From a client service representative to managing high-impact financial centers in Manhattan, to his current role as a registered market leader, Kowsky Georges attributes his rise throughout our organization as a result of mentorship and our training and development offerings. “I never looked at the ‘rise’ part [of my career] — it was really just the education part. It’s, how do I continue to learn, because if I stop learning, I stop getting better.” Programs offered by The Academy gave him “honest time to self-reflect,” which allowed him to evaluate his strengths and discover opportunities to learn and grow.

And it hasn’t always been a straight path up. Kowsky recognizes the importance of moving laterally to deepen his skill set, and sometimes staying in a role a little longer to gain extra confidence. “It’s more like a jungle gym than a ladder.” The Academy has greatly helped him navigate this non-linear approach, helping him see his attributes and passions and focusing his growth around the areas that really matter to him.

For Kowsky, his passion is helping customers realize the potential in their lives. He remembers a time a woman came into his financial center wanting to know if she could take her baking hobby and transform it into a business. Kowsky connected her with a Small Business Consultant as well as a Merrill Financial Solutions Advisor, and through extensive conversation they determined that she could indeed pursue her dream. The customer was so overwhelmed and emotional that she put her head down on the table. “It’s a powerful moment that we have with clients to really make a difference, and we have to honor that responsibility. That’s the reason why that self-reflection and development is important."