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JPMorgan Chase’s Women on the Move (WOTM) initiative initially started as an internal, firm-wide program to help female employees grow their careers. It has since expanded to include the female clients and communities the company serves, furthering their commitment to provide women with opportunities to succeed in their professional and personal lives.
Lucy Fitzpatrick, Women on the Move’s program manager, is, in all aspects of her role and life, on a mission to empower and uplift women. Through strategic brand partnerships, female-driven initiatives, and events, Lucy works to establish a more secure financial future for women. One of her incredible projects is WOTM Leadership Day which takes place at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in New York City; how cool is that?! Read on to learn more and be inspired by Lucy’s experience with the organization and how she believes women can help uplift and empower each other.
Where did you attend college, and what did you study?
I went to college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and studied journalism. I always wanted to work in television or news and had my sights set on a career that would allow me to move to New York City after graduation, which I did.
How did you get started at JPMorgan Chase, and why did you choose a career there?
I fell into a career at JPMorgan Chase, really by chance. I started my career working in television at networks like MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, and others. I was working on a late-night show for Comedy Central when I began feeling burned out by the long hours and lack of mobility options when an old colleague reached out. She had heard about an opening at JPMorgan Chase, working in their in-house production department. I decided there was nothing to lose by going in for an interview. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted my next move to be, but I thought working for a company like JPMorgan Chase would allow me the flexibility to think through how I wanted my career to progress. I’ve now been with JPMorgan Chase for four years and haven’t looked back.
You’re currently the Program Manager for JPMorgan Chase’s Women on the Move initiative. Can you tell me a little bit about the program and what its goals are?
Women on the Move (WOTM) started as an internal, firm-wide program to empower female employees to grow their careers. In 2018, the program expanded to include female clients, customers, and communities.
WOTM has a three-part strategy. First, we want to expand women-run businesses. We work with female clients to help them grow their businesses by providing access to capital, leading advisory services, and networking opportunities. Second, we want to improve women’s financial health. By educating women on managing their money, JPMorgan Chase can have an enormous impact on the lives of women and their families and help them feel more confident about their futures. Third, we continue to focus on making JPMorgan Chase the best place for women to work. We want to increase women’s representation at all levels and propel more women into leadership positions across the company.
Providing women with opportunities to succeed in their professional and personal lives is at the center of what Women on the Move is all about.
How did you get started with this initiative, and why did you want to be a part of it?
A few years into my time at JPMorgan Chase, I was ready to take on a new challenge. I had done production my entire career and knew I was ready for more. One of the best parts about working at such a large company is all of the opportunities for mobility. I started networking internally and heard about a role opening up to support WOTM. I knew I had to go for it because it was such a rare opportunity.
As the program manager of Women on the Move, what are some of your responsibilities and what does a typical day look like?
I handle many of the day-to-day operations for the team, including managing our budget, creating business cases, managing external relationships, and evaluating new partnerships. I also work on our events strategy and partner with many other teams at JPMorgan Chase in doing so.
What is the best part about working on an initiative like this for JPMorgan Chase?
Working for Women on the Move really feels like I’m working on my passion project. I know so many women (and men!) who are extremely invested in gender parity issues, but the work they do is additive to their day jobs. I feel so grateful that working on establishing a more secure financial future for women and girls is my day job.
Why is the Women on the Move program so important for young women everywhere?
Women on the Move is essential for young women everywhere. A lot of the work we do really supports the next generation of women. Getting more women into senior leadership positions is key to getting even more women into the pipeline. I also firmly believe that understanding your finances is key to setting yourself up for an independent and secure future. It’s so important for young women to take control of their finances and set goals that they can work toward at a young age.
What are some cool events that you have helped create for Women on the Move?
I am in charge of planning an annual event, WOTM Leadership Day, where we reach over 20,000 people both in person and via webcast. It’s beyond cool to manage and execute. We have hosted incredible women at the event, including Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Abby Wambach, just to name a few.
What’s so special about planning this event for me is that it is hosted in an iconic New York City venue: Radio City Music Hall. The first time I came to New York was on a trip with my mother in high school during the holiday season. She took me to see the Rockettes perform at Radio City, and I was mesmerized. I fell in love with the energy of New York during that trip and knew I wanted to live and work here. To think that just 12 years later, I would be planning an event in that very venue is surreal.
What’s been your favorite or most exciting experience with JPMorgan Chase’s Women on the Move?
One of the best parts about my work with Women on the Move is all of the amazing people I’ve been able to meet. We are constantly being introduced to incredible women and men who are building companies, nonprofits, and media strategies that directly influence gender parity issues in society. I learn so much from each person I meet and it inspires me to keep working hard every day. I’m also really inspired to be working for an incredible female leader at JPMorgan Chase, Sam Saperstein, who leads our team with purpose and passion.
In your opinion, what are some things that young women can do to help uplift and empower each other in the way that JPMorgan Chase’s Women on the Move initiative does?
One thing that’s so important for young women to know is that there is room for every woman to succeed. You get much more from lifting women up than tearing them down. Spend time getting to know the women who you might see as competitors and learn more about their ambitions and goals. Not only will you see another side to them, but you’re also expanding your network of future leaders.
I think it’s also important for young women to talk to their friends about their financial goals. These conversations can sometimes feel uncomfortable, but the more you have an open dialogue about money, the more you will learn and be empowered to make smart financial decisions.
What advice would you give to young women with aspirations to work on initiatives similar to Women on the Move?
Never count any move or new opportunity out, even if it doesn’t perfectly align with your career plan. If I had written out my ideal career journey when I was approaching graduation, I would have never written down where I’m at. Careers aren’t linear and it’s okay to move around and figure out what drives your ambition.
If you have a passion for something, find ways to bring it into your day to day. Employers are looking for engaged employees, and the more passionate you are about work, the more successful you’ll be.
Inspired by JPMorgan Chase’s Women on the Move initiative? Learn more about the program here and make sure to check out the firm’s current openings.