Seton Hall University-FWA Mentoring Program Fall Kickoff Inspires the Next Generation

October 12, 2023

Last Tuesday, October 3, 2023, the Seton Hall University-FWA Mentoring Program launched its Fall Kickoff event, a gathering destined to inspire, connect, and uplift the next generation of aspiring female leaders. This event proved to be a remarkable occasion filled with networking opportunities, mentorship, and invaluable insights that will shape the career paths of young women.


The evening commenced with a delightful networking session, offering mentees a chance to connect, share stories, and build meaningful relationships with both mentors and peers. Amidst enjoyable refreshments, an atmosphere of enthusiasm and camaraderie set the stage for the night's main event.


A Fireside Chat, skillfully moderated by Donna Harris, Chair of the FWA Seton Hall Mentoring Program, featured FWA Mentors Liz Harper from CLA and Laura Bourgeois from Prudential. These accomplished women shared their wisdom with a room packed with eager mentees. They emphasized the critical role networking plays in career development, with Liz Harper noting, "Networking is fundamental. It's something you did when you were in high school and didn't even know it. Continue to learn how to build connections. When you walk into a room, speak to the person who is sitting there alone. Build a network and go get what you want."


Self-belief emerged as a central theme, with Donna Harris encouraging mentees to "be true to yourself." Confidence and authenticity were lauded as potent tools for success.


Additionally, Kim Sterling, another mentor in the program, offered empowering advice, reminding students of their incredible potential, and encouraging them to seek meaningful aspirations. "You are incredible, remember that! Remember that in your life you want something that is meaningful, and people want to help you, just ask. Ask for what you want," Kim urged.


Laura Bourgeois emphasized another vital skill for young women: setting boundaries. She emphasized that establishing boundaries early can foster work-life balance and overall well-being.


The Seton Hall University-FWA Mentoring Program exemplifies the transformative power of mentorship in nurturing talent and fostering the growth of future female leaders. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a mentor, consider the opportunity to make a lasting impact through the Financial Women's Association’s NextGen Programs, visit this link to learn more.

Introducing Our Gala Emcee

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We are pleased to announce Steve Liesman, CNBC’s senior economics reporter, as emcee of the FWA's 70th Anniversary Gala on October 8, 2026. As CNBC’s senior economics reporter, Steve Liesman reports on all aspects of the economy, including the Federal Reserve and major economic indicators. He appears on “ Squawk Box ” (M-F, 6 AM-9 AM ET), as well as other CNBC programs throughout the business day. Liesman joined CNBC from The Wall Street Journal , where he served as a senior economics reporter covering monetary policy, international economics, academic research, and productivity. At the Journal , Liesman previously worked as an energy reporter and Moscow bureau chief. He won an Emmy for his coverage of the financial crisis and was a member of the reporting team recognized with a Pulitzer Prize for stories chronicling the crash of the Russian financial markets.

Announcing Our 2026 Male Ally of the Year

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 The FWA is pleased to share that Jonathan Dambrot will be honored as the 2026 Male Ally of the Year at the FWA's 70th Anniversary Gala on October 8, 2026. Jonathan Dambrot is CEO and Co-Founder of Cranium AI, the independent end-to-end platform for enterprise AI security and governance. He has built a category leader once before — and is doing it again for the AI era. Before Cranium, Jonathan grew Prevalent from a startup into a Gartner- and Forrester-recognized leader in third-party risk management, through its 2016 sale to Insight Partners. As a Partner at KPMG, he led third-party security globally, launched the firm's AI security services, and incubated Cranium inside KPMG Studio — spinning it out of stealth in April 2023 on a simple thesis: every SaaS application is now an AI application, so every SaaS risk is now an AI risk.

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The FWA is pleased to share that Carolyn Maloney will be honored with the 2026 Lifetime Public Service award at the FWA's 70th Anniversary Gala on October 8, 2026. We look forward to introducing additional honorees in the weeks ahead.

Celebrating the Wall Street Exchange Class of 2026

September 8, 2026
The Financial Women's Association celebrated the graduation of 39 students from the 2026 Wall Street Exchange (WSE) Program , closing a milestone year as the program marks 50 years of connecting students with industry leaders. This year's cohort interned at 18 firms and represented 28 colleges. On Tuesday, July 28, FWA President Albana Theka opened the virtual celebration with words of wisdom to the interns on their entry into their first career positions and advice about how to apply their program learnings. She invited them to join the FWA as students, so they can continue to take advantage of FWA’s rich resources and vast network of financial services professionals. Co-Chair Gerri Bostick then introduced Chen Rao, Vice President, Global Markets ALM Treasury at BNP Paribas, the keynote speaker. Chen is a former Wall Street Exchange intern and a former member of the program committee, and she shared the value of these experiences to her career. She also spoke about the characteristics needed to succeed and offered practical advice on how to excel early in one's career. The interns met in breakouts to share their summer experiences along with key WSE program takeaways they plan to carry forward into their careers. They then participated in a fun Wall Street Exchange quiz game where they tested their knowledge from the sessions they attended and earned prizes. The high level of engagement throughout the summer was evident in their ability to answer all the prompts accurately. Wrapping up the celebration, Co-Chair Laura Smith Dunaief announced the graduates followed by special recognition of those who attended all seven sessions. Twenty students will receive free CFA Society student memberships. Throughout the program, the Wall Street Exchange cohort met with industry professionals, asked sharp questions about AI and the future of work, and built relationships that will extend well beyond graduation. They came curious. They're leaving connected. Congratulations, 2026 WSE cohort​! We're looking forward to staying connected as you build what's next. The WSE Co-Chairs, ​Gerri Feemster Bostick and ​Laura Smith Dunaief, and the WSE Committee extend their sincere appreciation to FWA President Albana Theka, ​Chen Rao, BNP Paribas, and the CFA Society New York for their support in making the​ closing session a success. We also thank FWA’s leadership and WSE’s volunteers, sponsoring firms, and participating employers for their continued commitment to providing this valuable experience to the next generation of financial professionals.
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