Learning from leaders: Q&A with Gina Cristallo.

As part of our Learning from Leaders Q&A series, we met with five of our female leaders to learn what has shaped their careers and what advice they have for others looking to grow professionally. Here, Gina Cristallo, Vice President and Chief Ethics Officer at New York Life, explains how she didn’t plan on spending 15 years working in compliance, but now knows that her calling found her.

What career advice would you have given yourself as a young person? What advice would you give to young women today?

When I joined New York Life, I had just left law school and taking a job in the Compliance department meant not acting in an attorney capacity, which was a little disheartening for me. That being said, I quickly learned that it was the right choice for me professionally. I was able to apply what I learned in law school to something I loved to do—and still love to do. 

The lesson here is not new advice—you can’t judge a book by its cover. I probably would have dismissed the opportunity had I not had a relationship with the then Chief Compliance Officer who explained the role to me. She convinced me to come in and interview for a role where I would be responsible for managing risk and aligning our compliance policies and procedures to the numerous regulations that apply to our business. 

The advice I would give is to look at all opportunities that come your way with an open mind. What has kept me engaged in compliance for 15 years is never turning down a new opportunity.

Go back to our newsroom to read more stories.