Announcing Our 2026 Public Sector Woman of the Year

September 3, 2026


The FWA is pleased to share that Virginia Maloney will be honored as the 2026 Public Sector Woman of the Year at the FWA's 70th Anniversary Gala on October 8, 2026. 


We look forward to introducing additional honorees in the weeks ahead.

Council Member Virginia Maloney is a lifelong resident of the East Side and a dedicated public servant to her hometown community. She represents New York City Council District 4, which includes the Upper East Side, East Midtown, Kips Bay, Turtle Bay, Murray Hill, Sutton Place, Tudor City, Peter Cooper Village, and Stuyvesant Town.


In the Council, Virginia chairs the Economic Development Committee, which supports small businesses, strengthens local economies, and creates economic opportunities across the city. She is also Co-Chair of the Manhattan Delegation, Co-Chair of the Irish Caucus, and serves on the following Committees: Finance, Small Business, Sanitation and Solid Waste Management, Housing and Buildings, Fire and Emergency Management, Higher Education, and Cultural Affairs & Libraries.


Throughout her career, Virginia has worked at the intersection of innovation and public service. She ran programs at the New York City Economic Development Corporation to support small businesses, attract top technical talent, and strengthen the city’s workforce. She helped expand free public Wi-Fi and fiber infrastructure across New York City during the Bloomberg and de Blasio administrations.


Virginia has also consulted for the federal government on major initiatives, including modernizing high-speed rail with the Federal Railroad Administration, building telecommunications infrastructure with the Federal Communications Commission, and improving healthcare outcomes.


In addition, Virginia has over a decade of experience in the technology sector, where she developed and scaled products that connect blind and vision-impaired individuals with real-time assistance. She brings a results-oriented, systems-focused approach to the City Council and is committed to making city government work better for the people who rely on it every day.


Virginia has been recognized by City & State as a 2025 40 Under 40: Rising Star and named to the 2025 Manhattan Power 100. She served on the Executive Committee of the Lexington Democratic Club from 2022 to 2025 and has served on the boards of the NYC Foundation for Senior Citizens and the Teach For America Young Professionals Committee.


Virginia holds a B.A. in Public Policy and Environmental Studies from Princeton University, an M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School, and an M.B.A. from MIT Sloan School of Management.     

Member2Member Applications Open - Apply Today!

September 2, 2026
We're pleased to announce that the next cohort of the Member2Member program will run from November 2026 through April 2027. Applications are open now, and the deadline to apply is Friday, September 18, 2026 .  Please note the Member2Member program is only open to FWA members. Not currently a member? Join or renew today! The FWA Member2Member mentoring program helps advance the FWA mission of accelerating leadership and success of women in the financial community. The program pairs experienced FWA members with those eager to build leadership skills and advance their careers. Our goal is to create meaningful mentor and mentee partnerships where pairs work together to identify strengths, uncover opportunities, and empower the mentee. We also encourage networking and reverse mentoring among members of the cohort. Interested in participating? Learn more here!

The Seat Comes with Seventy Years

August 27, 2026
A Message from FWA President Albana Theka When I stepped into the role of President of the Financial Women’s Association last July, I thought I understood what I was taking on. I had served on the board, co-chaired membership, spent two years as President Elect, and I knew the history the way most of us know it, in the broad strokes of dates and programs and the story of the eight women in 1956 who were turned away from an investment association and decided to build their own. What I did not expect was what happened in the weeks that followed, when past FWA presidents began reaching out to me one by one, not to give instructions, but to tell me their stories.

Announcing Our 2026 Non-Profit Sector Woman of the Year

August 26, 2026
The FWA is pleased to share that Mary Barneby will be honored as the 2026 Non-Profit Sector Woman of the Year at the FWA's 70th Anniversary Gala on October 8, 2026. We look forward to introducing additional honorees in the weeks ahead. Mary Barneby served as the Regional Chief Executive for the American Red Cross of Greater New York from 2020 to 2023. In that role, she led a team dedicated to alleviating suffering caused by disasters and emergencies across the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland Counties, and Greenwich, CT. Prior to joining the Red Cross, Mary served for eight years as CEO of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut, where she led a major transformation of volunteer support services and technology enhancements.

WSE Interns Get a Firsthand Look at the Future of Finance

August 20, 2026
The fifth session of the FWA’s Wall Street Exchange (WSE) Program , held on Tuesday, July 14, brought together students, industry leaders, and a program alumnus for an engaging discussion on the future of finance, financial technology, artificial intelligence, and career development. WSE committee member Amber Doreen welcomed the participants and introduced the session's moderator, Yanique Williams Elliott, a Wall Street Exchange alumna, technologist, founder, and venture capitalist. The discussion featured accomplished professionals representing venture capital, technology, operations, and financial services, Souky Dolinsek, Vice President of Operations at Billford; Shade Alcine, Renewal Manager at Human Security; and Alix Jules, Head of AI Transformation at Broadridge. The panel began by exploring the defining moments that required the speakers to make difficult career decisions. They discussed changing industries, accepting unfamiliar responsibilities, and entering roles that required them to build processes from the ground up. Several panelists candidly discussed experiencing imposter syndrome, especially when entering unfamiliar environments or participating in conversations with senior executives. The panel also explored how artificial intelligence is changing the speed, scope, and nature of financial work. AI can assist with financial modeling, forecasting, bookkeeping, data analysis, investor materials, and other time-intensive responsibilities. Employers will increasingly expect professionals to use AI as a productivity partner. The strongest employees will be those who can combine technological fluency with sound judgment, creativity, and strategic thinking. The discussion explored in depth the intersection of blockchain, tokenization, digital assets, and the rise of digital workforces. Another important discussion focused on the distinction between mentors and sponsors. Mentors speak to you. They provide advice, encouragement, perspective, and guidance while helping you navigate professional decisions. Sponsors speak about you. They are often senior leaders who advocate for you when you are not present, recommend you for significant assignments, and use their organizational influence to support your advancement. As technology continues to evolve, the panel identified several key skills of the future and qualities that will remain essential. Curiosity was highlighted as a particularly valuable quality among 10 others. Interns should ask to attend meetings, learn how other departments operate, and speak with colleagues whose work interests them. Unless a meeting is confidential, employees may be willing to allow an intern to observe and learn. The panel concluded with several memorable lessons for the interns: “Consistency beats perfection.” “Do not become too comfortable.” “Trust the process.” The WSE Co-Chairs, Gerri Feemster Bostick and Laura Smith Dunaief, and the WSE Committee extend their heartfelt thanks to moderator, Yanique Williams Elliott and our panelists, Souky Dolinsek, Shade Alcine, and Alix Jules, for generously sharing their time, experiences, and valuable career insights with our participants.
More Posts