Come join FWA’s Financial Literacy Program this summer and help prepare incoming freshman at Baruch as part of the SEEK Program!
The SEEK Program (Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge) at Baruch College was the first of its kind and was designed to provide equitable higher education opportunities and college access to students who meet an academic and economic requirement.
We have been asked to present a brief version of our curriculum to supplement the academic programs that are provided to these incoming freshmen. We hope you can join us!
We provide training resources for all of the curriculum materials.
Please register with your name, contact information and dates you are available.
Questions or concerns? Please contact Financial Backpack Co-Chairs, Lindsay Starr at [email protected], or Suzanne Matthews at [email protected].
Thanks for supporting the Financial Backpack, and we hope to hear from you!
| School | Dates | In-person/Remote | Module | Presenters Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baruch | Monday, August 14th 2-4:15pm | In-person 55 Lexington Avenue | Steps to Financial Success | 2 |
| Baruch | Tuesday, August 15th 2-4:15pm | In-person 55 Lexington Avenue | Steps to Financial Success | 2 |
| Baruch | Wednesday, August 16th 2-4:15pm | In-person 55 Lexington Avenue | Steps to Financial Success | 2 |
| Baruch | Thursday, August 17th 2-4:15pm | In-person 55 Lexington Avenue | Steps to Financial Success | 2 |
One of the things I value most about the Financial Women’s Association is the creativity of our members. I hear so many thoughtful ideas. New programs. Fresh perspectives. Ways we can continue to grow and evolve as an organization. That energy is a gift and it tells me people care. At the same time, one lesson I continue to learn as a leader is that ideas are only the beginning. What truly moves an organization forward is what happens next. Often, when an idea is shared, the natural follow-up is a simple question. Who would like to help take this forward? Sometimes there is immediate enthusiasm. Other times, there is hesitation. And that moment is important. It’s not about pressure. It’s about clarity. Many of us are balancing full careers, families, caregiving responsibilities, and personal goals. Capacity looks different for everyone and it changes over time. Being honest about what we can realistically commit to is part of good leadership. The most impactful ideas are the ones that come with a willingness to stay involved. That involvement doesn’t mean doing everything alone. It means helping shape the vision, building momentum, and partnering with others to bring it to life. Organizations thrive when ideas are paired with ownership. When members feel empowered not just to contribute suggestions, but to help guide them toward execution. Even small steps of follow-through create momentum and trust. At FWA, we welcome ideas. We value curiosity and innovation. And we also believe that commitment, in whatever form is realistic for you, is what turns good ideas into meaningful impact. When vision and follow-through come together, everyone benefits. That’s how we continue to build a strong, supportive, and sustainable community.
As the UAE continues to grow as a global financial & investment hub, women are increasingly helping shape decisions at the highest levels of business and governance.
When people think about leadership in the UAE, the public sector is not always the first in mind - yet it's a powerful example of women shaping the nation’s future.
In finance, precision, rigor, and discipline are essential, and they will always remain core to how we operate and make decisions. At the same time, there is an important distinction between maintaining high standards and allowing the pursuit of perfection to slow progress, dilute impact, or prevent action altogether, particularly in moments that require speed, adaptability, and judgment. One of the most valuable leadership lessons I have learned is that waiting for perfect conditions often means missing the opportunity to act when it matters most. Markets move quickly, organizations evolve in real time, and the world rarely presents us with complete information or ideal circumstances. If we wait until every variable is known and every detail refined, we often find that the moment has already passed. Perfection is the enemy of the good. Progress, especially in complex and dynamic environments, rarely comes from flawless execution. It comes from informed decision making, from moving forward with intention, and from being willing to adjust as new information emerges. Most meaningful advances are not perfect at the outset, but they are good enough to create momentum, learn from experience, and evolve into something stronger over time. This mindset is particularly important for leaders, and it is especially relevant for women in leadership. Too often, women are conditioned to believe that we must be fully prepared, fully qualified, and fully certain before stepping forward or making decisions. That expectation, often applied more harshly to women than to others, can slow progress and limit both individual and collective impact. Agility is not about lowering standards or acting without care. It is about being responsive, thoughtful, and decisive in the face of uncertainty. It requires confidence in our judgment, trust in the teams we lead, and the willingness to course correct when circumstances change. Moving fast does not mean moving blindly, it means recognizing that learning and improvement often happen through action rather than delay. At the Financial Women’s Association, we strive to lead with this balance in mind. We are committed to excellence, but we also value momentum. We move forward deliberately, but without paralysis. We test new ideas, listen closely to our community, and continuously refine our approach, understanding that progress is an ongoing process rather than a final destination. As leaders, our responsibility is not to eliminate uncertainty, because that is rarely possible, but to navigate it with clarity, courage, and a bias toward action. When we choose progress over perfection, we create space for innovation, growth, and meaningful change. Let us continue to lead in this way, with confidence, adaptability, and purpose, supporting one another as we move forward together.
