October 2025

A Decade of Progress and Impact: Recapping the 10th Annual STA Women in Finance Symposium

The 10th Annual STA Women in Finance (STA WIF) Symposium officially kicked off the 92nd Annual STA Market Structure Conference on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C. The milestone event celebrated a decade of elevating, supporting, and advancing women across the securities industry.

The event began with a lively networking session, allowing attendees to reconnect with industry colleagues, meet new peers, and build meaningful relationships ahead of the formal program. The energy in the room was warm and enthusiastic — setting the tone for what would be a morning of celebration and reflection.

At STA, one of our proudest achievements in recent years has been watching WIF evolve into a year-round initiative integral to our identity. Our affiliates around the country now host events, mentorship programs, and panels that address topics ranging from mentorship and career development to work-life balance, all with the goal of fostering a more inclusive and equitable industry. This year’s 10th anniversary was a reminder of how sustained engagement and community-building can shape real change.

The first portion of the symposium featured the presentation of STA WIF’s 2025 Mentor of the Year Award to Shelley Eleby, Chief Marketing Officer at Mosaic Platforms. Shelley, a longtime advocate for mentorship and career development across the securities industry, was recognized for her hands-on support of the next generation of talent, especially those navigating the early and middle stages of their careers. The conversation was moderated by Laura Delaney of Virtu Financial, STA WIF’s 2025 Vice Chair. Shelley shared insights from her own journey, detailing her experiences navigating the business world, and acknowledging the role her mentors have played along the way.

“I never really thought of myself as a mentor at first,” Eleby said. “It doesn’t have to be a formal mentor–mentee relationship — it’s about being present, listening, and sharing experiences in a way that’s genuine and fluid.”

She went on to reflect on how mentorship has shaped her own path and what keeps her motivated to give back. 

“I’ve had a winding career path — from direct marketing to finance and back again — but the one constant has been the people who took the time to invest in me. Paying that forward is what keeps me motivated.”

The second half of the program featured a conversation between Keynote Speaker Georgie Dickins, Founder and CEO of Women in Leadership Global, and Christine Lee of Liquidnet and 2025 STA WIF Chair. Their discussion offered candid insights on how women across the industry can navigate complex, high-performance environments and step into leadership with purpose, while still making the time for personal endeavors.

“Leadership starts with how you manage yourself — how you prioritize, protect your time, and stay grounded when everything feels urgent. It’s not about doing it all, it’s about doing what truly moves you forward,” Dickins said.

She also reflected on how great leaders show up for others — not by dominating the conversation, but by listening. “The most effective leaders I know are great listeners — You have two ears, one mouth. Listen twice as much as you speak. When you pause to listen, you get so many added benefits that lead to improved results.

Together, the two sessions captured the dual mission of STA WIF: to celebrate the accomplishments of women already making a mark, and to expand pathways for those still forging ahead. The strong turnout, engaging dialogue, and collaborative spirit reflected just how far this initiative has come over the past decade — and where it’s heading next. As the STA WIF initiative continues to grow, we remain committed to empowering women at every stage of their careers, driving greater representation across the industry, and ensuring this momentum carries forward for the next generation of leaders.

Women in Finance Events

STANY Women in Finance Annual Fundraiser for the Bowery Mission Women's Shelter

November 12

SoulCycle

New York, NY

Articles of Interest

The Most Powerful Women in Finance

American Banker

The financial services industry is experiencing unprecedented market and technological change, increasingly being transformed and challenged by artificial intelligence, blockchain, digital assets and the growing use cases for their implementation. The 25 leaders ranked as The Most Powerful Women in Finance are at the forefront of this technological transformation, adapting to change, driving results and exploring new opportunities that sit at the intersection of business and innovation. Read here


Dancers Show Finance the Way 

Traders Magazine

On Saturday, October 18, the professional dancers opened the Strictly Come Dancing television show in the UK with a group dance based on the stock market in which their performance was surrounded by a display of moving price tickers. They were wearing black suits but it is fair to say that they did not look like or behave like typical traders. From the outside it looks like the male and female professionals are treated in the same way on the show, and it is fair that this is still not the case in finance. Read here

Black Women Leaders Found Joy and Reached Their Resilience at the 2025 C-Suite Summit

Forbes

Throughout this year, you might’ve come across articles with the headline akin to, “350,000 Black Women Ousted From The Workforce,” highlighting the mass exodus of Black women professionals and documenting where we currently are professionally, despite the despite the grim reality many face. But what hasn’t been as explored are the resources being offered to help keep those who are still in corporate America encouraged, emotionally and spiritually—as many of colleagues, family members and broader community are looking to us for moral support, inspiration, leadership and refuge. Read here

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