Sally Osborne

I attribute my success to perseverance. Throughout my 30-plus years in the financial field, I've learned that you just can't give up. It's about staying the course and continuing to push forward, even when things get challenging. That perseverance has been the key to everything I've accomplished in my career.

The best career advice I've ever received is just don't be afraid to ask questions. That's how you learn and get ahead. Early in my career, I had opportunities to learn things I never knew before, and asking questions was key to that growth. It's such simple advice, but it's been invaluable throughout my journey.

Don't cry in the office. I did that at a really young age, and I regret it. People think you're crazy if you cry, so don't do it. The financial industry is still very much a men's world, even though it's changed a lot over the years. You have to be tough. Cry on your own time, but not in the office. You need to show strength and professionalism, especially as a woman in this field.

One of the biggest challenges right now is just getting people to agree with you and educating them. Everyone's plate is so full these days, so it's hard to get their attention to listen and react sometimes. That's both a challenge and an opportunity - if you can break through and get people to pay attention, there's real value in what we do. But getting that initial engagement when everyone is so overwhelmed is definitely the hurdle we face.

Communication is the most important value to me, both in my work and personal life. I believe in making sure there are open and honest conversations and communication. That's really important in both professional relationships and personal relationships. Without that foundation of honest, open communication, you can't build the trust and connections that matter.