Join us for an energizing conversation on how finance careers are evolving—and how professionals can stay ahead. This panel brings together senior industry leaders, HR experts, economic voices, and rising talent to discuss navigating a rapidly changing landscape and the power of mentorship and strategic networking in unlocking new opportunities. From AI’s influence on hiring to the Southeast’s emergence as a growing finance hub, panelists will share candid stories, mentorship-driven career pivots, and practical strategies for building resilience in uncertain markets. Attendees will walk away with insider insights they can immediately apply to their own career journeys.

Stephanie Lang, CFA | Stephanie is the Founder and Managing Partner of Armor Point Advisors, a boutique investment consulting firm that specializes in delivering customized investment solutions and strategic guidance to wealth management firms, family offices, non-profits, and asset managers (www.armorpointadvisors.com). Previously, Stephanie served as Chief Investment Officer of HB Wealth (formerly Homrich Berg), where she led the firm’s Investment Department and oversaw all aspects of the investment program, including asset allocation, manager selection across traditional and alternative strategies, and the research efforts for HB’s internal private fund-of-funds. She also chaired the firm’s Investment Committee.

With more than 28 years of experience in the investment industry, Stephanie’s background spans portfolio management, investment research, and leadership roles across major financial institutions. Before joining Homrich Berg, she was a Portfolio Manager at Bank of America Private Bank, managing assets for individual and family trusts, charitable trusts, foundations, and retirement plans. Prior to that, she worked in equity research at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, covering technology and media companies.

Stephanie is a sought-after speaker at industry events and contributor to the financial media. She has been quoted in Citywire, Barron’s, and The Wall Street Journal, and has appeared on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Yahoo! Finance, among others.

She holds an MBA from Georgia State University and a BBA in Finance from the University of Georgia. Stephanie has served as Trustee and Chairwoman of Peachtree Alternative Strategies, a hedge fund-of-funds registered with the SEC. She is a member of the CFA Institute, serves on the Board of Trustees for CFA Society Atlanta, and has served on advisory boards for leading asset managers including PIMCO, J.P. Morgan, and iCapital.

Paula Tkac, Executive Vice President and Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta | The Research Division includes Research & Policy, Community and Economic Development, Regional Economic Information Network, Economic Research Survey Center, and the Payments Forum. Integrating quantitative and qualitative data for monetary policymaking and research and analysis is a focus in Atlanta, including the area of barriers to economic mobility, economic inequality and heterogeneity in labor markets and firm dynamics. 

Tkac conducts research on various financial market topics including investor decision making, the mutual fund industry, financial regulation, and the recent financial crisis and policy responses. Her research has won two William F. Sharpe Awards from the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis.

In addition to publishing in academic journals, Tkac frequently speaks to academic and practitioner groups and has appeared on C-SPAN and as an op-ed writer in the Wall Street Journal.

Carter Grimes, CFA, Strategy & Operations, Deposco | Carter is a UGA grad who has spent his entire career in the Atlanta-area. He started his career with an internship at Balentine in 2018, where he developed an interest in finance and technology, as well as a slight day-trading addiction. For his final internship project, he delivered a presentation on NFT's, three years before the 'bubble' which swept through crypto markets post-COVID. After graduating from UGA, Carter spent the next several years at Edge Capital Group as a Research Analyst, covering emerging trends like biotechs, cryptocurrencies, and artificial intelligence. After his stint at Edge, Carter spent time at Prairie Capital Advisors, an ESOP-focused Investment Bank, and then GreenSky, a buy-now-pay-later firm. Given Carter's deep passion for technology, it was only a matter of time before he pivoted into the industry. Earlier in 2025, Carter joined Deposco, an AI-enabled Supply Chain Software startup, in a Strategy & Operations role. Unlike prior roles, he now shows up 5 days per week in office with a smile! Carter resides in Brookhaven with his Giant Schnauzer Puppy, Zeus, and he's also an avid history fan, sharing content and skits on Social Media under the moniker 'History with Carter'. 

Traci Kanne, Human Resources Business Partner, Voya Investment Management |Traci is a Human Resources Business Partner at Voya Investment Management, where she partners with senior leaders to align business strategy with people strategy. She drives initiatives across talent management, organizational design, change leadership, and culture, ensuring that teams are equipped to perform at their best. Traci provides coaching and guidance to leaders navigating complexity, fostering performance, and cultivating an inclusive, high-achieving workplace culture.  Since joining Voya in 2008, Traci has advanced through multiple HR roles, beginning as a Human Resources Coordinator. Before her career in financial services, she worked as a Litigation Caseworker with Rogers & Hardin, LLP.  Traci earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and International Studies from the University of Nebraska and holds the CFA Institute Investment Foundations certificate. Industry Experience: 18 years | Firm Experience: 18 years

Moderated by: Chris Wilson, CFA, Head of IM Product & Strategy, Voya Investment Management | Chris is head of IM product and strategy at Voya Investment Management, responsible for strategy, product development and solutions. This includes providing key insights and leadership in strategic positioning for growth, while managing IM’s evolving array of products and client solutions. Chris also serves as a partner to the Mutual Fund Board and president of the Voya Mutual Funds. Previously, Chris was Voya’s head of global client portfolio management. Prior to joining Voya, he was head of the North America fixed income client portfolio management team at AllianceBernstein, where he began his career and served in multiple roles including fixed income portfolio manager, currency trader, quantitative analyst and head of fixed income product management. Chris earned a BS in mathematics/management from LeMoyne College and is a CFA^® Charterholder. Industry Experience 35 years | Firm Experience 8 years.