knowledge of everything that's led up to it, both intrinsic to the company as well as the M&A aspects and the broader macro environment," Tanev said.
Her team collaborates with capital markets, sustainable finance, and other businesses across the bank to inform its advice, exemplifying what she describes as her leadership style. "Some of the best ideas come from bringing together people with different perspectives," she said.
NorthWestern Energy has benefited from Tanev's deep analysis of the company's needs and those of other energy-market players in the context of the industry's changing dynamics. Crystal Lail, CFO at the utility, said she values Tanev's listening ear that informs her strategic advice and her ability to connect Lail not only to other BofA services but potentially important parties outside the bank.
"She keeps her ear to the ground," Lail said. "She does a nice job of informing us about developments in the utility landscape, and adjacent to that waves a flag when transactions might be of interest."
Over the past three years, Tanev has led and supported business efforts resulting in
revenues of roughly $200 million through close collaboration with Bank of America colleagues across the firm and around the world.
Imparting those advisory skills to younger bankers has been a priority for Tanev, a managing director at BofA since February. She has actively participated in recruitment and talent-development initiatives at the bank and serves as co-chair of the bank's Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) for Women program. When she and her team start a project, she clearly lays out the background, expectations and end goal, ensuring everyone's voices are valued.
"As artificial intelligence starts building models, it's very important to help younger bankers develop judgment," she said. "Developing a perspective is super important, even more so than always getting to the right answer."
Graduating from Stanford University with a degree in chemical engineering, Tanev first worked at a renewable biofuels company. Eventually migrating to the banking side, she has maintained ties to her original profession as member of the advisory board to the West Point chemical engineering department's accreditation board.
"We provide guidance on the curriculum, especially as the industry evolves, and serve as a resource for students as well as faculty," she said.
