MY CAREER IN SIX SPOTLIGHT

 KATE SALOTTOLO

 VP, Global Anti-Money Laundering & Brand Risk Management

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Sharing her career journey by answering the six questions below.

Who or what has been your biggest source of inspiration throughout your career?

My biggest source of inspiration is being part of a team. I grew up playing competitive sports and those experiences shaped my approach to work and life. There is nothing more exhilarating than taking your team to a championship, and nothing more humbling than rebounding from a loss. When I started my career, I drew on the grit and hustle of being a rookie and now my inspiration comes from building high performing teams, managing teams through change and putting wins on the board for our company and our customers.

Would you say your success is primarily due to luck or hard work?

There were times when luck helped me get my foot in the door, but hard work kept me there. It’s difficult to distinguish one from the other because a reputation as a hard worker naturally leads to more opportunities that may feel like lucky breaks. It’s a bit of a chicken or the egg situation—but generally your luck runs out if you don’t put in the hard work!

What is the driving force behind your career aspirations?

I am constantly driven by a sense of investigative curiosity, which may sound specific to my current role leading financial crimes teams, but I see it as a throughline that keeps me motivated to continue learning and growing. Enacting meaningful change is only possible if you stay curious, ask the deep questions and seek to learn more every day.

If given the chance to do one thing differently in your career, what would it be and why?

I accepted my first corporate role in compliance while I was still attending law school at night. When I was admitted to the Bar, I was already deeply on the compliance path and never actually held a “practicing” role in the legal field. I have no regrets about the trajectory of my career, but if I could do it again, I would have spent some time practicing law.

What was your most favourite job/role and why?

When I first moved to New York and was just starting my career I was fortunate to work for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office as an investigative analyst while I was attending law school. Supporting criminal prosecutions of all kinds, helping with trial prep, witness and victim interviews was incredibly rewarding and fascinating. I met so many amazing and talented people, some of whom I work with to this day. This experience was also the launching point for my financial crimes career as the attorneys I worked for helped open doors for me in the private sector (back to that hard work and luck combo)!

Do you have a favourite motto or quote that guides your professional life?

The commencement speech “Make Your Bed” by Admiral William H. McRaven delivers such a simple but powerful message about perseverance, teamwork and resilience in the face of adversity. There are so many impactful messages in this speech, but the one that speaks to me most is “If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.” Told in the context of grueling Navy Seal training, the message is that everyone must paddle with equal effort, you cannot reach your destination alone and you must look to friends, colleagues and beyond to make it to shore in stormy seas. Bookmark this speech and return to it often!