A Message from the FWA President

June 5, 2024

Dear FWA Community,


I’m excited to start the new FWA fiscal year with you! Earlier this week at our Annual Meeting, I reflected on my journey as the 59th president of the FWA. Since I was elected, so much has changed in my life, my family's lives, and undoubtedly in the lives of every FWA member. Throughout it all, my prime focus has been rebuilding and reenergizing this wonderful organization.


The Financial Women’s Association engaged me in mentorship early on, and it was through that invitation that I learned I could be a voice to help others. As a first-generation college student myself, like many of our FWA mentees, I learned many things from trial and error. I kept thinking, what if I could help others avoid the pitfalls I experienced? The seed of the FWA was planted.


My focus on our education programs continues. This year, we're expanding efforts to recruit dedicated mentors for our programs, as well as fundraising initiatives that make real impact to support the next generation, including our Dollars for Scholars campaign. I urge you all to support this worthy cause that provides scholarships, one-on-one mentoring, and professional development to deserving young women. I'm also proud to share that my Seton Hall University mentee, Bianca Sanchez, recently graduated! She and all of our graduating mentees have bright futures ahead of them.


My goal is to enhance the FWA by ensuring we continue to provide relevant content, dynamic speakers, and a mix of in-person and virtual events. Throughout this year, we’ll be engaging with more senior/high profile leaders, relaunching ‘Transition Tuesdays’ and other career reflection events, and listening to all of YOUR ideas to move the FWA forward – the door is always open!


Last month at our 2024 International Business Conference (IBC), we were honored to receive a warm welcome from the US Ambassador to Greece, many Greek government officials, esteemed Greek business leaders, investment professionals, and of course, my favorite chef - Chef Maria Loi. The experience was an exceptional master class on the Greek economy and business landscape.


For our next IBC we are heading to FRANCE in March 2025! Stay tuned for more details in the weeks ahead! Let us make my next and last year as president of the FWA one of growth and new opportunities. Join us on this journey!


Sincerely,
Annette Stewart
FWA President (2023-25)

SAVE THE DATE: Global Capital & Leadership Forum

April 9, 2026
The MENA Capital Landscape: Risk, Resilience & the Road Ahead May 5–6, 2026 Join the Financial Women's Association for a timely conversation on sovereign capital, energy transition, AI, and the geopolitical forces reshaping global finance. When our UAE trip was cancelled, we immediately looked for ways to bring the experience to our community here in NYC - this forum captures the spirit, substance, and strategic importance of that journey. Registration details coming soon - save the date on your calendar now! Virtual Lunch Panel · Tuesday, May 5 In-Person Morning Program in New York City · Wednesday, May 6 One registration. Two experiences. One conversation.

Volunteers Needed for Financial Backpack Workshop

April 8, 2026
FWA members are invited to participate in a personal finance workshop on April 29th, 2026, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, at the High School of Economics and Finance.  The school is located at 100 Trinity Place, near Wall Street. The workshop will involve the FWA high school mentees at HSEF. We will have a training prep session the week before, either on April 21 or 22, depending on availability of the volunteers. If you are interested, or would like more information, please contact Suzanne Matthews, Committee Co-chair, at [email protected] .

Women’s History Month: Seventy Years of Change and the Women Who Refused to Wait

March 17, 2026
by Robert Brown Every March, Women’s History Month invites us to reflect on the women who challenged expectations, opened doors, and changed the course of industries that once excluded them. For the Financial Women’s Association, that reflection is personal. As the organization celebrates its 70th anniversary, the story of FWA mirrors the broader story of women’s progress in finance. What began in 1956 with eight determined women has grown into a global community that has helped generations of women enter, navigate, and lead in an industry that once shut them out. Those eight enterprising women did something quietly radical. They were working inside investment banks and financial institutions at a time when their talent was welcome, but their presence in leadership circles was not. The established associations of the day did not admit women. Access to the conversations, relationships, and influence that shaped the industry flowed through rooms they were not allowed to enter. So they built their own.

Building a Community in Florida

March 12, 2026
Something special is taking shape in Florida. Earlier this week, women from across the state gathered in Palm Beach Gardens as the FWA Florida Committee hosted its inaugural in-person event at DSM Capital Partners in celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. The program featured a forward-looking conversation on AI and technology in investing, followed by an interactive session on personal branding and executive presence led by FWA President Albana Theka and Florida Committee Co-Chair Marie-Helene Kennedy-Payen. Connections began the evening before at a dinner that set the tone for a day filled with energy, collaboration, and meaningful dialogue. By the time sessions began, the room already felt like a community. That’s what the FWA does best. Special thanks to Florida Committee Co-Chairs Marie-Helene Kennedy-Payen and Kari Desai, DSM Capital Partners for hosting, and all who joined. “Nothing beats the power of community and human connection. It was incredible to see women from across Florida come together for conversations that were insightful, energizing, and genuinely fun.” - Marie-Helene Kennedy-Payen 
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