The Most Powerful Women in Banking

Avid Modjtabai's big job at Wells Fargo got even bigger this year when she took on responsibility for the company's operations group and added its 10,000 employees to the 55,000 she already oversaw.

Innovation — whether nurturing it internally or keeping up with it externally — is of the highest priority for Diane Reyes. In keeping with that objective, she oversaw the launch of a fintech innovation lab in Singapore last fall.

Sandie O'Connor is at the forefront of high-level policy discussions currently shaping the banking industry.

As chief operating officer at Northern Trust, Jana Schreuder is ensuring that the Chicago custody bank stays on the cutting edge of innovation.

When a female employee is about to squander a big break for fear of being out of her depth, Barbara Desoer gladly butts in. In such situations, she pushes the employee to realize that she is indeed ready for the next challenge of her career.