March 2024

Uniting to #InspireInclusion for Women’s History Month – And Beyond

By Inessa Ruffman, JonesTrading

2024 STA WIF Chair

As we near the end of March, the STA Women in Finance Committee would like to take this moment to reflect on and recognize the countless achievements of women in our industry and throughout history.

Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (IWD) align perfectly with STA WIF’s core mission: to assist in meeting the unique career development needs of women in the securities industry, and to foster and advocate for a culture of inclusion. This year’s theme for IWD, celebrated earlier this month, was #InspireInclusion. This theme asks us all to examine how we can champion inclusivity and harness the full power of diverse perspectives.

Inclusivity has proven time and again to fuel innovation and accelerate progress – which means the financial services space can reap significant benefits. Here are just a few ideas for how we can work to bring more perspectives into the fold:



• Advocate for diversity in leadership and encourage female colleagues to apply for decision-making positions
• Host a monthly informal coffee chat in the office to create a dedicated space for women at your company to network and ask questions
• Develop a more structured mentorship program or host educational workshops to benefit future generations of women in finance

We also encourage you to take inspiration from women who have already paved the way. One of WIF’s chief goals is to amplify the voices and perspectives of female professionals on Wall Street. One way we do this is through our “Changing the Face of Financial Services” Q&A series – you can explore the full archive here. In addition, our WIF Symposium, held each year at STA’s Annual Market Structure Conference, provides valuable discussion and networking opportunities. We celebrated our eighth installment last October, with speakers including Tracy Caliendo (Bank of America Securities), Eva Walsh (J.P. Morgan Asset Management) and Patricia Koetzner (Siebert Williams Shank & Co.). Check out the full recap here.

Although Women’s History Month is winding down, STA WIF is committed to keeping our members and observers informed and inspired all year round as we champion the next generation of women in finance. Stay tuned for future interviews, perspectives, event recaps and more in upcoming editions.

Happy Women’s History Month, all!

Traders Magazine FLASH FRIDAY: Meet Christine Lee, STA WIF Vice Chair

Traders Magazine recently sat down with our 2024 WIF Vice Chair, Christine Lee of Liquidnet, to hear her story, how she advocates for diversity in the workplace, and the key issues impacting women in our industry. Read here

STA Washington DC Spring Update

April 10, 2024

The St. Regis Washington, DC

Our annual Washington DC Spring Update is back - and in-person for the first time ever! Join us at this sponsor-exclusive event at the historic St. Regis Hotel to hear from leading regulatory and business leaders!

Registration is now open for sponsors - reach out to Dawn Combs at [email protected] for more info!

Women in Finance Events

NYSE hosted a Women in Finance Networking Breakfast on March 12, featuring panels from leading women in the industry, including Cassandra Seier, Head of International Capital Markets at NYSE, Cynthia DiBartolo, CEO of Tigress, and more.



To celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, STANY partnered with NYSE and One World Trade Center to paint the town purple - lighting up lower Manhattan in honor of women's equality!

Women's History Month: Brands Giving Back

• Check out how some of your favorite brands are giving back to the community this month! Companies like Baked by Melissa, Artizia, and more have dedicated the month of March to supporting women's charities. Read here

• Five Iron Golf has been hosting Women's Wednesdays all month long, offering free golf simulator sessions to women from 5-8pm to encourage interest and participation in the sport. Read here

The latest edition of STA WIF's "Changing the Face of Financial Services" interview series features Stephanie Dumont, Executive Vice President, Head of Market Regulation and Transparency Services at FINRA.

Articles of Interest

100 Top Women in Finance: Blazing New Trails in the Markets, the Economy, and Industry

Barron's

It has been only 50 years since the Equal Credit Opportunity Act allowed women to obtain their own credit cards. Fortunately, the world has changed greatly since then. Women now steer some of the country’s biggest banks and asset managers, navigate monetary and fiscal policy, and fund what could be the market’s next Magnificent Seven companies. Some of these women are on Barron’s fifth annual list of the 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance, which honors established and emerging leaders in financial services, the corporate world, and government who are shaping the economy, markets, and industry in meaningful ways. Read here

The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To

Time

If you’ve spent any time on TikTok in the last eight or so months, you’ve probably come across the concept of “girl math.” Essentially, it’s the idea that spending less money, or buying something on sale, is actually saving money, and that using cash means a purchase is free. It’s a joke, but not everyone finds it funny. Read here



4 Tips for Growing Your Women-Owned Small Business in 2024

Entrepreneur

Every day, women across America are turning their dreams into reality, starting businesses with a simple spark of an idea and a persistent drive to succeed. If you're a woman who owns a small or medium-sized business (SMB), you have contributed to the transformative force shaping our economy. Read here

Follow STA Women in Finance on Twitter

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