The BRIDGE Program Transforms Mentorship at WSFS Bank

Many times, the word “mentorship” is reduced to a casual coffee chat or sporadic advice from someone more senior. But true professional development, the kind that fundamentally alters the trajectory of a career and the culture of an organization, requires structure, vulnerability, and, most importantly, time. It’s a balance that WSFS Bank’s Dr. Michelle Burroughs, SVP, Chief Culture and Inclusion Officer, has carefully crafted through the BRIDGE program, Building Resources for the Inclusion of Diverse Associates through Growth and Engagement.

“Going through BRIDGE makes you the most vulnerable you will ever be professionally, but vulnerability is the prerequisite for becoming a better leader,” said Dr. Burroughs, the architect behind the program.

Establishing its first cohort in 2023, the nine-month, formal structure dismantles the traditional concept of mentorship and rebuilds it with intent. As part of the process, Associates have access to resources, exposure, and professional development opportunities that often lead to lasting career impact.

The Transformative Power of Mentorship

Isberr Xiloj-Madrid, a graduate of the program’s second cohort, embodies that philosophy. Stepping into his eighth year with the bank, he joined BRIDGE to find his lane and voice in group settings. Burroughs found he stood out by listening.

“I learned the value of patience, integrity, discipline, and being open to honest feedback – even when it’s uncomfortable,” Xiloj-Madrid, Client Services Associate at Bryn Mawr Trust, said of his time with his mentor Phil Hough, SVP, Relationship Manager Team Lead in Commercial Real Estate.

Over the nine months, Xiloj-Madrid was able to refine his communication skills, speak for himself, and understand the value of diverse viewpoints. That journey also led him to explore new areas of the bank from the Contact Center to the Commercial Division, and now Wealth Management.

Leah Hendron, who was also in Xiloj-Madrid’s cohort, joined the program with the goal of “being comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Already identified within the company as a high-potential Associate, Hendron was a strong contributor, but knew she had to push herself to reach the next level.

“I learned how to show up more fully as myself — at work and in my personal life,” said Hendron. “My mentor, Chris Weible, saw strengths in me that I couldn’t yet see in myself.”

That mentorship with Weible, SVP, Deputy Chief Credit Officer in Commercial Credit, was pivotal in helping Hendron conquer her fear of public speaking — a transformation so profound she even spoke at her own wedding. Professionally, the results were undeniable. A year later, Hendron served as the Co-chair for WIN, Women’s Inclusion Network, and transitioned from an internal role into a Client-facing position as a Commercial Relationship Manager, a path she once thought impossible as an introvert.

The sweet spot between personal and professional development is where BRIDGE thrives, and for Tashira Malave-Espinosa, it’s one she experienced firsthand. Malave-Espinosa started her career as a medical field professional and later pivoted to ban

king — a jarring transition that left her with questions about her future. BRIDGE gave her the platform she needed to not only find her voice but to take complete ownership of it.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned from my mentor is not to doubt myself,” Malave-Espinosa said. Her mentor, Elizabeth Wagner, SVP, Director of Endowments, Foundations, and Charitable at Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors, taught her that emotions are a superpower, showing how deeply one cares for their work.

Leveraging what she learned from the program, she carved her own lane in her department, taught herself new skills and now has a title as a Human Resources Operations Analyst, which better utilizes her analytical skillset.

The Path to Successful Leadership

Through its three cohorts, BRIDGE’s success is clear: nearly every participant has been promoted or moved laterally to a role better suited to their strengths. Rather than chasing those statistics, it’s a byproduct of its success by focusing on real, individual transformation that can happen when vulnerability meets professional development.

“BRIDGE isn’t about ticking a box,” said Dr. Burroughs. “We aren’t looking for people with the loudest voices in the room. We are looking for potential, for the courage to be vulnerable, and the willingness to trust the process.”

Maria Jameel entered the first BRIDGE cohort as the most senior professional within the group, proving mentorship is not just for those starting their careers; it is for anyone willing to grow. Bringing her own maturity and experience to the group, she found immense value in uncovering her own professional gaps.

“Conversations with my mentor, Cheryl Hughes, SVP, Director of Operations and Application Support, challenged my decision making and allowed me to think strategically and lead with intention,” said Jameel, VP, Talent Acquisition Manager. “Bouncing ideas and initiatives off her gave me flexibility to think outside the box and share those perspectives in a trusted space.”

Jameel learned that to lead with intention, she must first understand the why before jumping into execution. This strategic approach has transformed her relationships with stakeholders and allowed her to lead with greater intention, purpose, and impact.

As the program’s first graduate to become a member of the senior leadership team, Divya Tolani represents the embodiment of what the program aims to cultivate: a leader who models humanity and modesty alongside excellence.

“I have had mentors in my life as I have navigated my career path, and I value that a lot,” Tolani, Director, Enterprise PMO, explains. “It has shaped me and helped me accelerate my learning, allowing me to bring a better version of myself to the table.”

Tolani learned the power of grace. Juggling roles as a leader, colleague, mother, wife, daughter, and more often leads to competing priorities. Through BRIDGE, she was able to stop dwelling on the “balls dropped” and instead focus on adjustment and balance.

Her journey through the program, including a capstone project on financial inclusion that broadened her horizons, solidified her standing as a leader who goes forward, not just with strategy, but with compassion.

The Investment in the Individual

Programs like BRIDGE prove when an organization invests in the whole person—balancing their roles as parents, partners, and professionals—the return on investment is loyalty and high performance. Instead of simply retaining Associates, the program graduates leaders who value humility and share their journeys with others.

Taylor Perry, who started out as a temporary hire for WSFS, quickly established herself as a team player with an infectious personality and energy. Sitting at the front desk, she had high visibility but struggled with internal barriers.

“I felt as though my biggest hurdle within my career was my educational gap,” Perry admits. “This program helped me bridge that gap and showed me there were other ways to go about continuing my education without committing to going back to school.”

Through her mentorship with Sarah Tracy, SVP, Director, Office of the Chairman, President, and CEO, and a pivotal resume clinic with Dr. Burroughs, Perry realized she was downplaying her own story. The program mirrored her strengths, showing her that she was already an asset.

Today, Perry is a full-time Facility Coordinator and applies her working styles training from BRIDGE daily, navigating diverse personalities with a new level of emotional intelligence.

WSFS offers more than a paycheck or a title for its Associates; it is filled with leaders who look for places where talent can learn, grow, and belong. BRIDGE makes this possible.

The BRIDGE Program is one of the many ways WSFS invests in its Associates. If you are ready to invest in your career and take the next step to join WSFS, learn more by going to wsfsbank.com/careers.