The leadership mindset reshaping financial services today.

In today’s environment, leadership is less about controlling outcomes and more about navigating complexity with clarity. 

That sentiment was front and center in a conversation between SEI CEO Ryan Hicke and U.S. Bank CEO Gunjan Kedia, who discussed what’s changing in financial services and what remains critical for success.

Scale is not the enemy of innovation.

One of the more compelling moments came when Gunjan challenged a long-standing industry belief. “I have learned to question the thesis that scale and innovation are yin and yang,” she said.

Historically, size has often been framed as a barrier to speed or creativity. But today’s reality is more nuanced. Scale brings access to resources, data, and resilience, critical ingredients for innovation. The challenge isn’t having scale. It’s using it intentionally. That means building in room for experimentation, investing in talent who think differently, and embracing a culture that’s willing to revisit even the most successful legacy models.

Clients are recalibrating around trust and dependability.

In a landscape shaped by volatility and complexity, the value of dependability is rising. Ryan summed it up clearly: “The market has shifted back to trust and dependability for large organizations.”

This shift reflects a broader trend: clients are looking for fewer gimmicks and more grounded partnerships. Reliability, transparency, and clarity have become more important than ever. And for firms of any size, that means earning trust consistently and being prepared to show how you create value over the long haul.

Leadership means getting close to the work.

Both leaders emphasized that leading through uncertainty doesn’t require bold proclamations. It requires presence. Listening. A willingness to ask questions, especially when the answers may challenge familiar structures.

Gunjan spoke about the reality of leading a multigenerational workforce. On one end, there are Gen Z employees who aren’t shy about reaching out to senior leadership after a town hall to ask for a coffee and share ideas. On the other, there are seasoned professionals who still wear suits, question the return-to-office debate, and quietly wonder when the Patagonia vests took over. What stands out, she said, isn’t the difference—it’s the shared commitment to doing right by clients and showing up with purpose.

For leaders, that means creating space for different perspectives and working styles, while building a culture where people genuinely enjoy working together.

The bigger picture.

While the conversation spanned topics from macroeconomic pressure to product innovation and retirement trends, one message stood out: the future will reward those who operate with conviction and care. Leaders who can embrace complexity without rushing to oversimplify it. Firms that know when to hold steady, and when to evolve.

Scale, trust, and innovation are not competing priorities. They work best when approached together. With clarity, discipline, and a willingness to challenge old assumptions, they can form the foundation for meaningful, long-term growth.
 

This article captures key insights from a conversation at the ICI 2025 Leadership Summit. Watch the video:.