On the shortlist: Renee Sterling

Renee Sterling is an Executive Director at Wells Fargo, where she serves as International Data Controller and EMEA Regulatory Controller is shortlisted for the Inclusive Leader Award.  A passionate advocate for inclusion and opportunity, she chairs the International Finance Inclusion and Opportunity Council and recently became Co-Head of the EMEA Black Connections Employee Resource Network, driving initiatives that empower colleagues and strengthen community connections. Recognised on the Empower Role Model Future Leader List and as a 2024 WIBF Inclusive Leader finalist, Renee is known for her authenticity, empathy, and commitment to fostering belonging across teams.

Beyond Wells Fargo, she serves as Treasurer and Co-Chair of The Arts Facet for the London Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, supporting cultural and educational initiatives across the African diaspora. Renee also leads the Economic Wealth Pillar within Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated helping women entrepreneurs thrive, and contributed to the next generation of leaders as a shadow board member at City Lit for two years (recently completed the Minerva Board Fellowship which ended in August 2025).

We asked Renee some questions to find out more…

You’ve recently taken on leadership roles in the EMEA Black Connections Employee Resource Network and continue to chair the International Finance Inclusion and Opportunity Council. What impact have you seen from these dual roles in shaping inclusion at Wells Fargo? 

Having recently taken on a leadership role as Co-Head of the EMEA Black Connections (EBC) Employee Resource Network has been an exciting time because it has allowed me to think about initiatives that extend beyond International Finance and impact members from other lines of business and supporting functions.  The EBC is focusing on financial inclusion and opportunity.  For Black History Month we organised our annual pop-up event with Jamii and had several Black owned businesses sell products including but not limited to stationary, coffee, candles, and skin care products.  It was well received and rewarding to support local businesses.  We also organise events that encourage courageous conversations and promote connectivity and networking.  As a network, we want to support our local community and provide opportunities for our members to network and develop new skills to progress in their career.  As Chair of International Finance for almost four years, it has been an amazing opportunity to partner with the Enterprise Finance Inclusion and Opportunity Council on initiatives that address inclusion and career mobility.  My goal has always been to increase awareness on important matters that impact our members and to ensure that we establish connectivity and form strategic partnerships that will maximize impact.

You’ve spoken about the importance of creating authentic connections in the workplace. Can you share an example of how small initiatives, like your pub quiz or movement challenge, helped build inclusion in a meaningful way?

A strong culture is very important because it is easier to be authentic.  People who believe they can be themselves will end up doing well.  This is why we organised events that provided more opportunities to interact above and beyond what you would normally get from attending drinks.  This led us to organising the “Fintastic Festival Holiday Jumper” pub quiz to get team members to connect during the holiday season.  We deliberately assigned team members to avoid people gravitating to people who they already know. The quiz covered a range of topics to ensure maximum participation.  I also volunteered as of one the emcees and provided comedic relief with my holiday themed jokes.

Have no fear, I have no plans to leave banking.  The other initiative that was well received was the 2025 Finance Movement Challenge.  It was an opportunity to encourage team members across all of Finance to get active, get together, and move.  The event took place over three weeks in June 2025 when the firm organised its Employee Appreciation Week.  We pushed for this initiative because there are clear benefits from being active and finding ways to connect with team members.  This is why we decided to make it a challenge, because we knew that the friendly competition would encourage team members to get active.  Prizes went to the location with the most activity and cool Wells Fargo merchandise was given to the top three individual team members who logged the most activity.

Can you tell us about  your role with The Links, Incorporated and what they do as an organisation? What motivated you to volunteer with them?

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, founded on 9^th November 1946 by Margaret Rosell Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott.  It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest service organisations committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African ancestry.  I was a charter member of the London, UK chapter that was charted on 26^th May 2018.  There are 17,000 members in 299 chapters in the US, Bahamas, and the UK.  As members we have documented 1 million service hours a year.  In the London (UK) Chapter, I have served many roles.  My recent role was the Co-Chair of the Arts Facet.  We organised museum takeovers to support artists from the African Diaspora, organised a webinar during Black History month that highlighted the importance of art and its role in history, and hosted a book club event.

As a chapter we have organised annual clothing drives for Dress for Success and more recently sponsored an exchange programme that sponsored two students from Queen Mary University to participate in an exchange programme at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and sponsored two students from Spelman College to participate in an exchange programme at Queen Mary University.  I am motivated to be a member because I think it is a blessing to be able to give back to and to be part of an organisation with so many accomplished women who are passionate about serving their community despite having a demanding schedule.

In your nomination you were described as “consistently consistent” in your leadership. Is that intentional and what does that look like in practice day-to-day?

Yes. At the end of the day, your words will only resonate with people if they see that your actions match your words. Also, I lead with empathy and understand that I am not perfect and have blind spots. This is why I foster an open-door policy with my team and ask that they tell me in real time if there is a problem or concern.  Equally, I am curious and do not rest on my laurels.  As a self-identified bibliophile, I like to read because I believe in the power of stories and truly believe that smart people learn from their mistakes, but wise people learn from other people’s mistakes.  So, I strive to be someone who is consistent by being me, demonstrating through humility that I am willing to learn, and making sure that my actions align to what I say.

Many of your initiatives focus on well-being and dismantling the “strong woman” narrative. Why do you feel strongly about this and why is shifting the conversation around mental health so important in financial services today? 

I think for a long time we have been conditioned to believe that a “strong woman” is supposed to cope and prove that she can handle everything. However, as I get older, I realise that there is strength in vulnerability.  It is okay to not be okay.  That took me time and honestly therapy to realise that your mental health is not static.  Life happens and, in the environment, we live in today with so much volatility and uncertainty, we must normalise that it is understandable that at times it can be overwhelming.  The thing for me is to highlight that no one should suffer in silence, and psychological safety should be a given for anyone so that they can navigate the challenges that will inevitably come with confidence.

Looking across your career so far, what advice would you give to emerging leaders who want to step into leadership roles without compromising their authentic selves?

My advice is to develop a can-do mindset.  Words matter. If you say you can, you will. If you say, you can’t, you won’t.  Also, focus on the environment.  Your environment plays a huge role in your success.  A quote that I like to live by is to go where you are celebrated and not where you are tolerated.  Finally, never stop being intellectually curious.  Knowledge is truly power.