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14 Hartford Business Journal | April 11, 2022 | Women In Business Women In Business Awards 2022 websterbank.com Congratulations Teshia Levy-Grant A Hartford Business Journal's 2022 Women in Business honoree Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer We value your stewardship of Webster's efforts to embrace diversity, recognize the talents and contributions of our colleagues and build diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging into the way we do business every day. Webster Bank, the Webster Bank logo and the W symbol are trademarks of Webster Financial Corporation and Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Webster Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. © 2022 Webster Financial Corporation. All Rights Reserved. I n her role with Voya Financial, Heather Lavallee is responsible for driving Voya's customer experience and profitable growth. She delivers planning, investing and protection solutions to and through the workplace to help individuals and employers from "hire through retire." Lavallee oversees Voya's workplace and individual retirement businesses, which generate approximately 60% of Voya's adjusted operating earnings. She also oversees operations services, which supports Voya's health and wealth solutions business and serves on Voya's executive committee. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? My biggest professional accomplishment has been serving as executive sponsor for Voya Cares, which was founded to address the unmet financial planning needs of the special needs community and their caregivers. It has had an immensely positive impact. I had the privilege of leading the program at its inception, which now has contributed to great success within Voya's businesses. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? In my professional career, I'd like to help address the wealth gap in the U.S. This involves continuing to raise awareness of the issue and leverage Voya's expertise around workplace savings, importance of financial protection, and providing the right support, education and guidance to build better financial futures for Americans. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Taking a leap and leading a business where I had no prior work experience has been my biggest professional challenge. I was tasked to learn at an intense pace, but leaned in on learning and understanding — and always asked the questions. The result? The greatest professional growth in my career. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? We found tremendous opportunity and success in providing employees with flexibility — particularly providing working parents and caregivers with greater support, which will remain a priority moving forward. What are your keys to maintaining business success? There are several factors that help lead to success in business. For me that includes: always be authentic, be humble and show vulnerability, but to also be present in the moment. Remember, growth comes from discomfort. Heather Lavallee Employer: Voya Financial Title: CEO of Wealth Solutions P rior to joining Webster Bank, Teshia Levy-Grant was at Wesleyan University, as dean for equity and inclusion. She serves as an anti-bias and diversity education program facilitator for the Anti-Defamation League of Connecticut. Levy-Grant's focus has been on creating systemic change in educational spaces as well as in the community with the goal of promoting a culture and atmosphere of respect, inclusion, equity and diversity. She is an adjunct faculty member at Bay Path University. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I have many ideas regarding businesses I would like to launch. I would also love to be a chief diversity officer and report directly to a CEO as I think that alignment is necessary to receive the level of attention and 'gravitas' needed to make meaningful progress in an organization. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? One of the biggest challenges that I have faced in my professional roles is the lack of representation and the burden that I carry as the only 'Black person' in most spaces. The constant code switching and need to prove that I am capable and knowledgeable has been exhausting. I also find working in DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) that there are limited resources and that one must do more with so little. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? COVID forced many of us to rethink how we lead and also blurred the line between what was already a fragile demarcation of work-life balance. The pandemic forced us to consider what is considered 'productive.' Who inspires you? My dad paved the way and made so many sacrifices to bring his entire family from Jamaica to America. He wanted us and specifically me, being the eldest, to have opportunities and he felt that educational opportunities were more readily available in America. When I consider how much he has accomplished — owning multiple homes and managing a cooking business while working full time — I am always in awe of his tenacity and work ethic. He has created a foundation and desire to succeed that fuels me daily. Teshia Levy-Grant Employer: Webster Bank Title: Senior Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion Officer