Hi, my name is Leya Yusupov, and I am truly honored to be one of the voices of the Financial Women’s Association (FWA)!
I was born in the former Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union collapsed my family immigrated to the United States as religious refugees. We left everything behind in search of freedom, opportunity, and a place where we could practice our faith openly. Our journey was not easy—we spent seven months in Austria and Italy before finally arriving in the U.S.—but we never lost hope in the American dream.
Like many immigrant families, we faced struggles, but through hard work and resilience, we built a new life. My older siblings worked tirelessly to help support the family. My mother, who always dreamed of pursuing an education and career but never had the chance, pushed me to keep going and growing. Her encouragement fueled me to study finance and earn my bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University.
Career
For 16 years, I built my career at FXCM (Forex Capital Markets), a global brokerage that helped retail and institutional clients trade foreign currencies, commodities, and indices online. FXCM was a pioneer in bringing forex trading—which had once been reserved for big banks and institutions—to individual traders. Over the years, I rose through several ranks, from taking trades with retail clients to hedging risk and managing positions directly with top global banks such as UBS, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, and others.
I am especially proud of my brother, Eduard Yusupov, who not only achieved the American dream but also brought our entire family along for the ride. As Chief Dealer and a partner at FXCM, his leadership and vision created opportunities that transformed all of our lives and the lives of his employees. Being part of the company’s incredible growth—especially seeing it go public on the New York Stock Exchange—was an unforgettable experience. Though bittersweet (as my father passed away just months before), it was a testament to our family’s American dream.
When the company later faced a historic downfall due to the unpegging of the EUR/CHF currency pair, I witnessed firsthand the highs and lows of the financial industry, covered in outlets like The Wall Street Journal and CNBC.
It was during my time in finance that I discovered my passion for photography. I began taking classes after work, experimenting with equipment, and using my father as my model...memories I cherish even more now that he’s no longer here. After FXCM’s collapse and my layoff, I finally took the leap I had always dreamed about: pursuing photography full time.
I began in my living room, experimenting with many genres before finding my calling in personal branding and headshots. My first major project, celebrating inspirational women in my community, unexpectedly became a huge success. Over time, I realized that photography was more than just creating beautiful images—it became a powerful tool for marketing. My clients began using my work to build their businesses, strengthen their brands, and amplify their presence online. This naturally led me to infuse photography with marketing strategy, creating a unique blend that empowers professionals and entrepreneurs to present themselves authentically and attract opportunities.
Along the way, I built The Power Network, a community for female entrepreneurs in my own community. Through my network I’ve have met so many entrepreneurs and mentors.
But through every step of my journey—whether it was immigrating as a child, building my career in finance, reinventing myself as a photographer and marketer, or growing new networks—my greatest motivation has always been my children, Hannah and Rodsheld. They are my fuel, my inspiration, and the reason I push forward every single day. Everything I do—whether it’s capturing stories through my camera, helping others market their businesses, building community, or growing with the FWA—I do to show them what resilience, faith, and perseverance can achieve.
The Financial Women's Association
I first discovered the Financial Women’s Association (FWA) through my client and mentor, Jen Feliberty. After tagging along with her to one of the events, I immediately fell in love with this incredible community of women. Jen encouraged me to join the marketing committee, believing it would be the perfect fit for my creativity and marketing background—and she was absolutely right.
Since joining in March 2025, my experience has been nothing short of amazing. I’ve had the chance to connect with inspiring women like Denisa and Albana, who I relate to on so many levels. By attending different networking events and engaging with members, I’ve learned so much and have expanded my network exponentially.
I’m truly grateful to be part of a group where growth, collaboration, and empowerment are at the core. If you’re a woman in finance looking for a network that will challenge you, inspire you, and help you thrive—the FWA is the place to be.
The FWA Voices Committee, chaired by Leya Yusupov, celebrates and amplifies the voices, stories, and accomplishments of the FWA community. Follow FWA on LinkedIn for more FWA Voices stories featuring our members!
