The Most Powerful Women in Banking

To help facilitate collaboration for employees spread throughout the world, Elizabeth "Liz" Myers convened a two-day gathering of her managing directors so they could discuss clients' needs. The event is now in its second year and is expected to be annual.

People who are used to doing something a certain way — and succeeding — often balk at being asked to do it differently. Without a deft touch from management, morale can suffer. That was the challenge facing Kathie Andrade when TIAA promoted her to CEO of its retail financial services business.

For Tracey Brophy Warson, there's little difference between building relationships and building her business.

You learn a lot about how Paula Polito got to where she is — overseeing four businesses with $160 billion of assets — by asking how she landed her first job.

Amy Carlson had to make a tough call last year about a business she had spent the three previous years building: whether to scale it back, hold steady or keep investing.