BankThink

The investments that Rana Yared's team makes in startups help Goldman Sachs in two ways: Besides earning a profit, the company also uses a lot of the technology the startups develop as part of its internal digital transformation.

Innovation is part of Emily Girsch's daily routine. That's why the chief financial officer at Lincoln Savings Bank in Cedar Falls, Iowa, spends a lot of time thinking about the need to modernize bank regulations for the digital age.

Rachel Bryant specializes in risk management, and she applies that framework not only to her job duties, but also to her career path.

Synovus converted all 26 of its separately branded community banks to its own name over the past two years — a major undertaking that allowed Jennifer Upshaw, senior director of marketing, to shine.

Overhauling Citi Private Bank's capital markets business in the Americas required finding someone who not only had expertise, but also had the ability to lead while growing revenue. The natural pick was Kristen Bitterly.