Loni Smith
Loni Smith is a Program and Senior Project Manager specializing in enterprise financial services, with deep expertise in operational transformation, automation, and data-driven delivery. Currently at Computershare U.S., she leads complex, cross-functional initiatives within highly regulated environments, supporting corporate trust operations, income automation, and process standardization. Known for her ability to bring clarity to ambiguity, Loni excels at aligning business and technical stakeholders, driving strategic execution, and delivering measurable results in high-visibility programs.
With a career spanning leading financial institutions including Computershare, Wells Fargo, and Morgan Stanley, Loni has built a strong foundation in project management, account management, and operational leadership. She has managed large portfolios of institutional and corporate trust accounts, navigating complex regulatory frameworks while maintaining a strong focus on client experience and risk mitigation. Her strengths include enterprise project delivery, process improvement, stakeholder management, and leveraging data insights to inform decision-making and optimize performance.
Loni’s commitment to continuous growth and learning has been a defining thread throughout her career. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in business, building on her academic background and a professional certificate in full stack development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her multidisciplinary expertise, combined with a relentless drive to evolve, positions her as a forward-thinking leader dedicated to advancing operational excellence and delivering impactful outcomes in the financial services industry.
• Johnson & Wales University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• National Society of Leadership and Success
What do you attribute your success to?
I think my most notable professional achievement is that I've worked in different industries and never let somebody tell me that my position was good enough for me. I've always tried to improve on myself and seek more learning opportunities so that I can keep growing. I don't like to sit still and get too comfortable - I like to continuously be learning. When I had learned everything in my position at Morgan Stanley, I went outside of my job to find a new opportunity for myself. Even while my husband was traveling for work and I was home with my kids, I pursued my master's degree, doing homework with them while they learned math and I learned more business structure. I had a mentor, Clifford Corey, who was one of the financial advisors I worked with at Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Advisors. His mom had worked in the oil industry, and I kind of got my start in the oil industry, so we connected over that, and he was very helpful and a really great guy.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say, as important as thick skin is, always make sure to stand up for yourself as well. I think that jobs in finance can be difficult. However, if you're motivated and you want to keep learning and growing, don't let other people tell you that you're in a good enough position.