Maria Hackley, managing director and global co-head of industrials, banking, capital markets and advisory at Citi, understands how crucial it is for bankers to create strong, original content to distinguish themselves during client presentations. She created and teaches a class on how to use innovative content customization as a tool to boost bankers' impact when advising clients. The class has helped bankers across the globe improve their content presentations, and the methodologies she teaches have become essential to the approaches of "best-in-class" bankers at Citi.
Hackley first joined Citibank in 1983 as an analyst in the Latin American financial institutions group, covering foreign subsidiaries of Central American banks. In her current role, she is responsible for developing and managing bankers who cover a portfolio of some 1,700 clients across the globe, with a focus on large multinationals. Sectors she works with include airlines, rails, shipping, paper and packaging, and metals and mining. Given the global nature of her job, Hackley must understand regional and emerging markets trends to identify growth opportunities and potential challenges.
In her previous role at Citi, she was lead coverage banker for General Electric. She also represented clients including Prudential Financial, Principal Financial, Aetna and United Healthcare. Hackley has raised over $100 billion of capital for her clients, from investment-grade bond issuances and IPOs to revolving credit facilities. Today she continues to be lead banker for GE and Prudential.
Hackley also helps the bank hit its ESG goals, which are a priority of Citi CEO Jane Fraser. Over the past year, Hackley has hosted ESG events in locations including Dubai, Mexico, Brazil and Beijing. "We discuss our focus on pay equity to close the gender gap and creating targets for raising the percentage of women and African Americans in management positions to advance racial equity," she said.
In the future, Hackley said, "I am hopeful we will see an acceleration of not just women, but of underrepresented minorities in leadership positions, at leading financial Institutions and corporations."
Outside of the office, Hackley is on the board of Breakthrough New York, a nonprofit that assists high-achieving students with family income under $40,000. Her participation was inspired by her parents, who came to the U.S. from Cuba in 1960 and have always had a strong commitment to education. Hackley is also on the board of Cuba Emprende Foundation, providing training for Cuban entrepreneurs who hope to launch or improve a business.
