Women's History Month - FWA's 1994 Private Sector Woman of the Year , Muriel “Mickie” Siebert

March 7, 2024

Paving the Way for Women in Finance


Throughout Women's History Month, we're highlighting women from the FWA's history - past presidents, awardees, and others who have forged a path for women in the financial community. In their honor, we ask you to support the next generation by making your own contribution toward paving the way forward for all women in finance.


This week, we highlight Muriel “Mickie” Siebert, who was awarded the FWA's 1994 Private Sector Woman of the Year in recognition of her being “The First Woman of Finance.” Siebert was the first female member of the New York Stock Exchange and the first female superintendent of banking for New York State.

In 1949, Muriel “Mickie” Siebert was the only woman in her business classes at Western Reserve University. Although she withdrew from college in 1952 when her father was diagnosed with cancer and did not earn a degree, she was determined to work on Wall Street.


Siebert was unstoppable. She lied about having a college degree to get her first job as a researcher for Bache & Company. She changed jobs three times because she was getting paid less than her male colleagues doing the same work. Siebert was the first woman to buy a seat on the New York Stock Exchange after being turned down by nine potential sponsors. In 1969, she started Muriel Siebert & Company, a discount brokerage firm. She later served as the first female superintendent of banking for New York State and directed New York City’s Municipal Credit Union, Urban Development Corporation and Job Development Authority.


Muriel Siebert paved the way forward for the next generation of women, and now it’s your turn to do the same. Support our mission of advancing all women with a donation of $25, $50 or $100 dollars. No donation is too small - it's a chance to put your brick in the road to success for our next generation of women leaders.

Seventy Years Forward: How the Financial Women’s Association Built a Community That Changes Lives

January 28, 2026
by Robert Brown January is National Mentoring Month. In 2026, it also marks a defining moment for the Financial Women’s Association as we celebrate 70 years of advancing women in finance. This milestone matters now. As organizations across industries rethink development, mentorship, and long-term investment in people, FWA stands firm in what has always worked: human connection, shared knowledge, and women lifting one another forward.  For seven decades, FWA has done more than convene women in finance. It has built a community rooted in mentorship, access, and action. Progress here has never been accidental. It has always been intentional. It happens because women, and male allies choose to show up for one another. As current FWA President Albana Theka reminds us, “Mentorship isn’t about who’s ahead of you. It’s about who sees you, and who helps you see yourself.” That belief has shaped FWA from the beginning and continues to guide where we are headed next.

How Mentorship Helped Shape Simran Hassan’s Future in Finance

January 14, 2026
Some students enter college unsure of where they are headed. Others, like Baruch College senior and Finance major Simran Hassan, arrive with ambition and quickly realize how much more there is to learn. For Simran, the finance world felt exciting but intimidating. Competitive. Fast paced. Male dominated. She knew she wanted a seat at the table, but finding her voice took time and support. That support came through the Financial Women’s Association's Baruch College Mentoring Program , which Simran describes as one of the most meaningful experiences of her college career. Before joining, she admits the industry felt overwhelming. “Before joining the program, the finance industry and its obvious male dominated environment felt quite daunting to me,” she shared. “But through FWA, I discovered the network of incredible women that exists within Baruch and across the industry. The program, and especially my mentor, gave me the confidence to speak my mind and seek resources that will help me succeed.”

With Gratitude for the Global Perspectives That Strengthen Our FWA Community

November 24, 2025
Recently, our members had the honor of meeting Army General François Lecointre, Grand Chancellor of the Order of the Legion of Honour. An institution Napoleon Bonaparte founded in 1802. General Lecointre brought the Order’s legacy to life, sharing its mission and new efforts to digitize centuries of archives. Did you know? The Legion of Honour also established an all-girls boarding school for descendants of honorees — a lasting investment in education and equality. The event also reunited members of our Paris International Business Conference delegation, a reminder that our global exchanges continue well beyond the trip through shared learning, cultural understanding, and lifelong connections. Thank you to Banque Transatlantique for hosting and to General Lecointre for sharing his insights and time.

Rising Star: How Mentorship Helped Adelisa Music Find Her Wings

November 20, 2025
FWA–Baruch College Mentoring Program Spotlight Adelisa Music is a rising star with a bright future in finance. A college student at Baruch, she’s built her success through focus, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning. Along the way, the Financial Women’s Association’s Mentoring Program at Baruch College added another dimension to her journey, giving her the guidance and confidence to take her ambitions even further. “My experience with the FWA Baruch College Mentoring Program was more than transformative,” Adelisa says. “It served as a guide and support throughout college, introducing me to people and opportunities that opened doors I didn’t know existed and helped me learn more about my strengths and weaknesses.”
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