Notch joined American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking conference in New York, with Shanaya Khubchandani representing the team. The room was small and senior: COOs and executive leaders from banks of every size, from community banks to some of the largest institutions in the country. Between keynotes, roundtables and the honorees gala, it was a rare few days of candid conversation about where banking is heading. Here's what we heard.

‍
Key takeaways

1. Small rooms, real conversations. The format got well past the handshake and the business card. We had unhurried time with COOs and senior leaders, and heard plainly what's keeping them up at night and what they're excited about.
2. Trust is the through-line as AI changes the risk picture. Speakers were candid that AI and digital assets are reshaping risk, and that trust is what banks have to protect through it. The same tension ran through every session: modernize operations without losing the human relationships banks are built on.
3. Leadership is being redefined by speed. Keynotes and panels kept returning to what leading looks like when everything moves faster, from decision-making to how teams absorb new technology.
4. The roundtables went deeper. In smaller groups, leaders shared what has worked and what hasn't, from developing talent to bringing new technology into teams. People spoke openly, and the specifics were the highlight of the week.
5. Getting more women to the top takes structural moves. Celebrating this year's honorees showed both the progress and the gap that remains. The practical levers came up again and again: sponsorship as well as mentorship, putting women in charge of big P&Ls and transformation programs early, and making flexibility normal at senior levels. Every bank in the room has a part to play.