News

Please join us in congratulating and welcoming the new and returning Financial Women’s Association Board Members for the 2025-2026 term. We look forward to working with you to support and serve our community. Thank you for your leadership and service!

The FWA is pleased to welcome Riya Shah and Joanna Jordan from the Jaggar Community Fellows Program at Adelphi University . This competitive program offers paid nonprofit internships, benefiting both organizations and students. Riya joins us as our Database Management & Data Analysis intern, and Joanna is our Marketing and Communications intern.

Highlights from Kathryn Mayer: I’m honored to have been the featured speaker at the Financial Women’s Association (FWA) event, Elevate Your Network, Empower Your Career . A huge thank you to the FWA Membership & Engagement Committee, Erin K. Preston, Samantha DiMercurio, and Marsh McLennan for making this happen. Networking is evolving as many of us are returning to the office again, and FWA members are eager to rebuild their skills. Despite the rainy evening, the energy, engagement, and willingness to be vulnerable made this workshop unforgettable. I opened with this powerful insight: "Research shows that new ideas and career opportunities are most likely to come from weak ties – relationships outside our closest circles."* To illustrate this, I shared my own experience—how a simple question to my book editor led me to a life-changing conversation with keynote speaker and bestselling author Victoria Labalme who is a weak tie. Her advice? Just start calling yourself a keynote speaker. That shift in mindset transformed my approach, leading to new opportunities within weeks. Then, I challenged attendees with an interactive exercise. Each participant partnered with someone they didn’t know, spending five minutes brainstorming a person they wanted to meet or a request they could make to connect with a weak tie. The energy in the room was electric as women realized the untapped potential in their networks. Next, we explored key principles of strategic networking: defining its purpose, differentiating mentor-sponsor relationships, and identifying the 10–15 critical connections that drive success. Attendees then paired with new partners to reflect on how they define themselves—not just professionally, but through their education, family roles, hobbies, volunteer work, and social circles. Many discovered surprising commonalities, from boxing to shared alma maters, reinforcing the power of authentic connections. By the end, everyone walked away having met at least two to three new people and with actionable strategies to enhance their network. If you want to dive deeper, I cover strategic networking in my newly released book, The Productive Perfectionist. I also write a monthly blog on leadership development, so stay ahead of the curve and subscribe! Plus, if you're looking for coaching or training, visit kcmayer.com to connect and to buy my new book! *Gianpiero Petriglieri, “How to Make Better Friends at Work,” MIT Sloan Management Review, volume 65, no.3 (Spring 2024), page 44

Building and retaining leadership and a pipeline for the future Ariel Boverman is a human resources (HR) professional who has used her expertise to guide executives though organizational change at top firms including Marsh and McLennan, PwC, EY and Wells Fargo Advisors. She represents the Nominating Committee on the FWA’s board, and previously, she served on the board of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In her free time, Ariel loves engaging with diverse people and cultures and being a tourist in her own city. Sherree DeCovny, co-chair of the FWA’s Marketing & Strategic Communications Committee, spoke with Ariel about her background and her role in helping the FWA ensure sustainability through strong leadership. 

Dear FWA Members, It’s graduation season, a time to remember the countless young lives touched by FWA’s mentorship programs, scholarships, and educational initiatives. To celebrate our incredible graduates, it is time for our annual Dollars for Scholars fundraising campaign. FWA’s life-changing programs have given thousands of female scholars the guidance and tools to succeed in the classroom, and our outstanding alumnae are pursuing careers at many top-tier firms. Last year, with support from the generosity of our donors and sponsors, we: Provided guidance, development and networking opportunities through 119 high school and undergraduate mentorships Awarded scholarships and financial support for 57 students from our programs Supported 24 mentees to attend local leadership conferences for women Provided financial training to 250 Baruch graduate school students Accepted 67 interns into the FWA’s summer 2024 Wall Street Exchange program for career development Our initiatives and networking opportunities have indeed prepared our mentees to lead - at work as well as in their community. In the coming weeks, the profound impact of our educational programs will be highlighted through the dynamic journeys of our stellar graduates. I hope their stories will also inspire you to make a meaningful gift to help our future scholars. Remember, when women support women, incredible things can happen. Thank you for your support, Annette Stewart FWA President 2023-2025

When Ananya Putta switched her major from biology to finance, she wasn’t just changing a field of study, she was stepping into the unknown. Like many first-generation college students navigating their academic and career choices, she was searching for clarity, confidence, and a sense of direction. Through the FWA's Seton Hall Mentoring Program , Ananya was matched with Karen Kerby, a Partner at Prager Metis CPAs and member of the Financial Women’s Association for just over two years. What began as a formal mentorship quickly blossomed into something much deeper: a lasting, empowering relationship built on mutual respect, shared ambition, and authentic support. “Karen is more than a mentor—she’s a guiding light,” said Ananya. “She helped me see a future I wasn’t sure I belonged in, and she gave me the tools to move toward it with confidence.” Karen, reflecting on their journey, noted how personal the experience was for her too. “I was a shy, uncertain young woman when I began my career. I know what it feels like to not have all the answers. I wanted to be the kind of mentor I wish I had—someone who listens, encourages, and reminds you of your worth.” Together, they tackled mock interviews, résumé reviews, networking strategies, and those hard-to-name challenges like imposter syndrome and self-doubt. As Ananya advanced, Karen remained a steady presence, offering not just guidance, but belief.

The FWA is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2025 Wall Street Exchange Program (WSE). This prestigious program has been a cornerstone of professional development and leadership in the finance industry for over 40 years. The Wall Street Exchange Program is designed for rising senior undergraduate students who have secured paid internships for summer 2025 with financial services or a finance role at a non-financial services company. The 2025 WSE will be primarily virtual with highly interactive and engaging workshops and webinars hosted by our partner firms. If circumstances permit, we will host one or more events in person in New York City. Apply Here: https://www.fwa.org/apply-for-wall-street-exchange Eligibility: Applicants must have completed their junior year but should not be graduating before December 2025. Deadline: June 1, 2025 Highlights: Engaging WSE workshops hosted by FWA President Circle leading firms Enhance job search skills through workshops that help you create and leverage your unique professional brand Develop leadership techniques and other soft skills necessary to execute a successful job search and succeed in your career Build a professional network with fellow program participants and interns and employees from sponsor firms Access FWA members who can share professional and personal advice Join the FWA for even more networking, skill building, and professional development after the summer and as you embark on your new career FWA Members: We encourage you to share this incredible opportunity with your mentees and networks. Together, let's empower the next generation of finance professionals! For more information visit https://www.fwa.org/wall-street-exchange . If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Kelsie Piersaint, FWA Next Gen Educational Programs Manager, at [email protected] .

Empowering the next generation of female leaders in finance Jackie Linden joined the FWA later in her banking career to expand her network, and she served on several committees before joining the board. Currently, she leads Educational Initiatives for the FWA Board. Sherree DeCovny, co-chair of the FWA’s Marketing & Strategic Communications Committee, talked with Jackie about her 40-year career at Citi and why she finds it rewarding to support the FWA mission and champion women in finance. 

In Fall 2024, the Financial Women’s Association (FWA) Graduate School Partnerships Committee, with support from BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education Program, sponsored a finance training program for over 175 Baruch College Zicklin School of Business graduate students. As part of the curriculum, students attended a financial markets overview lecture by KLD Training and completed courses in applied Excel and corporate valuation with Training the Street. The Graduate School Partnerships Committee is proud to help fulfill the FWA’s mission to contribute to our communities and prepare the next generation of professionals through this multi-year initiative. As the financial services industry continues to go through technological and regulatory changes, the Committee hopes these young professionals will gain an edge as they enter the financial services industry with the additional technical skills and financial knowledge acquired from the training program. In the excerpts below, a few participants share how the course helped their corporate valuation knowledge and express their gratitude to the FWA and BMO Capital Markets. Click here to view the complete Participants Testimonial booklet . For more information about the FWA Graduate School Partnership, please contact committee chair Christine Li-Auyeung .

We're proud to celebrate our immediate past President, Hermina "Nina" Batson's recognition in Equities.com ! Her career resilience, leadership during the pandemic, and unwavering commitment to provide access, inclusion, and diversity continue to inspire. Read more here: Nina Batson: A trailblazing Black woman on Wall Street - Equities.com

This past week, we had the privilege of celebrating International Women's Day and kicking off our International Business Conference here in France. We began with a warm welcome dinner on Sunday night, followed by a series of events at businesses across central Paris. We have taken a deep dive into France’s technological advancements, energy sector, markets, and economic leadership. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity presented by the FWA International Business Conference, which has brought together delegates from around the world since 1978. It has been an absolute pleasure to experience France in such a unique and enriching way. As we approach the conclusion of this conference and prepare to head back home, I will carry with me the unforgettable experiences and knowledge gained here. La vie est belle!  Best, Annette Stewart FWA President 2023 - 2025