Being a Disruptor: Empowering Advisors Through Authenticity

Welcome to WomenShare: a marketing guide for women in financial services. On this episode of the podcast, Joanna Ehresman and Leah Alter are joined by Lisa Gilbert, Senior Vice President and Account Executive at ActiFi, to share her story and mission for empowering financial advisors.

Lisa’s entrance into the financial industry was unexpected, after beginning her career in the skateboard industry. She found her passion for helping advisors after her first position working for an advisor and then working for an independent broker-dealer and RIA. Now in fintech, Lisa uses two decades of experience to help empower financial institutions and their advisors. Having been labeled a disruptor early in her career, Lisa shares her mindset of thinking several steps ahead, often challenging the status quo, and asking critical questions that others may not consider.

During the conversation, Lisa shares the lessons she has learned that have made her a better leader, including embracing collaboration, listening more than you speak, delegating tasks based on team members' strengths, and aligning work with your personal values.

Perhaps the greatest lesson she has learned is the profound impact of trust and authenticity in leadership, and her practical strategies for fostering transparent and genuine connections, underscoring their pivotal role in driving advisor engagement, retention, and growth within the industry will help you become a more effective leader.

Lisa provides a wealth of knowledge and inspiration and her story serves as a valuable resource for anyone looking to excel in the financial services industry. Listen to our conversation as we continue to empower, inspire, and uplift each other by embracing and championing a culture of trust and authenticity in our professional journeys.

Key takeaways:

1. The value of involving team members in running a business and the benefits of delegating tasks they enjoy. Lisa emphasizes the power of collaboration and engagement in fostering a successful and harmonious work environment.

2. The significance of regularly monitoring key business metrics and financials, allocating time each week to analyze data, and holding regular meetings to review and share data with the team.

3. Lisa's personal career advice, including being punctual, offering solutions instead of problems, taking ownership of one's career, and living in alignment with personal values for better performance.

4. The need for assertive and impactful communication, the pressures for women to speak up, and Lisa's tactics for advising institutions working with advisors seeking growth in the financial services industry.

5. The importance of leadership skills, transparency, authenticity, and evolving leadership styles, particularly for women in the industry. Lisa's emphasis on the significance of active listening and asking challenging questions to lead by example and drive productive discussions.