Given the falling rates of COVID-19 infections in our area, some of the following events may take place in person. A final determination will be made based on risk levels closer to the date of each event, and will be communicated in advance. |
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REGISTER HERE: Thursday, August 12 at 5 PM CT
Come celebrate summer and reconnect with one another at a relaxed and much awaited in-person networking event.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES
REGISTER HERE: August 19 at 4 PM CT
Being COURAGEOUS: Embracing Entrepreneurship
It has been said that the best way to predict the future is to create it (thank you Peter Drucker). Entrepreneurship is an essential skill - whether you’re looking to start your own business or identify, present, and cultivate opportunities within a broader organization. Join us as we explore how to think strategically, act like an owner, and advance your personal and professional goals with an entrepreneur mindset.
Moderator:
Panelists:
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WHAT'S IMPORTANT NOW (WIN)
EDUCATIONAL SERIES: Implementing ESG in Different Types of Portfolios
REGISTER HERE: September 29 at 4 PM CT
WIN will explore how asset managers are implementing ESG principles into their investment processes. The audience will benefit from hearing how ESG implementation differentiates across equity, fixed income, and private credit portfolio management.
Moderator:
Panelists:
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Stephanie Dobson, Portfolio Manager, Sustainable Investing, Putnam Investments
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Jessica Zarzycki, Portfolio Manager, Nuveen
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Liz Thorne, Managing Director, Private Fixed Income, SLC Management
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WIP ANNUAL TRAILBLAZER DINNER |
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SUBMIT A NOMINATION
It’s time to submit a nomination for the 2021 Distinguished Woman “Trailblazer!” Our Distinguished Woman Investment Professional Award recognizes an outstanding woman in the investment industry who, over a distinguished career and through her personal conduct, commitment and activities, has exemplified her support for the advancement of women within the industry and her community.
We are seeking a Trailblazer* who is:
- Well established in her career
- Disrupting the institutional investment industry
- Truly blazing the trail for the next generation of women
* Please note candidates do not need to live in Chicago or be WIP members
We'd love to hear from you! Please email the below information to info@wipchicago.org by 5 PM CT on August 16th. Please indicate "WIP Trailblazer Nominee" in the subject line.
- Nominee's name
- Nominee's company and title
- Nominee's address, phone number, and email
- Why the nominee should be honored with this year's Trailblazer Award
- Engagements outside of work, i.e., volunteer/family life
- Any additional relevant professional and personal background information
- The nature and length of your relationship to the nominee
- Should your nomination be anonymous (yes/no)?
SAVE THE DATE: October 14 at 4 PM CT
The University Club and via Zoom (hybrid event)
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Missed a past event? Check out past event takeaways. |
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WIP warmly welcomes the below new and renewing members during Q2! Not currently a member or need to renew? Visit our membership page.
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- Laura Chan
- Pamela Clancy, QMA
- Kelli Hill, Jackson
- Teresa Tighe, Willis Towers Watson
- Natasha Selzer, NASDAQ
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Get Involved: WIP Seeks A Chair of the Membership Committee! |
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Candidates should have approximately 10 years of experience in the investment management industry or at least five years in relationship management. The Chair position is a two-year Board term with the potential to serve a second term of the same length. The role is an unpaid, volunteer position; WIP’s success as an organization relies on the personal commitment of its members and leadership.
Click here to learn more. |
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Member Spotlight: Jane Marcus, Korn Ferry Institute
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WIP celebrates generous, inspiring members who get involved in our community. Our goal is to continue to provide you with broad networking opportunities, both professional and personal. We thank our members for their philanthropic efforts and hope you will get to know them better!
How long have you been a WIP member and what attracted you to our organization?
I have been recruiting senior investment leaders for over 30 years. As I began reducing time spent traveling (New York and elsewhere) and focusing on Chicago, my goal was to give back to the investment community and to my local community. Specifically, I wanted to be part of organizations that were centered on women in multi-faceted ways. With this goal, I became a WIP Member about three years ago and have been an active member of the Professional Development Committee ever since.
What is WINGS and how did you get involved?
WINGS is a Chicagoland-based organization that provides housing, integrated services, education, and advocacy to end domestic violence. Given my personal connection to domestic violence, I was drawn to the mission and eager to get involved. I serve on the Board of Directors and currently serve as the Chair of the Personnel Committee.
I learned about WINGS from my doctor’s office bulletin board and immediately sought to get involved. The universe was telling me that this organization was meant for me!! It is truly wonderful to be involved with an organization focused on providing a pathway to independence for adults and children who are escaping from domestic violence and abuse.
What do you enjoy most about your experience with this organization? What can you tell us about WINGS’ impact?
It’s incredible to see how powerful our impact can be, particularly as the rate of domestic violence went up significantly during the period of the pandemic and the ensuing quarantine. There is nothing better than hearing stories of brave victims who have left everything to move away from their abuser, often with small children. The team at WINGS works tirelessly to empower victims of domestic violence. They provide them with the tools they need to escape a dangerous situation and to move towards safety and self-sufficiency. Recently, WINGS hosted our “Celebration of Courage” annual event, which brought together the victims whose transformation and courage is amazing!
How can we help?
There are multiple ways to help, and help is needed! WINGS is always seeking volunteers and financial supporters. In-kind donations and clothes are also welcomed! Those willing to help can also attend events and/or get involved here.
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Take advantage of the full range of benefits available:
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WIP Job Board
Did you know that the WIP jobs board currently has over 45 jobs posted from over 15 different companies? Positions include, but are not limited to:
- Investment banking
- Research analyst
- Portfolio manager
- Consultant relations
- Sales coordinator
There is no charge for posting a job on the WIP job board. Employment listings are open to WIP members and non-members. They're posted for 30 days and can be re-submitted for an additional 30-day posting.
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Interview with a Gold Sponsor:
Principal Global Investors
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Meighan Phillips, Portfolio Manager, PrinREI, shares her career journey and advice with us: |
How did your early career decisions lead to your first portfolio manager role? Are there any particular influences or formative experiences that you would like to share?
When I reflect back on early career experiences, one common theme that led to my role today was saying “yes” to new development opportunities, often meaning I was at the edge of my comfort zone. It still happens now! The first of those decisions was taking an internship at Principal Real Estate Investors (“PrinREI”). PrinREI has a nine-month co-op internship program and to participate, interns take a semester off school. It was very unconventional at the time and I was concerned about leaving school in the midst of my junior year. That “yes” led to another “yes” in joining the firm as an acquisition analyst and was the foundation of a career in commercial real estate. Since then, there have been more roles, projects, and presentations that stretched my comfort and skillset, but also fostered growth, development, and progression. I wouldn’t be in this role today without those opportunities and more importantly, the leaders, mentors, and advocates who helped shape my path thus far.
What attracted you to real estate, and what is your outlook on real estate investments?
Real estate is such a unique facet of finance and so often the tangible manifestation of secular trends and the macroeconomic environment. It’s dynamic and nuanced – two adjacent apartment buildings in Austin, TX may generate very different return performance because it depends on so many factors - investment strategy, site selection, physical improvements, marketing, leasing, property management, etc. We can continuously influence performance of a building based on the decisions we make against a backdrop of evolving market fundamentals. I’ve been in real estate since 2005 and each day has provided different challenges and learning moments. In portfolio management, I love connecting all the pieces of our organization – research, transactions, asset management, accounting, IT, marketing – with our clients, consultants, industry groups and academics. It’s been a great path and based on our house view, the real estate outlook is positive today. Real estate can act as a hedge against inflation and because it is connected to the underlying macro picture, we can deploy capital to execute on high conviction themes around information, technology, demographics, e-commerce and other demand drivers. In addition to more traditional property sectors, we’ve invested in data centers, life sciences, and other non-traditional property sectors and we’re adding to those positions today.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to navigate in your career?
The Global Financial Crisis was the most challenging period of my career. That period of time from late 2008 through 2010 was one of the most difficult and stressful, but was also very fertile ground for learning. Last year, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our portfolio management team came together and immediately recalled those lessons. We managed our core strategy together through the GFC and in many ways, that provided a lot of clarity as we’ve addressed the new challenges and persistent uncertainty of COVID.
What is the best advice you have received and what advice do you have for young women aspiring to be portfolio managers?
Ask for growth opportunities – not just any opportunity – but the ones that align with your interests, your experience, and your firm’s needs – even when those opportunities are on the edge of your comfort zone. And maybe more importantly, ask for often and genuinely want to hear constructive feedback on your performance. If you want to be a portfolio manager, make it known! Find out what educational background and career experience you need and get with your leader to define a path. At the same time, find a mentor AND an advocate who are willing to help you along the way.
What are you most passionate about and why?
I’m terrible at answering “best” and “most” questions! If you ask my kids, I don’t even like to list a single favorite color, movie, or song. That said, our family is committed to children’s philanthropy across the board. We’re interested in ways we can help at-risk kids in our community, provide expanded access to educational opportunities, and help children that are sick. To that end, together with two other families, we started theiowawaveshirt.org to benefit the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. If you aren’t familiar, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics completed construction on a new children’s hospital in 2017. That hospital happens to overlook Kinnick Stadium and through a grassroots social media campaign started by an Iowa football fan, all 70,000 game attendees turn and wave to kids in the hospital after the first quarter of each home game. It’s a really incredible experience for the kids and fans alike – and particularly close to our hearts as our daughter was treated for a life-threatening illness there in 2016. Over the last four seasons, the individuals and retailers throughout the community have shown an outpouring of support to the kids through the purchase of Iowa Wave Shirt gear. We donate all profits to the hospital and at the same time, the kids treated there get to see tens of thousands of people out and about wearing Iowa Wave Shirts as an outward symbol of their support.
For more information about Meighan or PrinREI, click here.
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Thank You to Our Sponsors! |
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We are grateful for our valued sponsors who support diversity initiatives promoting the advancement, recruitment, and retention of women in the investment industry and related fields. Click here for a list of all WIP sponsors. |
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For sponsorship opportunities, click here.
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Women Investment Professionals
847.254.9136
info@wipchicago.org
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