In this episode of Boss Files, it was a day-to-day struggle out of the financial crisis. Today, it's a matter of being able to breathe life into what I think is a very good strategy, and that is this whole concept of responsible growth.

Anne Finoogan, Vice Chairman at Bank of America, a self-described hippie who never thought she'd end up as a banker.

So why did she? In her words, she needed a job. Today, she's known as the woman who helped

rebuild Bank of America's reputation following the financial crisis. When you have a near-death

experience, you have to make a decision as an individual, as a

person, as a company, what are you going to do with that? Are you going to take advantage of it,

or are you going to try to wish it away? In our case, we took advantage of it and we just laid it

all out on the table. What could we do better? Why, she argues if there had been more women and minorities at the top of the big banks,

the crisis would not have been so severe.

Today, she's committed to ensuring diversity at the top.

Plus, as a mother of four, she says she peddled back in her career

and watched her colleagues fly by her as she raised her family.

That was difficult, she admits.

I sat down with Anne Funaken at Fortune's Most Powerful Women's Summit.

Anne Funiken, thank you for being here.

Thank you for having me.

I appreciate it.

You are by far one of the most powerful, not just women, people in banking, period. Your role at B of A has been described as many,

many, many things. One of the big things that falls in your lap is a bank's reputation.

How do you define your role today? Well, different than I did a few years ago.

It was a day-to-day struggle, you know, out of the financial crisis.

Today it's a matter of being able to breathe life into what I think is a very good strategy.

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