Paying it Forward: Meet Board Member Sally 

Sally knows firsthand what it means to have one foot in two worlds.

Born in England and raised in France and Canada, she immigrated to the United States before the age of 10 but didn’t become a citizen until just before her 18th birthday. Growing up, Sally witnessed the toll it took on her parents to leave behind family, community, and everything familiar in search of a better life. “You have to be incredibly brave,” she says, reflecting on her parents’ experience.  

That understanding of resilience shaped the way Sally approached her professional life. Throughout her career, Sally has been driven by a desire to create change and push for progress–whether by building consensus across the banking industry, advocating for reform in the financial sector, or chairing the American Bar Association’s Banking Law Committee. After retiring from her role as CEO of the International Bankers Association in 2018, Sally co-founded ALLRISE DC with Amy Friend, an organization dedicated to uplifting women in finance with the belief that when one rises, all rise. 

After stepping back from her executive career, Sally was eager to find new ways to give back. She learned about AsylumWorks through her network at Leadership Montgomery. “Joining the AsylumWorks board felt like exactly the right choice.” 

Sally joined AsylumWorks’ Board of Directors in 2021, drawn to its commitment to empowering newcomers seeking safety to overcome health, legal, and employment barriers. “I believe in immigration. I believe the Statue of Liberty stands for something,” Sally explains. 

Since then, Sally has brought both financial expertise and personal insight to AsylumWorks’ growth. But for her, the work is about much more than professional accomplishment. “I feel an affinity with the staff,” she says. “I really enjoy this work–sometimes I feel like I’m getting more out of it than I’m giving.”