Marcy Tothill Vance
For more than two decades, Marcy has been the steady force behind some of the most complex transformations in global finance and insurance. Marcy Vance most recently served as an Operations Manager at IonX LLC, bringing more than four decades of leadership experience across the insurance and banking industries. Her background spans global trading, regulatory compliance, investment asset management, financial reporting, performance measurement, and commercial lines insurance. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for successfully leading large-scale, complex global technology programs with direct accountability to senior leadership, consistently delivering high-impact results in highly regulated environments. Prior to joining IonX LLC, Marcy served in senior program and project management roles at major financial institutions including MetLife, JPMorgan Chase, AIG, Deutsche Bank, and Prudential Investment Advisors. At JPMorgan Chase, she was a key member of a team that implemented a highly complex Dodd-Frank regulatory technology program that unified 17 technology teams and 60 applications within the Collateral Operations unit to implement compliance rules governing billions of dollars in credit default swaps. While at MetLife, she spearheaded strategic initiatives including the integration of Logan Circle Partners’ $40B asset portfolio into the firm’s trading ecosystem and led a major outsourcing initiative of middle office trading functions to BNY Mellon. A certified Scrum Master through Scrum Alliance, she applies Agile and Scrum of Scrums frameworks to drive efficiency, collaboration, and accountability across matrixed teams. Marcy holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics, Summa Cum Laude, from Fairleigh Dickinson University. In addition to her corporate leadership, she serves as a Board Member for the Scotsgrove Non-Profit Foundation in South Carolina. Known for her integrity, relationship-building, and results-driven leadership, Marcy has built a reputation so strong that much of her 40-year career has been fueled by trusted professional referrals—an enduring testament to the impact of her work and the strength of her professional network.
• Scrum Master Certified
• Agile Scrum Master Certified
• Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Finance Student of the Year
• Scotsgrove Foundation
• Scotsgrove Non-Profit Foundation - Equestrian Riding School located in Inman, South Carolina
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to powering through and doing the hard work! These were highly complicated systems that I worked on, and I attribute the successful delivery and execution of these projects to being a team player, relationship building and getting the job done! It's about executing and showing up every day with a purpose, and getting the ball over the line. I didn't always reach for the limelight. I just showed up and was part of the team. I didn't need to be in the spotlight to be powerful. I could be a part of the team and make a big difference in these corporations and the deliverables I worked on. You can quietly go about your business and deliver. I built relationships with incredibly bright, smart people, and those relationships lasted throughout my career. That's why I was able to work for 40 years and only interview maybe 3 times, because once I built my reputation: one built on integrity, clarity, and the courage to take on the work that truly matters. My brand is based on these simple values: Put Customers First, Make Things Easier and Succeed Together. I am proof that you don’t need the spotlight to be powerful. Sometimes the most influential woman in the room is the one quietly building the foundation everyone else will stand on.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is that you don't always have to reach for the limelight. You just need to show up, be present, work alongside your team members and execute. I didn't need to be in the spotlight to be powerful. I could be a part of the team and make a big difference in these corporation's transformative programs. You can quietly go about your business with honesty, clarity, clear goals and execution. That's what's important!
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women to start learning and embracing AI and get on board with that technology. Be on the forefront and become experts in the AI and Cybersecurity technological fields. Take your project management courses and get your certifications. I learned how to do my roles on the job by observing and performing the various tasks demanded for each role. I took a few courses, but I was never officially certified. I learned everything on the while performing my job and, thankfully, was smart enough and good enough that I was successful. But I think that the certifications are important, and being on the forefront of technology is going to be their ticket. The two big sectors I see for opportunities would be Cybersecurity and, of course, AI.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think it's easier for women now than it was when I first started. I was on the leading edge of being pregnant and having a child while working. I worked at the very inception of women making it in the workforce. I think there are plenty of project management opportunities out there from what I can see. The biggest opportunities I see are embracing AI, which is coming on fast and furious. Two big sectors for opportunities would be cybersecurity and AI. Like anything else in technology, AI is going to have its advantages, and then there's going to be the downside. That's true for any technological innovation. The challenges I've faced throughout my career were working on highly, highly complex systems and projects. It was very challenging. You had to navigate the politics and often unrealistic delivery timelines. You're dealing in many high-pressure, fast-paced environments and are expected to deliver within tight schedules. You must be up to challenge!.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, integrity, and building lasting relationships have been a big part of my life and my career. I was able to work with incredibly bright, smart people and build relationships with them that still last to this day. Those lasting relationships were so important and resulted in my career longevity, i.e. the fact that I probably interviewed maybe 3 times out of my entire 40-year career. Once I made my "mark," and my contract or assignment ended, I'd call up a colleague and ask if they needed help, and they'd say absolutely, come on over. I also value hard work, being persistent and not giving up. And most of all, believe in yourself! We are all whole, worthy and powerful!