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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.

FWA Member Darcy Ann Flanders, Founder of BaselineGroupNY, Honored with 2025 WBENC WBE Star Award

February 20, 2025
The prestigious recognition awards 14 woman-owned businesses across the country Darcy Ann Flanders, Founder and Chief Brand Strategist of BaselineGroupNY , has been named a 2025 WBENC WBE Star Award recipient , a national honor celebrating trailblazing women who lead with vision, innovation, and impact while supporting their corporate clients. Selected from a powerful network of certified woman-owned businesses, Flanders stands among 14 honorees nationwide representing WBEC Metro NY, the New York regional partner organization. The award recognizes Flanders as a successful business leader, pushing boundaries, driving innovation, and creating new opportunities for herself, her businesses, and her communities. As the visionary force behind the award-winning creative agency, BaselineGroupNY, Flanders has spent 28 years at the helm transforming brands through compelling stories using visual design. Under her leadership, strategy, and artistry come together to help clients like Capital One, Webster Bank, and Northwell Health cut through the noise with visually impactful creative solutions. For more than 30 years, Flanders has made a name for herself as a trusted leader and partner, combining her extensive expertise with a collaborative approach to help organizations achieve their goals through branding and design. "Receiving the WBENC WBE Star Award is an incredible honor," said Flanders. "At Baseline, we thrive on blending strategy, creativity, and agility to navigate the fast-paced needs of our clients. While we have deep expertise in financial creative services, we proudly serve a wide range of industries, including nonprofit, education, and various service-based sectors. We specialize in bridging the gap between large agencies and in-house teams, seamlessly integrating into existing structures or stepping in as a dedicated creative department for organizations that need targeted support.” Under Flanders’ leadership, Baseline has been a trusted partner in the creative industry since 1997, continuously adapting to the ever-changing landscape. Through the growth of the internet, financial crises, the rise of social media, and the challenges of COVID-19, Baseline weathered each storm—maintaining its reputation and retaining loyal clients who continue to work with them as they join new organizations. The agency has earned recognition from the Financial Communications Society, 2024 MUSE Awards, and 2023 Graphic Design USA. This latest honor from WBENC underscores not just Flanders creative expertise, but her ability to lead and thrive in the face of adversity. BaselineGroupNY looks forward to continuing to deliver the high level of excellence that the 2025 WBENC WBE Star Award espouses for their current and future corporate clients while continuing to influence the future of branding and design. 

Spotlight on FWA President Annette Stewart

January 30, 2025
Strategic planning and vision to advance women in financial services FWA President Annette Stewart’s accomplishments are impressive, to say the least. Not only is she a first-generation college graduate, but she’s also a lawyer and holds an MBA degree. She has nearly 18 years of experience on Wall Street, and still managed to strike the ideal work-life balance. In her most recent role, a senior director focusing on U.S. Business Acceleration and Integration at RBC, she worked remotely from her home in Memphis, TN and traveled to New York City for monthly meetings.  Sherree DeCovny, co-chair of the FWA’s Marketing & Strategic Communications Committee, talked with Annette about her career, her leadership journey at the FWA and how the organization has contributed to her success.

Registration Open for 2025 FWA International Business Conference

January 16, 2025
Join us in France!  We invite you to join us as a delegate for our upcoming FWA International Business Conference (IBC) , taking place in Paris from March 9–14, 2025 . As always, our IBCs are a great opportunity to learn in an international setting, build your professional career, and grow your network. In Paris you will: Engage with industry leaders and experts on topics such as energy, global markets, technology, women’s leadership, and sustainability Spend time at leading companies, including Skadden, RBC, Natixis, Banque Transatlantique, Crédit Mutuel, Groupe BPCE, and JP Morgan Participate in exclusive panels, workshops, and roundtables hosted by esteemed organizations like Université Paris Dauphine-PSL and JP Morgan’s ‘Women on the Move’ Immerse yourself in Parisian culture through curated evening events, networking dinners, and optional site visits. Click here to view a more detailed agenda (in formation). Conference Fees $1,500 Members* $2,000 Non-Members* *Includes a $500 deposit due by 1/31/2025 to secure your spot (non-refundable should you decide to cancel your registration). Full payment is due by 2/15/2025. Individuals are separately responsible for personal travel and accommodations. Suggestions and recommendations will be provided. Support is available from a travel consultant. Secure your spot today! Deposits are due by 1/31/2025. We look forward to being with you in Paris!

Spotlight on Operations Resource Committee Member Susan Migliaccio

January 9, 2025
Strong governance, risk, and controls expertise supports the FWA’s mission If you have a question about driving technological, financial and strategic transformation, Susan Migliaccio is your go-to expert. With over 20 years of experience, she has a proven track record of advising executives in complex organizations on intricate challenges across finance, operations and technology to achieve their goals. Her unique ability to solve problems from multiple functional perspectives provides valuable insights to her clients and teams. She is adept at building strong relationships with clients and bringing the right people together to achieve consensus and drive change.  Sherree DeCovny, co-chair of the Marketing & Strategic Communications Committee, recently sat down with Susan to discuss how she has brought her expertise to various leadership roles within the FWA.
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