"I really come to work every day with the right attitude; I have a lot of energy. Her career journey reflects that mindset, shaped by unexpected turns and calculated risk-taking that propelled her from Nasdaq executive vice president to CFO roles at both Nasdaq and The Carlyle Group before returning to lead the exchange operator."
"The role of a CFO is much more about risk management. I realized I really liked risk-taking more than risk management. This realization during her tenure at The Carlyle Group, where she helped guide the firm through its 2012 initial public offering, clarified the type of leadership role she preferred and influenced her eventual return to Nasdaq as CEO."
"When then-Nasdaq CEO Bob Greifeld began planning his succession, the exchange invited Friedman back as president and chief operating officer in 2014, with the possibility that she could eventually lead the company. In 2017, she stepped into the chief executive role, becoming the first woman to lead the global exchange operator."
Adena Friedman serves as CEO of Nasdaq, overseeing approximately 10,000 employees at one of the world's largest exchange operators. Her career path demonstrates the value of adaptability and seizing unexpected opportunities. Starting at Nasdaq in 2000 as executive vice president of corporate strategy, she became CFO in 2009. A headhunter's call redirected her to The Carlyle Group, where she served as CFO and managing director, helping guide the private equity firm's 2012 IPO. This experience clarified her preference for risk-taking over risk management. Nasdaq subsequently recruited her back as president and COO in 2014, leading to her appointment as CEO in 2017, making her the first woman to lead the global exchange operator.
#leadership-and-career-development #women-in-finance #executive-succession #risk-management-vs-risk-taking #nasdaq-and-financial-markets
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