Episode 231: Vulnerability Creates Momentum with Morgan Stanley’s Ileana Musa

Having immigrated to the United States at a young age, Ileana Musa learned a lot about a strong work ethic and positive outlook. She grew up a dancer and loved the arts – and thought this is what she’d pursue as a career until her father stepped in and told her she should focus on finance and minor in dance. Fast forward to today, Ileana is the Co-Head of International Wealth Management and the Head of International Banking & Lending for one of the largest financial institutions in the world. She’s created a path for herself and shares with us the steps to forming win-win relationships that help us succeed too. Ileana is resourceful and always made do with what she’s had. She’s found the opportunities in life and believes you can change your own path at any time. She tells stories of how she’s connected with people and why sharing your own personal story and vision is vital for this connection. Ileana gives us insights on how to meet setbacks head-on and identify quick wins in order to keep forward momentum. Listen to this podcast if you’re struggling and want to find a new way of thinking or build relationships with the right people who can help you reach your goals.  Highlights:  [03:30] Ileana’s story [05:16] Decision to pursue a career in financial services  [07:40] Ileana’s daily success habits [10:10] Building your personal brand [17:42] Gaining access to influential leaders [23:30] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [29:43] Executing on your new opportunity [37:14] Advice on staying ahead of the curve   Quotes: “What’s the quality of your work when no one is watching?” – Ileana Musa “The more you share what drives you, the more connectivity you have with people around you.” – Ileana Musa “I will never throw in the towel because of a setback.” – Ileana Musa   About Ileana Musa: Ileana Musa is the Co-Head of International Wealth Management and the Head of International Banking & Lending. In this role she leads the segment and strategy that focuses on Morgan Stanley’s International Client Advisors and international clients to ensure they have access to strategic investment, cash management and lending solutions, services and thought leadership to address both sides of a client’s balance sheet. Ileana is a member of Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management Management Committee, Wealth Management Operating Committee, Latin America Management Committee, US Banks Management Committee, and the Bank Leadership Committee. Ileana co-chairs the enterprise Latino Employee Network.  Prior to joining Morgan Stanley she was the Global Client Segment and Strategy executive for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this capacity, Ileana focused on international financial advisors to ensure the delivery of a consistent, goals-based wealth management experience for international high-net-worth and ultra-high-net worth clients. Prior to this role, Ileana was head of International Credit & Banking within Bank of America’s Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM) Banking group. In this role, she led the teams that supported and delivered integrated liquidity, cash management and lending solutions and services to financial advisors and high-net-worth clients in Latin America, Asia and Europe.  Ileana held several leadership roles in the domestic, international and affluent banking platforms at Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, where she lent her talent in growing the cross-border wealth management business.  Ileana received her BBA degree, with a concentration in finance, from the University of Miami and an M.B.A. degree in finance from Florida International University. Ileana is fluent in Spanish, is FINRA registered and is Six-Sigma Greenbelt certified.  Ileana was recently named to the Girl Scouts National Board (GSUSA) and sits on the Corporate Advisory Boards of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), Florida International University Honors College and the Cuban Heritage Collection at the University of Miami.  Ileana was named to the ‘Top 100 Most Influential Latinas’ List in 2020 by Latino Leaders. Last year she was recognized to the 2019 MAKERS class of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management as well as being recognized by Latino Justice with the 2019 Latina Trailblazer Award honoring her professional and personal achievements in opening doors and new opportunities for other professionals. Additionally, Ileana was named to ALPFA’s 2019 Most Powerful Latinas in corporate America list for a third year in a row as previously featured in Fortune magazine. In 2016 Ileana was awarded the 2015 Top 10 Corporate Executives of the Year by Latina Style magazine.  Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ileanamusa3