Sun Kim, Senior Associate General Counsel at Nasdaq, won Excellence in Compliance at Markets Media Group’s 2025 U.S. Women in Finance Awards.

What was your reaction to winning the award?

I’m truly honored. This award reflects the collective effort of the teams I work with every day at Nasdaq to uphold strong regulatory standards and support continued innovation in the exchange space. It’s rewarding to see the role of legal and compliance highlighted in our industry.

What strategies do you find most effective for building a strong culture of integrity and accountability within financial organizations?

A strong culture starts with clear expectations from leadership and consistent communication that integrity and accountability is a shared responsibility. At Nasdaq, we talk about each individual leading with integrity and using our ingenuity and insights to build markets that people can trust. I’m proud to work at a place that builds in these considerations by bringing legal and regulatory perspectives to the table early in the process.

Outside of work, how do you like to relax or recharge?

Because I spend so much of my day at a desk, I try to be very intentional about getting outside and moving around. Getting out for a post-work run outside is one of my favorite ways to reset and clear my head. 

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

Believe in yourself! Raise your hand for new challenges that scare you a little. The roles where you don’t tick every box are the ones where you can build range and resilience. You don’t have to go at it alone though.  Find mentors that can guide you and pay attention to how they think and how they handle setbacks.