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T H E 2 0 2 5 WOMEN IN BUSINESS H O N O R E E S HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MARCH 10, 2025 B9 accomplish professionally? Succession. I'm striving to build a team and mentor junior lawyers with the ultimate goal of passing my practice to the next generation so that my success is sustained and retained by my firm. Through my management roles, my goal is to have a similar influence on other partners and practices. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Women are underrepresented in my Wall Street-based legal practice. Initially, I found it challenging to make my voice heard. I focused on producing high-quality work, which helped me earn respect across the industry and contribute mean- ingfully, leading to inbound referrals from the biggest players in the industry. How are you involved in the community? I work 10 to 20 hours a week for the Farmington High School Boys Soccer Booster Club, where I currently serve as president and previously served for three years as treasurer. I'm proud to be one of the leaders helping further Farmington's rich student-athlete legacy through fundraising, event planning and mentorship. Marie Pollio Partner Shipman & Goodwin LLP M arie Pollio serves as partner and is co-chair of Shipman & Goodwin's finance depart- ment. She also has been a member of the firm's management committee for the last four years, where she collaborates with the other members to lead Shipman in both present-day and future-looking strategic and operational initiatives. As co-chair of the finance department, she oversees 25 lawyers and multiple sub-practice areas. As partner, she provides strategic, practical advice to several national banks and other finan- cial institutions in connection with their roles in complex financial and capital markets transactions and default and workout situations. What have been your biggest profes- sional accomplishments so far? I am proud to partner with my clients as I provide them with legal, strategic and practical advice in their role on multibillion-dollar, complex financing transactions involving industry leaders in all sectors nationally and internation- ally. I've built a highly profitable practice that saw 33% growth last year. What's the next big goal you want to What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I graduated from the Duke Health and Wellbeing Leadership Program in 2021. It develops transformational leaders and inno- vators in health care. The cohort included doctors and executives working on pilots, to improve the healthcare system. I am re-engaging with the fellows, to focus on the next evolution of health care and position myself at the forefront of the healthcare transformation. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? I haven't always had good female role models to look up to, in the heavily male-dominated operations and tech fields. It is important I am a strong female role model who inspires others by sharing my story, providing resources, and demon- strating how to overcome challenges. How are you involved in the community? I have held leadership roles for the Bushnell Park Foundation and Hartford Neighborhood Revitalization boards. I am a graduate of the Leadership Greater Hart- ford Quest and Executive program. I am a member of Connecticut Women's Council and am very involved in the Cigna "Women in Finance" mentorship program. Jodi PalerMa Head of Strategic Initiatives The Cigna Group J odi Palerma is head of strategic initia- tives for Cigna Investment Manage- ment (CIM), which has responsibility for $30 billion in invested assets. Palerma has responsibility for overseeing the development and execution of stra- tegic initiatives for the organization. In this role, she is responsible for identifying opportunities for technological advance- ment, creating implementation plans, and ensuring those plans are implemented successfully. Palerma is also a 2016 graduate of the emerging leader development program at Cigna Corp. As part of the program, she traveled to Belgium, China, UAE, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, England and Ireland. In 2018, she completed a short-term project in Dubai. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far? Senior leaders have an obligation to mentor and support women in the workforce — to aid in their professional development, to help build their confidence, and to guide them through challenges. Mentoring is one of the top strategies to help close the gender gap in leadership. Being a champion for other women is my biggest accomplishment.