FWI's TC Metro group elects leader with mentoring vision

Northwestern Financial Review, Nov 1-Nov 14, 2004

Gail Mikolich has been encouraged to learn and grow throughout her 18-year career at Northeast Bank, Minneapolis. Positive experiences working under President Tom Beck at Northeast Bank led the chief operating officer to develop a vision for other women in financial services and Mikolich plans to implement that vision as 2004-2005 president of the Twin Cities Metro Group of Financial Women International.

"Women encouraging women," is the vision I set forth for the year," Mikolich said. "I believe there was a time in our history when it wasn't easy for women to reach the upper ranks of an organization. Today, it has become easier, but that doesn't mean we still don't have work to do." Mikolich's desire to help women in the industry closely mirrors the mission of FWI.

"We hope to help women in the financial services industry be successful in their careers by giving them the tools they need, whether it's developing their leadership skills or their networking skills," she said. Mikolich has been a member of FWI since 1995.

The Metro Group of FWI has recently bounced back from a membership slip that resulted from the recent wave of Twin City-area mergers and acquisitions. The group now serves approximately 55 members.

"We like FWI to be a place where mentoring happens," Mikolich said. "For some women who have been in the financial services industry for awhile and feel they are successful, there is still room for them to be mentors to other women, women who may be new to the industry."

FWI, she said, will reach out to women who are new to the industry and those who may have 20 years or more of experience. To the experienced women, Mikolich had this message: "You have gifts and talents to offer to other women. FWI can still be for you."

FWI will match less experienced members with seasoned veterans for mentoring on an informal, as-requested basis, she said. Oftentimes, it's not one person who offers mentoring but the group as a whole, she added. Drawing from her own experience with the organization, Mikolich said, "I've had mentors in FWI who gave me more courage to have and voice my opinion. As a group, we're stronger."

After receiving the results from their annual membership survey, FWI also will continue to offer industry-specific education and training. The group offered its members a Check 21 session earlier this fall, and will continue to fill members' needs with programming. "A lot of companies spend a lot of money to train and educate their employees," Mikolich said. "We are one of the best sources of that training and we can do it less expensively than others."

Joining Mikolich in leadership for FWI's Metro Group are: secretary Marcia Malzahn, Living Word Christian Center; Treasurer Brenda Coulter, Duke Financial Group; Director of Product Development LaRae Helseth, Wells Fargo & Co.; Director of Sales and Marketing Lee Kuntz, Innovation Process Design, LLC, and Director of Membership Services Kris Andersen, American Express.