Witad Awards 2025: The Sandra Villena Unsung Heroine Award—Louise Hopkins, Moody’s

What is your position within your firm?
Louise Hopkins: I’m a product director on the customer experience and innovation team at Moody’s.

How long have you worked in the financial services industry?
Hopkins: I started working in financial services when I joined Moody’s two-and-a-half years ago. Prior to that, I worked across a range of industries, such as healthcare and insurtech.

What does your day-to-day role entail?
Hopkins: As product director, I lead the product innovation squads on the customer experience and innovation team. My days are filled with collaboration, working closely with our product managers, designers and developers to deliver on our GenAI product development roadmap. This includes everything from design and product reviews and user interviews to testing and presenting our roadmap to stakeholders across the organization.

What single project/piece of work are you most proud of during your career in the industry to date?
Hopkins: During my time at Moody’s, I feel most proud of the impact our team has had on the rest of the organization, specifically in the launch of the internal Moody’s GenAI tool. It was released with record speed to our 14,000 innovators and has unlocked the power of GenAI for every Moody’s employee.

To what extent were you helped during your career by a mentor/role model within the business?
Hopkins: Mentorship has been key to my career growth. I’ve been fortunate to have had mentors who have helped me recognize my strengths and areas for development while also guiding me toward meaningful opportunities and providing ongoing support as I continue to grow as a leader and product manager.

I feel most proud of the impact our team has had on the rest of the organization, specifically in the launch of the internal Moody’s GenAI tool. It was released with record speed to our 14,000 innovators and has unlocked the power of GenAI for every Moody’s employee

To what extent does your firm have a formalized framework that seeks to identify and promote talented women and ensure they have every opportunity to realize their ambitions and contribute to the business?
Hopkins: Moody’s is deeply committed to empowering all employees across the organization, including women. One example is Moody’s RISE leadership program, which identifies and supports high-potential talent and their work. I’ve been an active participant and have found it incredibly impactful in my own development.

What would you advise women just entering the industry?
Hopkins: My advice for women entering the industry is twofold. First, embrace learning and experimentation in your role, especially as technologies like GenAI continue to evolve and lower the barriers to innovation. Second, invest in building a strong network and seek out mentors who can help shape your growth and open doors to new opportunities.

What does this award mean to you?
Hopkins: Receiving the Sandra Villena Unsung Heroine Award is a tremendous honor. It shines a light on the exciting work Moody’s is doing with GenAI and the broader impact we’re making in the industry. But this award isn’t just mine—it’s a reflection of the hugely talented team I’m lucky to work with every day.