FCS Leadership Award
Jennifer Grazel, Global Chief Marketing Officer for RBC Capital Markets, has been selected as the recipient of the FCS Leadership Award for 2024. The trophy will be presented to Jennifer at the prestigious 25th Anniversary FCS RFK Marketing Summit, held at the Lodge at Spruce Peak, Stowe, Vermont, from January 5-8, 2025.
In Jennifer’s honor, the FCS is delighted to make a $2,500 donation to the charity of her choice: the CREAR Futuros program of Hispanic Federation. CREAR (College Readiness, Achievement and Retention) Futuros is a peer-mentor program that recruits qualified Latinx students in participating educational institutions to mentor, guide, and support younger students, or mentees.
- The FCS Jamie E. DePeau Leadership Award was created to recognize an FCS member whose leadership inspires and educates others to think big, break down barriers and perform at their highest potential. The goal is to honor, every year, FCS members who, through personal and professional contributions to their communities, serve as living examples of the selfless, inspirational leadership that Jamie DePeau embodied during her career in financial services marketing. (See more below.)
Jennifer Grazel was nominated by Gaston Legorburu, CEO & Founder of GlueIQ. Jennifer was selected by a panel of five judges (see below), who represent several facets of Jamie DePeau’s personal life and professional legacy.
The judges recognized Jennifer for her exceptional ability to transform marketing strategies and elevate brand perceptions, most notably at RBC Capital Markets, where she spearheaded initiatives driving significant revenue growth, brand impact, and digital transformation. She is a trailblazer in financial services marketing, blending data-driven insights with compelling storytelling to build client relationships and thought leadership platforms. Jennifer’s leadership extends beyond business results, as she inspires her teams, mentors individuals, and champions diversity, leveraging her Latina heritage to advocate for equity and multi-faceted thinking as competitive advantages. Her contributions to philanthropy and community impact, including her work with the RBC Foundation USA, reflect her deep commitment to unlocking potential and fostering meaningful change.
Jennifer embodies the attributes and spirit that Jamie DePeau valued. Throughout her career, she has embraced a responsibility to help others – through her leadership and mentorship, her generosity of time and talent, and her passion for equality and opportunity.
Questions about the FCS Leadership Award should be directed to FCS CEO Kevin Windorf.
Judges
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Caleb Silver 2021 Recipient of the FCS Jamie E. DePeau Leadership Award
Editor-in-Chief, Investopedia -
Renée Baker 2020 Recipient of the FCS Jamie E. DePeau Leadership Award
Founder & CEO The RBI Group -
Elena French Former SVP, Corporate Marketing, Communications and Brand, Lincoln Financial
Longtime colleague of Jamie DePeau -
Tom Jago Managing Director, The Ward Group
Vice Chair, FCS Board of Directors -
Kevin Windorf CMO, 2112 Communications
CEO, FCS
Past Winners
- 2023 Arielle Gross Samuels Blackstone
- 2022 Leslie Walstrom Columbia Threadneedle Investments
- 2021 Caleb Silver Investopedia
- 2020 Renée Baker Raymond James
- 2019 Russ Findlay Hiscox
- 2018 David Bernstein Fly a Kite Foundation
- 2017 Caroline O’Connell BNY Mellon
- 2016 Berta Aldrich FS Investments
About Jamie E. Depeau
Jamie DePeau, Corporate Chief Marketing Officer, Lincoln Financial Group, was a true friend of the FCS and very supportive of our mission of community, education and philanthropy. She was an active member in the FCS Marketing Leadership Roundtable since its founding in 2012. That year, she participated in our Annual Education Summit, serving on a panel with fellow CMOs. In 2013, she served as one of our guest presenters at the 19th Annual FCS Portfolio Awards. When she was SVP, Marketing at TIAA-CREF, she presented at our monthly luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in December of 2007.
Jamie passed away in February of 2016. In April of that year, her work at Lincoln was recognized posthumously as her marketing team and their agency won seven trophies at the 22nd Annual FCS Portfolio Awards Gala. In addition to her own participation, Jamie encouraged her Lincoln colleagues to get involved with the FCS.
Outside of work, Jamie was very active at her community church, where she held senior roles in the parish’s lay leadership, as well as performing in its choir. She was a volunteer for the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association and for other Ridgewood youth sports groups.
In addition to her roles as mother and wife, boss and colleague, Jamie is remembered as a mentor and friend, and always a leader.
