The Most Powerful Women in Banking

Cathy Bessant, chief operations and technology officer at Bank of America, shares her thoughts on how companies can prevent human foibles and biases from creeping into their software and the need to build an ethical framework for AI software development and use.

Talk about a #MaleFail: how shining a light on harassment could have unintended consequences for women in financial services. The New York Fed is dealing with a backlash of its own. Chief marketing officers like Citi’s Jennifer Breithaupt are playing an important role in product development. Also, new initiatives target bias on Slack and in Shakespeare.

It’s tough enough to grapple with sexual harassment in the workplace. It’s more complex when clients are involved.

Optimism that the #MeToo movement will have a positive influence is high among bankers who participated in a recent survey on sexual harassment. But there is also concern that it could lead to gender discrimination in hiring and mentoring.

Bank of America pays female staff in Britain 28.7% less on average than male employees, according to a report released Tuesday.