Karishma Ilyas

I’ve always attributed my success to hard work, consistency, and a willingness to put in the hours when it matters. Even now, with two young kids, my days don’t end when they go to sleep — I’m often working late into the night because I take my commitments seriously. If someone trusts me, or if I’m part of a team, I’m going to hold up my end of the bargain. My schedule may not always look like a traditional 9–5, but my accountability and output never waiver.

I’ve also never allowed myself to get comfortable. I’m always asking, “What can I take on next? Where can I add value?” That mindset is what’s pushed me forward. It’s the same advice I give my nieces and nephews who are just starting out: even if your role feels small today, there’s always room to grow. Believe in yourself, stay curious, and keep showing up, because that’s how you build something bigger over time. Believe in yourself.

The best career advice I ever received came from my mentor, a woman who shaped my early career and encouraged me to move into my first regulatory compliance role, a shift that ultimately defined my path. She taught me that mentorship can accelerate growth in ways formal education never could, and I’m deeply grateful to those who invested their time and insight in my development.

My biggest advice is simple: just get your foot in the door. After college, I took a chance and moved from New Jersey to Florida for an entry role at Merrill Lynch, not the title I wanted, but the opportunity I needed. I earned my Series 7 and 66, then moved to Morgan Stanley, discovered compliance, and kept building my FINRA licensing and experience. Sixteen years later, I’ve run compliance programs across broker‑dealers, RIAs, and private equity. Every step added to my “brain bank,” and it all started with taking that first opening.

Regulatory expectations are constantly evolving, and compliance officers are expected to keep pace as regulators invest in stronger technology, more staff, and more frequent examinations. There’s always something new to track, update, or implement and in smaller RIAs, that challenge is even greater. One person is often wearing multiple hats, juggling compliance, operations, and day‑to‑day business needs, which naturally creates backlog and pressure.

That’s why I’m passionate about supporting smaller RIAs. I like helping firms stay ahead of their regulatory duties so business owners can focus on what they do best growing their business. When compliance is supported, organized, and forward‑looking, the entire firm benefits.

I believe in hard work and grit, working late nights if necessary. I remember being on a team means I still have to show up fully no matter what's going on in my life, and be comfortable with working non-traditional hours while still balancing a happy home and work life. Even now, after the kids, after they're going to sleep, I'm still working till 1, 2 o'clock in the morning, because I think it's important that if someone believes in me, or I'm a part of a team, I need to hold up my end of the bargain. I need to play my part so that it's not falling on anyone else on my team. Outside of my professional life, I have always valued opportunities to explore new cultures and experiences through travel. Before becoming a parent, travel offered a meaningful way to broaden my perspective and appreciate the diversity of people and places around the world. My husband and I have pretty much been to every single continent except Australia, and we're looking forward to taking that trip once the children are older. Those experiences continue to influence how I approach both leadership and life. I also love reading, music, cooking, art, and volunteering, and I look forward to adding those back into my schedule when time permits.