Jed Balce
Ascend N. California - Ascend Executive Network (AEN) Member
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay area, Jed Balce has focused her career within the financial industry and supporting leadership and diversity programs within her employers’ and partners’ firms.
Jed currently serves as a Director within the Brokerage Product Services area at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Over her 23+ years at Schwab, she has held a variety of responsibilities and operational oversight for groups, such as, mutual fund trading, dividends and corporate actions, centralized vendor oversight and print communications.
Prior, Jed worked for Franklin Templeton running their back office and dealer main offices group. She has a B.S. in Business Administration.
Current Residence: Hayward, California
Birthplace: Quezon City, Philippines
How did you first get involved with Ascend?
I first got connected with Ascend as a chosen firm participant of its Advanced Leadership Program (ALP) held at the Stanford Campus in 2015. This program was wonderful. The topics covered by the various professors and speakers were engaging and empowering. Participants left with a different mindset about opportunity, how to capture opportunity and how we were going to execute on that opportunity plan. To this day, I remain very enthusiastic about the program and utilize the techniques and approaches in real life work scenarios.
What are some important lessons you’ve learned through Ascend?
Ascend really strives to up level the empowerment and potential of leaders, helping people to develop and drive change for success. I’m very thankful for Ascend and all the work they do to help drive greater representation and leadership within the AAPI community.
What advice would you give members to help leverage the power of Ascend?
Take advantage of their programs. Take advantage of their networking sessions. Listen and get a better understanding of cultural and societal challenges that our community is facing and learn how/what people in our community have done to overcome some of these issues. These insights can help provide better approaches to manage various situations, including helping to lead you down a path of success – either from a career or personal perspective. Lastly, with that plan that I walked away with from the ALP Program, I was able to execute and really drive change within my company. To this day, we continue to see the benefits from the implemented changes and they continue to help build a stronger community. We can all make positive changes to some extent. Believe in yourself and work towards what the community needs. The adoption will be organic.
What’s your favorite motto you live by?
Motto or approach that I live by: I don’t ever promise or commit to something that I am unsure of or know I won’t be able to deliver on. This even goes for stuff like, “Oh sure, let’s meet for coffee” or “I’ll come by to see you when I’m in town or in your building.” People hold tight to your words. So, I really try to avoid generating disappointment and do my best to maintain integrity by being mindful and thoughtful before I make a commitment. Be honest about your intentions. People appreciate “follow through and integrity” more than empty promises.
Is there a public figure you admire? Tell us who and why.
Gosh, there are so many to choose from. I admire folks that have had the strength to stand up and represent and have had the strength to be the first at something without knowing what it would entail, but still had the courage to do so, regardless. Michelle Obama is one key figure to me. Gavin Newsom is another, especially when it comes to LBGTQ rights and establishing the first legal recognition of same sex marriages in California. Despite the backlash he knew he would receive, Gavin still moved forward. As a gay couple living in San Francisco during this time, my wife and I will never ever forget that day. We cried as the news was announced. The legalization of same sex marriages in California became the catalyst for other states after that. There are so many brave people, and this is just one example, but my life and my family’s lives were forever positively changed by it.
Tell us about your family.
I am married to my high school sweetheart and we have two daughters (ages 28 and 16). We have a two-year-old English bulldog named Mochi. My wife and I were both raised in San Francisco, but now live between the Bay Area and Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. We will soon be empty nesters with our youngest about to go to college next year. We look forward to early retirement and travelling the world more.
What’s something you’re interested in learning/improving?
I would like to continue to meet new people and learn about different cultures and religions. I really feel that it is important to understand other’s point of view and cultural experiences to help me become a better communicator, business partner and supporter of people in general. Knowledge, application, partnership and kindness are things I strive for in paying it forward to others, with a continued focus on building up our community.
What’s something most folks don’t know about you?
I DJ as a side hustle to my regular job and love painting and creating mixed media pieces of art on canvas, wood, old vinyl records and skateboards.
Jed and her wife enjoying the wonderful backdrop of the Koolau’s (ko'o-lā'u) at the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden in Kaneohe, Oahu, HI
Jed with her ohana. Ohana means “family” in Hawaiian.