Let’s be real: the financial industry Not known for diversity — in terms of gender or race. Sectoral discrimination makes careers for Black women in finance an uphill battle, and too few Black women are rewarded for their efforts. in fact, Only 4% of black women own it This is one of the most important executive positions in the financial industry.
Yet, you don’t have to look far to find amazing Black women at every level of the financial services industry – women who saw overlapping potential and did it anyway. Their leadership is critical, not only in terms of visibility, but also because this industry is where wealth is created and built. The choices we make in finance—who we invest in what, how we design monetary systems and establish access to capital—reverberate into every area of our lives, and the effects of those decisions can be at best At worst, it can last for generations. When black women participate in that decision-making process; everyone stands to benefit. Here are 10 successful Black women trailblazers who give us hope.
maggie walker
Maggie Walker is the daughter of a former slave. first black woman Establish a bank and serve as its president. Her St. Luke’s Penny Savings Bank was opened in Richmond, Virginia in 1903. at that time, banks severely discriminated against black people, and Walker’s vision was to create a place where black people could keep their money and be economically empowered in their own communities. By 1920, the bank had issued mortgages to over 600 black families, employed many black people, and was the pride of the community. her name will live on.
lila st john
In 1953, Lila St. John first black woman Pass the New York Stock Exchange Financial Advisor Examination. Just 25 years old, she worked for the Wall Street securities dealer firm Oppenheimer & Company while she “crammed for two months” while raising her two children.
valerie mosley
After graduating from Duke University and earning an MBA from Wharton College. valerie mosley He subsequently held positions at a number of Wall Street firms, including senior vice president, partner, and portfolio manager at the global investment firm Wellington Management Company. Today she Founder and CEO of Valmo Ventures, which she founded “to advise and invest in companies that create value for both investors and society.” She also developed a financial literacy program for high school students. Her life’s mission is to help others “increase their self-esteem and net worth.” (same.)
melody hobson
Melody Hobson starts her career as an intern At Ariel Investments, America’s first black-owned mutual fund and investment management company.Currently, she is President and Co-CEO and Ariel One of the largest minority-owned investment trust companies In the United States. (This year marks the 40th anniversary.) 2015Hobson was named to Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world (!) and in 2017. first black woman Becomes president of the Chicago Economic Club. Currently, she also serves as chair of Starbucks’ board of directors. (She is also an investor in her Ellevest, Inc.)
carla harris
A veteran of 30 years in the financial industry, carla harris He is a senior client advisor and former vice chairman at Morgan Stanley.President Obama appointed her chair of the National Women’s Business Council in 2013, and she gave a speech about the myth of meritocracy I also thought about the need for sponsorship at TEDWomen in 2018. In her free time (?!), she also published author And the gospel singer who filled Carnegie Hall. … oh.
Edith Cooper
originally, Edith Cooper had plans to open a fashion boutique in New York…but then she went to Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and began a 30-year career on Wall Street instead. Among her many positions at Goldman Sachs, where she has been since 1991, she is head of human capital management; played a big role Reform hiring practices to improve diversity. She also serves on several boards in Silicon Valley, including Etsy and Slack.
Suzanne Shank
Suzanne Shank began her career I worked as an engineer, then earned an MBA from Wharton, where I fell in love with finance. today, she is the CEO and the president Siebert Williams Shank & Company, one of the largest black-owned financial firms in the United States and the highest-ranked women- and minority-owned Wall Street firm. She was also named National Entrepreneur of the Year by the Madam CJ Walker Center. she says: [women in finance] All you can do now is raise your hand and mentor other women. ” Amen.
Raquel Auden
Raquel Auden’s Journey Her path through Wall Street led her to Morgan Stanley, UBS, Merrill Lynch, and now JPMorgan. While at Merrill, she served as Director of Advisor Strategy Development, where she was responsible for recruiting and training the firm’s 14,000 financial advisors.she became known She focuses on diversity in her talent pipeline, and in addition to working closely with HBCUs, she has a rule that half of her interns must be women and/or people of color. . In 2016, she told Network Journal“I hire more than 1,700 advisors a year and am committed to putting diversity at the forefront of our work.” Yes.
sasunda brown duckett
“Personal money matters when you know what it feels like to look into the fridge and see baking soda, or when you know what it feels like to turn off the light” Sasunda Brown Duckett (“T” because she is better known) told the New York Times. When she was young, her family faced many financial hardships. So when her career led her into the mortgage business, she jumped at the chance to help people. She was previously CEO of Chase Consumer Banking and currently serves as CEO and President. TIAA, where she continues to pursue her passion of spreading financial literacy. “Because the reality is that for many people, the lack of money defines who they are.”
lauren simmons
when she was there 22 years old, Lauren Simmons became the youngest trader and only woman on the New York Stock Exchange. She was also the second black female trader in history. She graduated with a degree in genetics and a minor in statistics, and she moved to New York, met Richard Rosenblatt (CEO of Rosenblatt Securities), and she basically worked the job. All I had to do was convince him to take the job and I got the job. That being said, she left Wall Street a few years later after revealing what was next for her. She only made $12,000 a year (not a typo!) In Rosenblatt.Today she Spreading her financial savvy to the world (Not to mention I finally got my bag) I participated in podcasts, web series, and speaking engagements.There is also Her biopic is currently in development – Chloe Bailey (‘Chloe x Halle’) has joined the lead role. I can’t wait.
