Events Digest
Young Partners Speaker Series
The Intelligent Economy – AI & Financial Services
May 6, 2026
On May 6th, the Irish American Partnership’s Young Partners gathered at BNY Corporate Headquarters in New York for the latest installment of the Young Partners Speaker Series, exploring AI’s growing influence on financial services.
The evening was kindly hosted by Partnership Board Member Brian Ruane, Senior Executive Vice President and Executive Committee Member at BNY, with thanks to sponsors MCS Group and Gary Hanley for their support.
The panel brought together nuanced perspectives and ideas on AI and its growing influence on financial services. Head of North American Relationship Management, Institutional Clearance & Collateral Management Tim Shanahan traced the arc of BNY’s history and the life of a trade — using it as a lens to explore how AI is set to accelerate the way global financial markets operate. Chief Data and AI Officer Sarthak Pattanaik then brought that vision to life from the inside, making the case that meaningful AI progress in financial services starts with data access, data quality, and responsible practice. What struck many in the room was not just the technology itself, but how deeply AI has been embraced across the culture of BNY — from leadership to operations. It was a compelling and rare inside look at an institution genuinely living this transformation.
As we mark the Irish American Partnership’s 40th anniversary, events like this are a reminder of the vibrant, engaged community of young Irish and Irish American professionals who continue to shape the Partnership’s future.
With thanks to our generous Young Partners Patrons
Brian & Anna Ruane
And thanks to our Young Partners New York Sponsor
BNY Head of North American Relationship Management, Institutional Clearance & Collateral Management Tim Shanahan, Deputy Consul General of Ireland Róisín Leonard, Chief Data and AI Officer Sarthak Pattanaik, Partnership President & CEO Mary Sugrue, Global Head of Clearance with BNY and Partnership Board member Brian Ruane, with VP of Development Mairead McNamara, and Development Associate Margaret Whyte.
To learn more about the Young Partners, please click here or contact Mairead McNamara.