Stacey Williams BNY Mellon
[00:00:00] Northern Power Women INTRO: The Northern Power Women Podcast for your career and your life, no matter what business you're in.
[00:00:06] Simone Roche MBE: Hello hello and welcome to the Northern Power Women Podcast, and this is a special edition. It's timed as Future List Friday. It's designed to run alongside the announcements earlier this week of our Power and Future Lists.
[00:00:20] And this year, the Future List, we're delighted to be partnering with BNY, Bank of New York Mellon who have been a long term partner with us and this year, focussing on the Future List. I'm delighted today to be joined by Stacey Barrington, now Williams who is currently the Global head of Treasury services and investigations in global payments and treasury services operations.
[00:00:37] The one thing I know is that Stacey is an active member of the Manchester site leadership team where she co-chairs the ELT and takes a leading role within the people pillar, where she's actively sponsoring apprenticeship opportunities. Stacey was also on last year's 2022 Future List.
[00:00:54] So who better to join us on this week's future list special than Stacey? [00:01:00] Welcome. Welcome to the podcast, Stacey
[00:01:01] Stacey Williams: Thank you, Simone. Really pleased and surprised to be here. So sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed at the opportunity but delighted to be here.
[00:01:10] Simone Roche MBE: What did it mean last year when you were announced on the future list?
[00:01:13] Stacey Williams: First, I really couldn't believe that I'd been nominated and then I must admit when I read my nomination, it really started to hit home to me actually how much I'm involved in and how impactful that can be to many people. As you've just mentioned, I've got a global role and some of the comments that were in that nomination really hit home to me, that my personality and the way I go about my day-to-day role really has an impact on the global team, which is fantastic.
[00:01:44] Simone Roche MBE: You talk about personality; I always think that's really important. We have kicked off 2023 talking about being more you and how you can be your best self. We had Sam Blood from BNY a few weeks ago on our webinar, which was all about setting [00:02:00] yourself up for success, but without actually changing anything, so I think bringing your whole self into work and, and being that best version of you, I think it's really important.
[00:02:09] Stacey Williams: Yeah. Do you know what it really is and I think it's, really shifted over the last few years in my opinion. When I started off my career, it was a corporate environment. You should be very corporate and to get opportunities in that environment, you had to meet a certain criteria.
[00:02:33] And, and now when you look across the organization, the different personalities and different people that sit around the table, it's just fantastic. So I would really encourage people to just, just be themselves. And I think that gives you a great opportunity to shine even more? Just be comfortable in your own skin.
[00:02:51] Simone Roche MBE: Absolutely and I was just recalling this time last year when we were announcing the Future List and Power List. It was the day that we were a part of the Convention of the North, taking part in Liverpool. And we did one of our Power-Up live sessions, which you joined.
[00:03:08] It's probably, I’m not quite sure what you're going through the door for, but all of a sudden I'm on the List and all of a sudden, we've got these amazing undergrads, we've got business leaders, we've got ministers from all over. So, you saw that live and up-close last year and I think that for me, we always want great mentors to be part of the events. I know this is something you passionately believe in, women having a key role to play in levelling up across the northern powerhouse, don't you?
[00:03:35] Stacey Williams: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So, I remember driving to the to the event last year actually. And as you mentioned, the Future list had just been announced and I was still a bit in shock, a bit rabbit, in headlights.
[00:03:44] And when I think back to just 12 months ago, my own confidence has really grown over the last 12 months. And, and part of that is my nomination and, and then subsequently being added to the Future list. [00:04:00] I myself feel, that having these opportunities and being able to surround myself with different people from different backgrounds, although it can be nerve wracking.
[00:04:13] And, I, myself, I'm nervous at times. It really helps you to grow in confidence. You learn so much from taking part in these opportunities, and I really love to pay it forward as well. I mean, talk about paying it forward a lot.
[00:04:26] Simone Roche MBE: I know that's something that you are passionate about, BNY are passionate about.
[00:04:29] We're passionate about. And, we were at the convention of the north in Manchester a couple of weeks ago, and again, we're always really keen about how do we get more seats at the table. How do we get more people into the conversation? And somebody stopped me at the convention a few weeks ago and said, gosh, I feel like you've kind of single-handedly, as the Power Collective and Northern Power Women changed the demographic of today's event, in respect of age, in respective of gender, in respect of ethnicity.
[00:04:57] But having seats at the table, having [00:05:00] that opportunity to be part of discussions, what more can we be doing to ensure that we widen and broaden those opportunities when it comes to making sure we've got the right voices at the table.
[00:05:13] Stacey Williams: Yeah I think the work that you do and making sure that we are paying it forward and then the mentor and opportunities, that's all really, really important.
[00:05:22] But trying to, and I think I've heard you say this before, Simone, seeking out people that wouldn't always, necessarily have the opportunity to be involved in that conversation is really important. So, something that we're trying to do in BNY Mellon at the moment, specifically in Manchester is make the brand of BNY Mellon available to people that don't necessarily/wouldn't ordinarily know who BNY Mellon are.
[00:05:47] And that means, thinking outside the box and thinking about, can we get into local communities? Can we get to schools? Can we go to events like yours and really encourage [00:06:00] people to get involved?
[00:06:01] Simone Roche MBE: It's like storytelling, isn't it? And we have our power platform, which many of you'll know which you can find at wearepower.net
[00:06:07] you'll also find a whole section on there and you'll see BNY right at the top of the list. And, I feel like this is something that we built with you in mind when our partnership started all those years ago because that was kind of the basis of the partnership, trying to put a thread through all of the different partnerships and organizations that you are dealing with, whether it be academia, whether it be charities and enabling your colleagues to talk about bringing their whole selves to work, to take part of these great opportunities and I know this is something that is front and central at BNY. Creating opportunities for both these existing and prospective teams. If you go on our platform, you'll be able to see the kind of opportunities there, blogs there. And, what I always think is cool is seeing the people, seeing who the humans are because you're such a huge company.
[00:06:55] And that was one of the things for us. One of the opportunities we had was how do we describe what BNY Mellon is? It's not a fruit stall, is it? So, tell me about some of that work that you've been doing in lifting that brand, the apprenticeship scheme I know is something that you are really passionate about.
[00:07:16] Stacey Williams: Yes. Yeah, absolutely. So, the apprenticeship scheme is something that I have been taking the lead on over the last couple of years, for Manchester, specifically the BNY Mellon site. Initially, we were looking at early careers.
[00:07:28] When you think of apprenticeships, that's what you think about, early careers. But then once the pandemic hit, recruitment started to really reduce, you know, we weren't recruiting as many people. There weren't as many opportunities, and so I started to look at how we could continue to use the apprenticeship scheme for, or schemes for existing members of staff.
[00:07:49] So I really encourage people that have been with the organization for a long time to continue to develop and do that by getting a [00:08:00] qualification via the apprenticeship scheme. So there's many people now doing digital transformation masters. I myself am doing a level six degree.
[00:08:10] I didn't get the opportunity to go to university all them years ago, was a long time ago. And so being able to take the opportunity now to do a degree at a leadership degree is fantastic. And so we're looking to further develop talent within the organization as well as still offering apprenticeship programs at early career level.
[00:08:30] Simone Roche MBE: I think that's so important, isn't it? It's not just looking at the attraction in, it's that development within, in the top four size organizations in Manchester itself is that it creates the opportunities in and out. And you talk about not having that route of going to uni and the other alternatives, I was talking to Nikki O'Sullivan, who's also part of the Manchester team, talking about that. Disrupting, disrupting careers and disrupting, you know, sort of alternatives.
[00:08:57] I also didn't go to uni. The Royal Navy was my university and my education. And I think that's a really exciting prospect. I was with a further education college the other week they were, very heavily talking about how do we turn this disadvantage into an advantage.
[00:09:14] And it's at that point, I don't know what you were like, Stacey, but I did my college and then I was done. I was ready to go have my adventure, but still didn't really know what I wanted to do. 16, 17. It's tough isn't, we've got to tell stories out there and this comes back to the personality piece, isn't it?
[00:09:32] As that's one of the things you're doing with school levers and as well, isn't it? to sort of discover those alternatives.
[00:09:38] Stacey Williams: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And, and that's important, isn't it? University's fantastic. You'd really encourage anyone to go to university that wants to, but at the same time, there are, some people that either don't want to go to university or, we all know it's expensive.
[00:09:54] And so there should be opportunities and alternatives for people to still continue to be driven and want to progress their career in an organization without having to, spend three or four years in university. And, you and I have been able to create paths for ourselves without that, without going to university.
[00:10:16] So I'm sure we can continue to do that for, for the future generation.
[00:10:21] Simone Roche MBE: And I think that you were on one of our Power-Up sessions a few weeks ago and one of those is not necessary to go, oh, come through my door of work. For me, it's very much around building those opportunities and opening people's eyes for people who think, well, I, couldn't go and work in one of those offices.
[00:10:36] I don't think that's for me. My family don't do it. Or I don't know anyone else who does. But actually one of the things about that is actually building that social and cultural capital around young people who maybe don't have that networking. And I think one of my advice I'd always give to my younger self is it's never too, never too early to start networking.
[00:10:54] And I think, that it's just really important. It's not just about throwing business cards at people is it?
[00:10:59] [00:11:00] Stacey Williams: No. No, absolutely. And to be honest, Simone, every mentoring session I've joined that is one of the main topics of conversation. Personal brand is one of the things that I always talk about.
[00:11:11] Really think about how you want the world to perceive you. It's very important. But also the power of having a strong network and casting it really far and wide is really powerful and will take you a long way.
[00:11:27] Simone Roche MBE: I think it's about, the top tips about creating that strong network.
[00:11:31] I feel like there's always something about you've got to feed it. You've got to feed that net. You know, that community or that relationship. Actually, if you feed those relationships, then a strong network will come from that. I suppose you can look back at your LinkedIn, can't you? And think, oh my goodness, you know, 15,000 connections or whatever it may be.
[00:11:49] But it's, it's different pockets of your life, isn't it? It's different pockets. And it's just because you've worked, because I know you've worked in the Royal Bank of Scotland, you've worked for Pershing, you've had different [00:12:00] experiences and it's not isolated to one time in your life, is it?
[00:12:04] It's developmental. You never know when someone's going to come back in your life, whether you can give or gain to them, isn't it? With networking.
[00:12:11] Stacey Williams: Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And you know what? It's sometimes uncomfortable, especially when, you join these mentoring sessions and people that are in their first, second, third year of university and I'm sat here trying to say, go out and work and do it as many times as you can and try and encourage them.
[00:12:30] We do a lot of this remotely now, but really trying to encourage them to do it in person as well when they get the opportunity. And you can see they're a little bit apprehensive. And I understand that because I still get apprehensive about joining these things. What do people want to talk to me about?
[00:12:47] Or what am I going to say? But, actually the benefit that you'll get off the back of it is so worthwhile.
[00:12:53] Simone Roche MBE: For those people who've just been announced on the Future List this week, what would you say to them about this year ahead? [00:13:00] Because the great thing about it is it's not like your term is over and you've got to give you crown back.
[00:13:04] Once a Northern Power Women Future List or Power List forever on our list. So how can people maximize for that from this year?
[00:13:13] Stacey Williams: Oh, wow. So I would say, enjoy it. Enjoy it and grow in confidence. You probably think wow, to begin with. I can't believe it.
[00:13:25] Do I deserve it? But actually, you absolutely do. And the opportunities that'll come your way over the next 12 months and beyond will be significant. And so enjoy every second of it. And, please do continue to, pay it forward in the, whether it be mentoring or, or any, anything else that you get the opportunity to do to help others.
[00:13:47] Then, use this as an opportunity to do that.
[00:13:50] Simone Roche MBE: Oh brilliant. Thank you Stacey. And you can check out Stacey's profile on our power platform as well.
[00:13:57] And come and say hello. If you're at the awards as [00:14:00] well, she'll be there...
[00:14:00] Will you be there?
[00:14:01] Stacey Williams: I will.
[00:14:03] Simone Roche MBE: That's good. There you go. If not, you just got to sit at the table now.
[00:14:06] It's all good. So please do say yes to all those opportunities.
[00:14:09] Stacey, thank you for joining me.
[00:14:11] Stacey Williams: Okay, great Simone, thank you for the opportunity.
[00:14:14] Simone Roche MBE: Thanks, and thanks to all of you for listening today if you want to get involved, please do at podcast@northernpowerwomen.com. And of course, check out all of the Future List and the Power List on our power platform.
[00:14:26] www.wearepower.net and stay connected with all our current events and Podcasts that we've got out there. And please do join us on all our social medias at North Power Women on Twitter, at Northern Power Women on all our other social medias. Thank you so much for listening in today.
[00:14:40] Congratulations to all of you on the Future List and Power Lists
[00:14:43] Massive thanks to Stacey and to Bank New York Mellon, BNY Mellon, and we will see you next time.
[00:14:48] My name's Simone. You've been listening to a Northern Power Women podcast, A What goes on media production.