ISITC Member Spotlight – Jennifer Baker

How long have you been involved with ISITC and what positions have you held/do you sit on any committees?
I have been a participant in the Corporate Actions Working Group since 2012, and started attending conferences in 2014.  Once I started coming to the conferences, I became more involved in ISITC as a whole and began participating in the Custodian Forum, Regulatory Forum, and Marketing Committee.  I became a co-chair of the Corporate Actions Working Group in April 2016.

What's one of your favorite memories from your time at ISITC?
One of my most memorable conferences was the year we were in Washington D.C.  Not everyone was able to get a room at the hotel where the conference was being held, so some were staying at a cute boutique hotel down the road. There was a group of us that went out to celebrate a few birthdays and, when we ended up back at the hotel, the bartender brought out flan with a birthday candle.  We had a lot of laughs that night. 

On a more serious note, it is rewarding to be a part of a change request during an annual SWIFT release; to see it through from the recognition of a problem and the need for improvement, to watching it go through the maintenance group and the votes needed for the change to be implemented as part of an annual release.

What’s the most impactful lesson you've gained from ISITC that you were able to bring back to your firm?
The most import lesson is to get involved and to be an active participant. The benefits are certainly interconnected; you engage regularly with peers in the industry to share challenges and best practices, and you get to perform work in a collaborative environment in an effort to achieve operational efficiencies within your own firm and the industry at large.  Best of all, you develop a network and friendships.

If you weren't working in financial services, what would you want to do for work?
It’s hard to think of what I would do if I weren’t working in financial services.  When I was getting ready to go off to college, I had thought I wanted to be a nurse, but my aunt advised me otherwise.  At times I do wish that I would have pursued healthcare.  Financial services has been an environment of challenge and changes over the years, so I have no regrets.  If I needed to start a new career now, I may consider something in real estate. 

What is the last book you read?
The last book I read was Silent Tiles by Dawn Day-Quinn.  Dawn is a good friend and this was her first book published. I hope it won’t be her last as it was well written and captivating.  Once I started reading it, I didn’t want to put it down.