August 2025

A Level Playing Field: Celebrating Women's Equality Day

By Christine Lee, Liquidnet

2025 STA WIF Chair

Women’s Equality Day, marked every August 26, celebrates the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. It’s a day to reflect on the progress toward equality and to recommit to breaking down barriers, especially as members of an industry where women have often needed a greater platform. STA Women in Finance (WIF)'s mission statement is to advocate for the unique career needs of women in financial services, which prompts the question - how are we accomplishing this?

STA WIF is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025 - a testament to the hard work of those who launched and nurtured it over the years. While 10 years may seem like a short window of time, much has changed over the past decade, particularly for our industry and the workforce as a whole - the unique career needs of women today are not necessarily identical to those 10 years ago.

Since its inception in 2015, STA WIF has remained focused on creating a more inclusive securities industry, championing women by offering networking, mentorship, and leadership opportunities that help them thrive in a field that has historically been male-dominated. Over the years, one of STA WIF's initatives, #PutHerOnThePanel, reflected efforts to include more women on conference panels as subject matter experts. Since spearheading this campaign, STA has seen a surge in women-led, diverse panels on both the National and Affiliate levels.

However, needs and goals evolve over time. In a post-COVID world, networking and peer-to-peer connection has been redefined, with more industry professionals balancing the global rise in hybrid and remote work with building a network. These new standards, along with return-to-work programs for working parents, offer greater flexibility than ever before. However, the need for professional community remains a staple for our industry, which is why STA WIF launched its first-ever Women in Finance Mentorship Program earlier this year. Born out of feedback from our members (particularly those early in their careers), this new program offers women of all career levels the opportunity to connect with and share perspectives as both rising and seasoned industry leaders.

105 years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, STA remains committed to fostering women's equality as it evolves over time and being agents of positive change throughout our industry.

Be sure to join us as we celebrate this key milestone during the 10th Annual STA WIF Symposium on Wednesday, October 15!

Shelley Eleby: 2025 STA WIF Mentor of the Year!

Congratulations to Shelley Eleby, Chief Marketing Officer at Mosaic Platforms, on being named STA WIF's 2025 Mentor of the Year!

The Mentor of the Year Award annually recognizes a woman who exemplifies mentorship by guiding others within the STA community and beyond, serving as a leader and an inspiration for the next generation of women in finance.

Ms. Eleby has been a long-time supporter of STA at the national and affiliate levels. She is a member of both the STA National and STANY Women in Finance Committees. Ms. Eleby is also currently serving as a Mentor this year in the inaugural STA WIF Mentorship Program. Ms. Eleby has been previously recognized for her achievements in this space, receiving the Markets Media Women in Finance Award for Excellence in Marketing (Content Marketing) in 2017.

The Mentor of the Year Award will be presented to Ms. Eleby at the 10th Annual Women in Finance Symposium:

Wednesday, October 15

10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Penn Avenue Terrace, JW Marriott Washington, DC

Sponsored by KeyBanc Capital Markets

Be sure to visit our conference website below and reserve your spot for this special STA WIF milestone!

Articles of Interest

Can Women’s Sport Turn Itself Into Big Business?

Financial Times

With almost 9mn followers across Instagram, TikTok and other platforms, Ilona Maher is easily the most followed star at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. She and her US teammates were heavily beaten by hosts and tournament favourites England in their opening game. But the 29-year-old American centre is nevertheless building on her team bronze in the women’s rugby sevens at the 2024 Olympics, her part in drawing record crowds at Premiership Women’s Rugby side Bristol Bears, and before that her dominance of the US college championships. Read here ($)

Beauty Is an ‘Insidious Force in Women’s Financial Lives,’ Says ‘Rich Girl Nation’ Author — Here’s How to Overcome It

CNBC

There are many unique hurdles that women face when it comes to money, such as the wage gap and caregiving responsibilities. Yet, there’s another challenge in women’s financial lives that is less-discussed — beauty costs, which can be an “insidious force in women’s financial lives,” said Katie Gatti Tassin, author of the new book “Rich Girl Nation: Taking Charge of Our Financial Futures.” Read here

As Gen Z and Millennial Women Look to Get Money-Smart, Dow Janes Is Trending Upward

Los Angeles Times

After Britt Baker graduated from Harvard Business School in 2016, her friends back in California begged for a souvenir: the best investment advice she’d learned. Baker, 37, indulged them, starting out of her Fairfax, Calif., living room a finance club that eventually became her present-day financial education startup, Dow Janes — which boasts an Instagram following of nearly half a million. But the wisdom she doled out at those early club meetings didn’t actually come from business school, she said. It came from her parents and grandparents, who instilled in her from childhood the importance and mechanics of managing money wisely. Read here

Follow STA on LinkedIn to stay in the know

on the latest WIF updates!