My professional life started on Wall Street — a male-dominated environment that has evolved a lot over the course of my career — and that has shaped who I am personally and professionally.
In the summer of 1987, after my first year of law school, I began working at the New York Stock Exchange as an intern in the enforcement division, and I loved it. I rejoined NYSE as a staff attorney after I graduated, and I started at the perfect time. There were many other young lawyers, and the energy, the work, and the mission were the perfect fit for me.
But while the early part of my career was largely enjoyable and satisfying, it wasn't always easy. I was handling cases of trading-specialist and floor broker misconduct, insider-trading and sales practice violations, among others, and I was coming up against expert defense teams when I was just a junior lawyer. And there were times when I'd be the only woman in the room, and it was a struggle not to be self-conscious about that.
As I grew and as my thinking matured, I realized I was just a professional doing her job to the fullest extent of her abilities. I soon came to understand — and appreciate as a regulator — that there are consequences for actions, particularly in an industry that demands close oversight for it to thrive and grow.
When I was the only woman in the room, I learned not to let that change my personality and how I present myself; and now, I don't even think about it. In fact, I find that being a woman can make me a stronger, more compassionate leader. I care deeply about my team and about their lives outside of the office and their families, and I find that helps foster an environment where my team is highly engaged both personally and professionally.
But I didn't achieve success in a vacuum. I had a number of mentors who played a key role in my career. My mentors — Bill Johnston and Cathy Kinney at NYSE, and Rick Ketchum at NYSE and now the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. — were role models and people from whom I learned a lot.
My ability to navigate and thrive in this environment, though, had earlier roots. I played field hockey, basketball and softball throughout high school, and captained a number of teams. That helped me develop leadership skills at a young age. And my passion for sports didn't end when I left the field. I'm a big fan of the Mets, Jets and the Knicks (all heartbreakers), which always served me well in male-dominated meetings.
When I had kids — Jake and Kyle, two great boys who are now in college — I was confronted with new hurdles at a time when flexible work arrangements did not exist and when there were no remote conference calls.
Many days, I felt I could do better at the day job while also calling on myself to do better on the homefront. A difficult position, but after talking and comparing notes with many very accomplished working women, I knew I was not alone. While trying to find a balance was a challenge, what kept me going was my love for my family and my passion for the work that I was doing to keep investors and the market safe.
While perfection is elusive, what you learn is that you have to do the best you can. Your job is a vital outlet for energy and productivity, and a means to earn a living, but it is your family that will always be there for you, so you have to be there for them. I know I wouldn't be where I am without my husband, Fred, who has his own challenging job as an anesthesiologist and who has always been very supportive of me and our boys and is very involved with our family.
There was once a time during my career at Finra when I skipped an important business dinner in Washington, D.C., to fly home for a school event. I took the first flight out the next morning and prayed for no mechanical or weather issues so I could be there for a key meeting. I made the choice that while my career is very important, being there for my family matters the most.
In the end, what really matters in your work life is finding something that you love. If you don't love your job, it becomes a burden, but if you love it, it becomes a great career and it makes everything else — the struggle to balance, the early morning flights to do it all — worth it.
Susan F. Axelrod is executive vice president, regulatory operations at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc.
