Betty Chen, Managing Director, Citi, won Excellence in Corporate Culture at Markets Media Group’s 2025 U.S. Women in Finance Awards.

What was your initial reaction to winning the award?

I was delightfully surprised — the kind of surprise where you quickly check the email header to make sure it isn’t a phishing email test. Then it sank in, and I felt deeply honored. It’s incredibly meaningful to be recognized for something that is built collectively. And I’m especially appreciative of the women I’ve worked alongside — they make the work better, smarter, and a whole lot of fun.

What does ‘excellence in corporate culture’ mean to you?

To me, excellence in corporate culture means seeing people as individuals first, job titles second. It’s about recognizing that everyone brings their own strengths, perspectives, quirks, and ways of thinking — and that this diversity is actually a positive. When you create an environment where people can contribute and feel empowered, you get better ideas, teamwork, and energy.

What initiative or practice have you implemented that you’re most proud of in fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performing environment?

A small practice that has a big impact that I implement on my team – is the ‘fresh eyes’ rule. I ask everyone to have another teammate look over their work — a ‘can you take a look?’ moment. It sounds simple, but it does three powerful things: it brings fresh thinking from someone with a bit of distance; allows people to practice giving honest, constructive feedback and through that conversation, it builds trust between teammates that they will watch each other’s back and help each other improve their work product, together.

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

My biggest advice is to build your support network. Find the women (and men) who will cheer you on, challenge you, warn you when you’re accidentally underselling yourself, and send you the ‘you’ve got this’ text at exactly the right moment.  Nurture these relationships, they will help you in the many seasons of your life – and there will definitely be tough seasons. And also, of course, pay it forward to others.

What trends in corporate culture and leadership do you find most exciting in financial services?

I’m very curious how AI is reshaping culture and leadership — redefining what leaders actually need to be good at. As we hope AI takes on more tasks, analysis and bring a major boost of processing power, the differentiators become the deeply human skills: empathy, judgment, communication, and the ability to bring people together around a shared purpose. We’re shifting toward leadership that’s less about being the smartest person in the room and more about being the most trusted and adaptable.  AI is nudging teams to collaborate more, experiment faster, and question old assumptions — and that’s a very exciting shift to be part of.