COPYRIGHT © 2025 50/50 WOMEN ON BOARDS
Bhanu has deep industry Board experience, having twice served on the National Board of Women in Public Finance. Currently, she also serves as a board trustee at Blythedale Children’s Hospital, NY, and on the board of Helene Fuld College of Nursing, NY.
As a Commercial and Corporate Banking, Credit and Risk executive and former Investment banker at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, U.S. Bank, and RBC Capital Markets Bhanu provides a wealth of experience across Risk, Compliance, and capital and credit markets. She is considered a financial expert and is immediately qualified to serve on board audit, risk, and compliance committees.
Known as a high-impact leader, she has excelled in governing high-performance teams, galvanizing stakeholders in necessary change to drive the business forward, and leading complex transformations.
Having served as a Chief Credit Officer for a Flagstar Bank subsidiary company, Bhanu is responsible for leading and advancing the credit and underwriting functions, overseeing and managing a growing credit portfolio. In this role, she has played a key role in strengthening the subsidiary’s brand and competitive positioning in the market by modernizing a legacy credit and underwriting function, which allowed for millions of dollars in upgraded ratings.
Previously, Bhanu held progressive leadership roles in Corporate Banking Credit Underwriting at U.S. Bank, with a focus on business development, where she strategically grew the healthcare, higher education, housing, airports, and non-profits sectors, and established the U.S. Bank’s first-ever housing credit sector, resulting in billions of dollars in new business. Prior to this, she served as Vice President of Municipal Corporate Banking at RBC Capital Markets, where she played a contributing role in strategically growing the municipal markets portfolio and RBC’s housing credit exposure. Earlier in her career, Bhanu held various roles at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Bear Stearns & Co.
Bhanu holds a Master of Arts in Economics from Fordham University and a BA in Economics from Bard College. For years, she has been a sought-out annual conference speaker at the National Association of Bond Lawyers and a speaker at the National Federation of Municipal Analysts and the Municipal Analysts Group of New York.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 50/50 WOMEN ON BOARDS
Boards are no longer observers of emerging technology; they are stewards of how it’s governed. This panel goes beyond awareness to examine how directors can structure oversight, define accountability, and measure governance effectiveness in AI, data use, and digital innovation. Panelists will share practical strategies for building governance systems that ensure transparency, ethical decision-making, and responsible innovation at scale.
Speakers include: Sita Lowman, Nithya Das, Suresh Sharma, Byron Loflin
As shareholder activism intensifies, boards face mounting pressure to defend strategy, protect corporate reputation, and engage stakeholders with clarity. This panel brings together seasoned directors to explore how boards can respond effectively while maintaining credibility, board alignment, and stakeholder trust. Hear real-world insights on navigating activism in today’s high-stakes, high-visibility environment.
Speakers include: Gaby Sulzberger, David Cahoy, Rachael Coffey, Eduardo Gallego
As global disruptions reshape business models, this panel will explore how boards can navigate the practical complexities of trade, tariffs, and supply chain shifts across regions. Panelists will share how directors are guiding companies through regulatory changes, sourcing challenges, and new market risks, while seizing opportunities for growth and operational agility.
Speakers include: Titi Cole, Mia Mends
This keynote will equip directors to think globally about risk through the lens of geopolitical foresight, cross-border tensions, and long-term instability. Learn how boards can strengthen oversight and guide enterprise-wide resilience by anticipating disruption and embedding a proactive risk culture in a changing world.
Speakers include: Rodger Baker