Kristin Lemkau, CEO of JPMorgan Wealth Management, shares insights on driving business growth and navigating life as a single mother.

"I will know before you do if I am not performing well, and I will proactively tell you." This was the unusual pledge Lemkau made to her superiors when she was promoted from Chief Marketing Officer to CEO of JPMorgan Wealth Management in late 2019. She explained that her deep respect for leadership left no other option.

She later added with confidence, "I knew at that moment I would excel—and I did."

The data supports her claim. Under Lemkau's leadership, assets under management at JPMorgan Wealth Management surged from $500 billion to over $1 trillion. The number of financial advisors nearly doubled, growing from 3,600 to nearly 6,000.

Her next goal: reach $2 trillion in assets by 2030.

The decision to make a "leap" came six years ago when Lemkau was content as CMO and believed it would be her final role. However, senior leaders, including Jamie Dimon and Mary Erdoes, had other plans. They tasked her with studying how to revive the underperforming wealth management division—and eventually offered her the helm.

Initially hesitant, Lemkau recalled, "I loved my role as CMO. I thought, how can I leave my team?" She wondered whether it was a test or a recognition of her capabilities. Though the shift from CMO to wealth management CEO seemed unconventional, Lemkau sees strong parallels: both roles focus on growth. "Marketing is a means to growth. My job is to scale the business," she noted. "If you know how to grow, you can be a great CEO."

In 2022, Lemkau faced a life-altering personal tragedy: the death of her husband. Suddenly a single mother to two teenagers, then aged 15 and 13, she described the experience as "indescribably brutal." Compounding the challenge, her husband had handled most household responsibilities. "I didn’t know any passwords. I had never been to Costco. I hadn’t paid a bill in 17 years," she recalled.

"From a logistical standpoint, my life fell apart," she admitted. "But you find a way to move forward because you have to." She took a two-month leave, praising JPMorgan's leadership for their strong support.

"My children always come first," Lemkau emphasized, adding that she repeatedly assured her son and daughter she would stop working if they needed her. Amused, she recalled their response: "No, no, no." They encouraged her to continue, understanding her passion for her career. "My kids know I love my work," she said, noting they may have also needed space to grieve.

Today, her eldest is in college, and her younger son has a driver’s license. Lemkau is glad she returned to work, maintaining a structured schedule with 10-hour office days. "Everyone knows not to waste my time. If I need to leave for a basketball or volleyball game, and someone brings up something trivial—well, good luck to them," she said with a shake of her head.

Her experience as a single mother reshaped her leadership style. "I now see people more holistically. What happens outside work often impacts performance more than markets, interest rates, or anything else," she reflected. "Often, it takes going through hardship yourself to truly empathize with others."

When asked about the best career advice she ever received, Lemkau shared: "If you want a bigger job, make the job you have bigger." That idea stayed with her. "People often wait for opportunities. But if you focus on adding value, good things follow. By the time you’re promoted, others will wonder why it didn’t happen sooner."

Perhaps most powerful is the example Lemkau sets for others. "I feel unstoppable now. I have kids, a life, but I love my work and this company," she said. "The past six years have been incredibly tough. I truly believe many couldn’t have done it. Going through personal challenges has made me feel unbreakable."