The Latest from Women in Banking

Rather than continuing to invest in inclusion initiatives that fail to drive diversity, banks should embrace these three programs instead.

An industry who's who turned out to celebrate the Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance. The event — which drew more than 800 people — featured a keynote from Geena Davis, star of such films as "Thelma & Louise" and "A League of Their Own." Other speakers included Nandita Bakhshi, Karen Peetz and Diane D'Erasmo. Check out photos from the gala.

Many have linked the gender gap in financial services to the difficulties in balancing work pressures with family demands. To help address this, paid family leave should be compulsory in the industry.

Dorothy Savarese, the head of Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank in Massachusetts, seeks a financial system where the rules encourage community banks and big banks to do the things that they are best at.

Geena Davis made a rousing speech on unconscious bias at the annual gala for our "Most Powerful" honorees. Sheila Bair writes about the importance of hiring and promoting women, while Ghela Boskovich warns that doesn't necessarily give women a voice in their organizations. Also, Avid Motjtabai, Jamie Dimon, Julie Stackhouse and a real-life Peggy Olsen.

To help ensure that women are included in digital banking's future, we must reach girls and young women at an earlier age than their college years to equip them with the IT tools they need to succeed in tomorrow's workforce.

"If you say you're going to be under $50 billion, then you say you're not growing," Ellen Alemany said after CIT announced the long-anticipated sale of the aircraft leasing unit.

Just like climate change, it is impossible to deny the gender bias in banking. Instead of sweeping bias under the rug, seek out the inequalities and unfair practices and fix them.

To make it to the top ranks, women should pursue roles that offer a mix of comfort, challenges and “pure, white-knuckle terror,” says Bank of the West CEO Nandita Bakhshi.

Women are watched closely as they rise to the C-Suite — but never more closely than when there is a crisis to manage. "People still wonder if we will break," says Karen Peetz, president of BNY Mellon.