A Message from the FWA President

The 2026 Wall Street Exchange (WSE) Program celebrated the start of its landmark 50th year on June 7 with an o rientation and networking session hosted by the CFA Society New York at its Manhattan headquarters. This year, WSE brings together 45 students from 28 universities representing 18 diverse financial institutions, insurance companies, fintech firms, and other organizations across the financial services industry. The evening provided participants with an opportunity to meet their peers, engage with FWA volunteers and program leaders, and gain insight into the experiences and opportunities that will shape their summer journey. FWA President Albana Theka welcomed the 2026 cohort and shared words of encouragement as interns began this important chapter in their professional development. She emphasized the value of cultivating meaningful relationships, seeking out mentors, remaining open to new perspectives, and taking full advantage of the opportunities available through WSE. Elizabeth Park, CFA Society New York’s Director of Membership, then introduced participants to the Society’s mission, resources, and commitment to advancing professionalism within the investment industry. Joy Lowenwirth of th e CFA Institute continued, highlighting the importance of ethical leadership, continued education, and lifelong learning while providing attendees with valuable insight into the CFA designation and the evolving landscape of the financial profession.

Please join us in welcoming the new and returning Financial Women’s Association Board Members for the 2026-2027 term. We look forward to working with you to support and serve our community. Thank you for your leadership! 

Please join us in welcoming Shanese Pereira to the team! Shanese comes to us with over a decade of experience in New York City public schools, where she worked as a special education teacher and school counselor, developing programs that support student academic and social-emotional growth while centering equity and family engagement. She also brings a strong program operations background in educational publishing and edtech, where she has managed content production, coordinated cross-functional teams, and kept complex projects on track from development through completion.  We are so excited to have her bring that depth of experience to her role as NextGen Program Coordinator. Welcome to the team, Shanese!