Chief Operating Officer
Corporate Technology
BNY Mellon
New York, N.Y.
High school summer internships put René Lumley-Hall on a career fast track. Newly named chief operating officer for corporate technology at BNY Mellon, she previously led product development and cross-product digitization efforts, re-imagining processes by consolidating redundant platforms, reducing manual inputs, and increasing efficiencies within Asset Servicing.
An internship at ChevronTexaco was pivotal. She interned at the company every summer during college and accepted its offer in marketing upon graduation. Her initiatives contributed to company profits and competitive positioning in the Puerto Rican market. From ChevronTexaco, to Citigroup – with assignments in Brazil – to the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA), and BNY Mellon, Lumley-Hall moved higher and higher in management. “I had great managers and mentors who, even at my young age, knew I was capable and gave me rope to operate independently,” she states.
She also benefited from her leadership lessons in the INROADS career development program, team dynamics from high school athletics, and from the work ethic of her immigrant parents. “Seeing his work ethic and unwavering commitment to integrity is something that I take with me,” she says of her father, a Harvard Law School grad and finance professional. And she models her mother’s emphasis on building relationships. “She reminded me that you can’t go through life thinking you only need to work hard and everything will work out. You need the support of community,” she recalls.
Staying fit is an important aspect of Lumley-Hall life. She is certified in yoga instruction and Scuba diving and exercises consistently. “My parents are both into fitness and wellness, too, and it taught me that you could prioritize career aspirations, personal passions and your health,” she explains.
Lumley-Hall earned dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and Latin American studies at Wellesley College and an M.B.A in strategic management at Columbia Business School.
