Stories

Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have good mentors and sponsors who are generous with their time to share valuable insight, guide me through key decision points, and encourage me to challenge myself to the next level. These great female role models inspire me to be my best self professionally.  As I progressed to leadership position, it is my mission to pay it forward to bring up the next generation of leaders and WIA provides an environment for mentors and mentees to foster an authentic relationship that I find refreshing. I learn from my fellow mentors as well as through interactions with mentees and alums.

My advice to the next generation is there is always a first time for everything. So, raise your hand for that stretch assignment and remember to give those who may not have all the right experiences a chance when you are in position to do so.

About Cynthia: Cynthia Chu joined Audible in 2015 as Chief Financial Officer and added the role of Growth Officer in 2021. With oversight for marketing, corporate strategy and business development in addition to global finance and accounting, Cynthia connects the dots across teams to continuously deliver customer value and expand business opportunities for Audible worldwide. She most recently served as CFO for the USA Network division of Comcast NBC Universal, which followed her first divisional CFO appointment overseeing NBC’s newly acquired Oxygen Media in 2008. Prior to her long career with NBC, Cynthia began her career with the premier Financial Management Program and Corporate Audit Staff at GE, where she worked at various businesses across the globe and earned a Six Sigma black belt qualification. A native of Hong Kong, Cynthia is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison and resides in New York City with her husband and daughter.

I feel so fortunate to be a part of this group and have the safe space to receive candid feedback. I have appreciated the trusted advice from so many mentors and peers. At a retreat, one mentor said something that really stood out “What if everything goes right?” It was a huge “a-ha” moment for me. It’s so easy as a woman in leadership to always be thinking about the things that could go wrong and since I work in Risk Management, I think about that a lot. But her statement was truly eye-opening for me. I have thought about it a number of times since then and it’s helped guide me in the right way. 

In 2020, I joined WIA to become inspired and take my career to the next level while being more intentional with my personal goals. Thanks to the support of WIA, I embarked on what felt like a big risk. In 2021, I resigned from a 14-year career at Bloomberg in NYC and accepted an amazing opportunity at Bernstein Private Wealth. In addition to the uncertain and challenging times with covid, I sold my apartment, moved across the country, took licensing tests for my role as an advisor, and took care of a sick family member. It was hard. I am grateful to my WIA family, who encouraged me and helped me through this big change.

Since that time, I have built my practice in advising executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners with their personal and financial goals in NYC and FL. I hope to have the opportunity to continue to pay-it-forward to other WIA women embarking on big life transitions.