Mariko Boswell, Co-head of the Austin, Texas office for PIMCO, won the Positive Impact Award at Markets Media Group’s 2024 Women in Finance Awards.

What’s your advice to the next generation of women in finance?

My advice to the next generation of women in finance is to embrace your authentic style and lean into your strengths. When I first started in this industry, it was tempting to think I needed to become just like the role models I admired to succeed. But I’ve come to learn that there are many different styles/approaches that can achieve the same successful outcome – it was an important journey for me to develop the confidence to trust my own approach and not try to replicate someone else’s path.

Other valuable advice that has resonated with me: (1) Let your values and integrity be your north star. That’s what will set you apart as a colleague, leader or business partner; (2) Surround yourself with a network of mentors, sponsors, allies who believe in you, will advocate for your growth and stretch you out of your comfort zone (and pay it forward by lifting others up along the way); (3) Career paths are rarely linear, trust that each experience is shaping and preparing you for whatever comes next.

What role does mentorship play in fostering diversity in finance?

Mentorship plays an important role in helping advance diversity in finance – mentors can play a valuable role with:

1. Providing guidance and support: Mentors can offer valuable guidance, advice, including everything from sharing insights on company culture and unwritten rules, to providing guidance on career decisions and skill development. They can also provide a safe space for sharing experiences, challenges, and aspirations (including from the lens of diversity) and enhance a sense of belonging which is a key component of engagement and retention.
2. Offering role modeling and representation: Diverse mentors serve as powerful role models, demonstrating that success is achievable for people from all backgrounds. Seeing leaders who look like us or come from similar backgrounds can inspire and motivate diverse professionals to pursue their ambitions and overcome obstacles

It’s important to note that mentors and sponsors are both critical to fostering diversity in finance (sometimes they can be the same people, but often they are not).  While a mentor can provide guidance, advice, and support to help you grow and develop in your career, a sponsor uses their influence and capital to advocate for you, actively promote you for opportunities and put their reputation on the line to back you. In other words, a mentor talks with you, while a sponsor talks about you. A mentor helps you envision your future, while a sponsor helps you make that future a reality. A mentor advises you behind closed doors, while a sponsor advocates for you in public forums and decision-making circles. Ultimately, both mentorship and sponsorship are about investing in people and helping them reach their full potential. And when we do that, particularly for diverse talent, we can shape both individual careers and, over time, the face of the industry.

Tell us about a passion you have outside the business.

Outside of work, I am a wife, mother of two (9 & 7) and cherish the time I get to dedicate to Board service.  I currently have the privilege of serving on the Board of the YMCA of Greater Austin. It is deeply rewarding to give back to an organization that has been a part of my personal journey, from childhood to parenthood. I was a YMCA camper as a kid and a YMCA camp counselor as a teenager. Our two children attended YMCA daycare as infants and toddlers, and now their afterschool program is run by the YMCA.  I am excited to give back to an organization that has supported me personally and serves important needs in our community.  The YMCA of Greater Austin is the largest provider of childcare in our region and seeks to provide access to all through financial assistance to support the most vulnerable and underserved.  Overall, my experiences as a parent, partner and YMCA board member have taught me the importance of empathy, adaptability, and a commitment to serving others – values that I strive to bring to my leadership at work every day.