Alumna Credits St. John’s for Ethical Framework Guiding Her Business Success

For Lillian Labbat ’89CBA, St. John’s University opened her eyes to the worlds of finance, management, and business. 

“It was my first introduction to these topics,” she explained, “but just as important was the exposure to subjects like theology and philosophy, which made me think about the world and our responsibilities in it—not just to ourselves, but also to others.”

Currently the Global Head of Credit and Political Risk at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Ms. Labbat has 30 years of managerial experience at top global financial institutions, including banks and insurance companies. 

Deeply rooted in her Catholic faith, Ms. Labbat felt that St. John’s was the perfect fit. As a finance major, she secured her first job in a top bank credit-training program through the career office at St John’s. Subsequently, she earned an M.B.A., also in finance.

Ms. Labbat has managed teams for more than 25 years in both structured lending and credit. During this time, she provided tens of billions of dollars in financing and credit insurance to companies and developing countries all over the world.

Prior to her role at Nationwide, she served as Global Head of Credit and Political Risk at Zurich North America, overseeing a $21-billion global portfolio across 150 countries. She was responsible for the direction, management, and performance of the global team located in 10 countries with main hubs in the UK, France, Germany, Singapore, and the US.  

Ms. Labbat also served as Managing Director, Corporate and Investment Bank, at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where she was responsible for driving the global growth of the investment bank’s structured product offerings in export and trade financing. She was also at BNP Paribas and Citigroup Inc. in similar managerial and structured finance roles.

Ms. Labbat has traveled to more than 50 countries and witnessed firsthand how business can have a tangible impact on the world. She emphasized, “Whether it’s financing the building of roads, bridges, and needed infrastructure in developing countries; developing power plants that keep the lights on in a country; or financing satellites or telecommunication networks that keep people connected, being a businesswoman on an international playing field has been incredibly rewarding.”

“St. John’s gave me the ethical compass that shaped my decisions and relationships throughout my business career and life,” she stressed. As a mother of two boys, she added, “It’s this ethical foundation that I also try to provide to my sons as they move through life, making decisions in school, jobs, and relationships.”  

Ms. Labbat’s years at St. John’s inspired her to join the Board of Trustees of her other alma mater, Fontbonne Hall Academy, a college preparatory school for girls in Brooklyn, NY. During this time, she spearheaded the creation of an endowment and contributed to the Ascend Campaign promoting STEM (i.e., science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs for girls.  

“It means a lot to me to help young people achieve their goals,” Ms. Labbat said. “If seeking a career in business, aim high when making your mark while always remaining true to yourself.”