Maria is an accomplished Financial Services leader with a strong background in Risk Management, Operations, Business Transformation, and Client Retention in the Asset Servicing, Investment Management, Retail/Wealth, and Banking industry segments. She has a history of developing and implementing robust risk management strategies, leading significant middle office Operations organizations, and successfully implementing large operational complex strategic business initiatives, while improving the client experience, decreasing risk, and increasing efficiency, measured by client survey results. Maria has held key leadership positions, including Head of Risk Management for Global Wealth and Asset Management, Operations at Manulife. In this role, she successfully implemented a strong operational risk control framework. Maria is highly skilled in fostering a risk-awareness culture and collaborating with executive stakeholders to align risk management initiatives with business objectives.Maria successfully provided leadership and subject matter expertise to the Risk Management and Investment Management and Retail/Wealth Operations organizations in the below areas leading to an enhanced operational control framework and decrease in financial exposure:►Reportable events, root cause, and risk mitigation ►Risk Control Assessment program across 60 operational functions as well as Fraud and Conflict of Interest key topics ►Risk reviews on new operational initiatives, products, and third-party vendors►Insights on emerging risks and risk themes, including control mitigation input►Created and presented comprehensive risk management reports to Senior Management Business Partners and Risk Management Committee meetings Maria also possesses strong skills in strategic thinking and planning, collaboration, and change management. Her keen sense of data analysis, critical thinking and problem solving enables her to make informed decisions and drive successful outcomes. These skill sets have also served Maria well in her leadership roles in Operations, Client Services and Client Administration at BNY Mellon.Maria is enthusiastic about empowering and collaborating with organizations to navigate risks and strategic initiatives with confidence and is dedicated to helping them achieve their goals by establishing a solid Risk foundation and a disciplined Operational and Program Management process.She is also a successful Operations Senior Leader in the Institutional industry. She enjoys adding value and making a positive difference for organizations.