Angela Saccomandi Dunn, Principal Associate General Counsel at Nasdaq, won Excellence in Legal at Markets Media Group’s 2024 Women in Finance Awards.

What was your reaction to winning the award?

I was humbled and surprised to win the Excellence in Legal Award. Over the years, I have worked with many talented women, both at Nasdaq and in the financial sector, and have had the opportunity to engage with them, ask questions and learn from them.  I am proud to work in an industry with so many accomplished women and receiving this award in their company is an amazing experience.

What inspired you to pursue a career in law, particularly in the financial and regulatory space?

I have always aspired to be a lawyer but only considered finance after being introduced to the stock market by a favorite high school teacher. After that introduction, majored in finance in college having been intrigued by the breadth and depth of topics.  While in law school, I had the opportunity to intern with the Securities and Exchange Commission and work on various interesting projects that inspired me to pursue law in the financial and regulatory space.

What excites you most about the intersection of law and finance?

The financial sector is a fast-moving space that continues to evolve and grow rapidly as new technologies and products are introduced. Exchanges in particular play a crucial role in the global economy, facilitating trading and execution across industries. Advocating for my clients and advising them on the legal framework in this ever-changing, highly regulated, and competitive landscape keeps me curious and drives me to continue learning. I enjoy working alongside business clients to assist them in realizing their goals while also working through regulatory issues that relate to market structure.

What have been the main drivers of your success?

My success stems from the myriad of talented and creative people I have had the privilege of working with over the years.  Working alongside people with different skill sets has afforded me the ability to think, grow and learn in different ways. Observing other people’s approach to problem solving and navigating projects challenged my work methodologies. Additionally, each year, I try to volunteer to work on projects outside my area of expertise so that I continue to grow and expand my knowledge-base. These experiences have taught me to appreciate challenges, step into new opportunities, ask questions and capitalize on the skills I take away from each interaction.