Where were you when you found out? Who was the first person you told?
The call came in on my cellphone, which I keep on silent in the office, and I was so focused at work I almost didn’t answer! Luckily I did, and heard, “Hi Inna, it’s David Solomon…”
The first person I told was my boss, Carey Halio, who sits across from me and has been a mentor for years.
How are you celebrating?
I had the great opportunity to celebrate immediately with my team in Corporate Treasury, and sharing the moment with them was especially meaningful.
I came home to two very excited teenage girls who were incredibly proud of their mom, along with some very thoughtful handmade cards. Friday, I celebrated with my family, including my parents, husband, and daughters. They’ve been part of every high and low.
What’s a personal or professional challenge that has impacted your work and leadership?
One of the biggest transitions in my career was moving from roles where I largely supported other leaders to one where I had to create the agenda, own the outcome, and lead execution. In some cases, the role wasn’t clearly defined.
That transition pushed me outside my comfort zone, but it taught me an important lesson: you don’t need to wait for someone to define the role or give you permission to lead. It’s your job to identify what needs to be done, bring people together around it, and take ownership.
Best piece of career advice you’ve gotten?
Careers are long. Don’t get too high on the highs or too low on the lows. It’s advice I’ve come back to many times over the years, and it was a pretty good reminder during the partner process too.
