Trusting Your Gut: Nina Smith on Navigating Career Transitions and Healthy Departures

“Don’t run away from something, but run towards something.” — Nina Smith

Welcome to WomenShare: a celebration of women in financial services. Today, hosts Joanna Ehresman and Leah Alter sit down for an insightful and heartfelt conversation with Nina Smith: a seasoned growth and business development leader known for her marketing ingenuity and her passion for community leadership. Nina joins the show at a pivotal transition point in her career, moving from a seven-year tenure at boutique firm Kendall Capital to an exciting new role at global powerhouse UBS.

The interview kicks off with Nina’s signature career philosophy—never fleeing, always advancing. Nina traces her decision to leave a role she genuinely loved at Kendall Capital for a bigger stage at UBS, sharing the inner workings of her decision-making process, the value of listening to your gut, and the importance of not waiting until you’re dissatisfied to make a bold move. Her story powerfully reframes what courage and timing look like for women aiming high in financial services.

Joanna and Leah also dive into Nina’s playbook for leaving jobs on great terms, maintaining relationships, and nurturing a robust network that pays dividends throughout one’s career. Nina reflects candidly on her New York agency days, her pivotal years at Capital One, and her success in fostering long-lasting professional connections—including turning former bosses and clients into references and partners.

You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at Nina’s “Women and Wealth” client development program—rooted in community, fun, and low-pressure engagement. From pickleball socials to lavender farm gatherings, Nina explains how she prioritized authentic relationships over transactional networking, with an emphasis on events that create belonging and loyalty rather than sales quotas.

As the discussion turns personal, Nina opens up about the challenges and joys of balancing her role as a mom with her professional ambitions. She reveals her strategies for managing the ever-evolving demands of work and home, and the critical importance of asking for help, cultivating a supportive community, and modeling ambition and adaptability for her children.

Key Takeaways

1. Run Toward, Not Away: Nina’s anchor advice—credited to her close friend and HR executive Melanie—reminds women not to wait for unhappiness to drive career decisions. Instead, look for opportunities that inspire excitement, and don’t be afraid to revisit doors you once closed.

2. Relationships Are Your Legacy: Professional moves can be amicable and even mutually empowering. Nina’s career is a testament to the value of keeping bridges unburned and actively sustaining relationships with references, mentors, and colleagues, especially among women in financial services.

3. Healthy Departures Require Honesty and Openness: Both Nina and Leah share how transparency—with the right timing—about growth ceilings or changing ambitions can lead to smoother transitions and continued support from previous employers and peers.

4. Community-Focused Client Development Works: The most successful business development efforts are about genuine connections. Nina’s “Women and Wealth” events emphasize fun and wellness, swapping hard pitches for experiences that foster trust and a sense of belonging. Her approach demonstrates that a light touch and consistency build better business than aggressive prospecting.

5. The Power of Women’s Networks: From ex-bosses to clients to peers, Nina’s story demonstrates how investing in long-term, supportive female relationships opens doors and creates opportunities—personally and professionally.

6. Balancing Ambition and Family with Flexibility: Nina is transparent about the demands of raising children while pursuing growth....