Title: Global Information Technology Lead

Company: Intercontinental Exchange, NYSE Eronext

Location: New York, NY

For 16 years, Racheal Ankrah-Fosu has specialized in financial services information technology and the exchange trading business, most recently providing her expertise as Global Head of Information Technology at Intercontinental Exchange’s New York Stock Exchange Group. Specifically, she leads a global team that is responsible for measuring, analyzing and optimizing global exchange trading applications within the financial trading sector that has extended its reach to 11+ exchanges across the globe. The advice that Ms. Fosu can give to the younger generation of women entering the workforce is, “Work hard on building relationships with men and do your homework well so that when you speak what you say is respected and valued. Do not be shy to speak up if you know the answer; it will be appreciated.”

As a woman in today’s world, Ms. Fosu feels that persistence when no one thinks you can accomplish major feats and not taking no for an answer have contributed her success. Small incremental successes build well on each other, and then you look up and it’s something really big. Building great relationships with the men that she works with has helped. Formerly, Ms. Fosu was a consultant with Accenture, the management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Ms. Fosu took on the role of Managing Director, Information Technology for NYSE Euronext until her promotion to NYSE Euronext’s Global Head – IT Capacity and Performance Management. NYSE Euronext operates global financial markets across commodities, FX, equities, bonds and interest rates. ICE’s NYSE Group stock exchanges represent one-third of traded equities volume worldwide.

Racheal Fosu is a Liberian immigrant who came to the U.S. when she was 14 years old. The back story of Ms. Fosu’s successful immigration to the United States is both harrowing and inspiring. Now free from the many perils associated with a country in the throes of a civil war, Ms. Fosu has succeeded in overcoming the kind of obstacles that the average American only reads about.