Growing a voice and using it
Part of the business owner to business owner series, ‘Flight paths’
Your drive can be directed at making a difference.
Medina worked incredibly hard as a child in school, thanks to parents who gave their children the belief that education could be a route out of the poverty they were experiencing. Her sixth-grade teacher took notice of Medina’s talent and drive, saying she should apply to the prestigious preparatory school nearby.
Attending one of the most elite pre-college programs in the country was as eye-opening as it was door-opening for Medina, but straddling two worlds was a tough task. Medina was taunted by kids in her neighborhood about going to a school for “smart kids” and being a “white girl.” Meanwhile, it was challenging to fit in with the country club kids, too.
Medina’s aspirations weren’t constrained, though. Wanting to become the first Black Governor of Connecticut (after meeting the first female governor), Medina pursued a career in law and politics via Wesleyan University and Georgetown Law. But an impressive rise through the corporate world set Medina on the path to running a major company of her own.
Raised to value education in poor family
Excels, gets accepted at prestigious private school
Straddles two worlds, not fitting into either
Meets first female Governor of Connecticut, then chooses law school
Wesleyan University, majors in American politics
Georgetown Law opens doors that open more doors
Youngest and only Black executive at major investment firm
SVP and Chief Compliance Officer
Executive M.B.A. at UConn 2008
Starts Integrated Compliance Solutions Group (ICS Group) as market plummets
Hires diverse staff (against advisors’ advice)
Vocal champion of economic and educational equality
Once you’ve navigated uncharted waters, you can help others do the same.
Working in the corporate law department at one of Connecticut’s largest law firms, Medina entered the world of capital markets and investment firms (and learned to play golf)—encouraged by senior partners at the firm. From this vantage point, Medina realized that many minority professionals were not even aware of the financial services industry as a career option.
Other glaring disparities came into view too, when she began leading legal teams at major financial firms. Here, Medina realized her voice could champion racial equality within these companies, after becaming Chief Compliance Officer at a major investment firm at 34. At the time, this made her the youngest and only Black executive at the company.
As an entrepreneur, Medina used her company to help minority fund managers and CEOs succeed—and it paid off
Just before the financial markets began tumbling in the summer of 2008, Medina left the corporate world to start her own business, Integrated Compliance Solutions Group (ICS Group). Soon, a deep recession led to demand for Wall Street reforms. In 2012, new regulations required private funds to register with the SEC and develop new compliance systems.
At this pivotal point, many people in Medina’s network needed the services of a team like the ones Medina had led before and ICS Group took off.
As she built her company, Medina felt it was important to “walk the walk” and she very intentionally assembled a diverse staff. ICS Group then began to focus on helping women and minority-owned asset management firms develop quality compliance infrastructures, enhancing those companies’ ability to compete for capital. Success breeds success and Medina’s company grew along with the client roster.
Medina’s company had long been a target for acquisition, when she agreed to sell ICS Group—freeing Medina to start another company, Jett Speaks. Now, Medina speaks at company-wide events in major corporations. She’s raising her voice, yet again, for diversity and equality. And she’s just getting started.
