The Interorganizational Network (ION) Rebrands as The Leaderboard

April 29, 2024

The Interorganizational Network (ION) announced it has rebranded as The Leaderboard. The change reflects the renewed commitment to advancing women's leadership in corporate boardrooms nationwide. With a revised mission and a dedication to gender diversity and excellence, The Leaderboard aims to bring greater awareness to and amplify its reputation for aggregating top board talent.

Initially founded in 2004 with an educational and best-practice focus to assist women in preparing for board service, The Leaderboard has become a national alliance of women's executive networks dedicated to supporting boardroom and corporate excellence. It is well-documented that corporate boards outperform their peers in profitability and productivity when they embrace diversity in gender and executive experience. The Leaderboard is poised to influence more women's appointments to corporate board roles, thus fostering enhanced performance and innovation.


Member organizations represent a broad footprint across the country, and include: Bank on Women; Executive Alliance, MD; Financial Women’s Association of New York; Inforum, MI; OnBoard, GA; OnBoardNC, NC; The Boston Club, MA; The Forum of Executive Women, PA; and Women’s Executive Leadership, FL.


"We are thrilled to unveil The Leaderboard as a dynamic organization dedicated to empowering women's leadership in corporate boardrooms," said Lynne Durbin, President and Executive Committee Chair at The Leaderboard. "Our rebranding reflects our commitment to driving positive change and fostering inclusive environments where diverse voices are valued and celebrated. By championing women's representation on corporate boards, we aim to unlock new opportunities for growth, innovation, and sustainable success."


Click here to read the full press release.

The FWA is proud to be a member organization of The Leaderboard. Visit www.leaderboardwomen.com or download this brochure to learn more about the organization, find out how to submit your company for a board search, and more.

Proud Member of Leaderboard

FWA Graduate School Partnership: Finance Training Program

March 27, 2025
In Fall 2024, the Financial Women’s Association (FWA) Graduate School Partnerships Committee, with support from BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education Program, sponsored a finance training program for over 175 Baruch College Zicklin School of Business graduate students. As part of the curriculum, students attended a financial markets overview lecture by KLD Training and completed courses in applied Excel and corporate valuation with Training the Street. The Graduate School Partnerships Committee is proud to help fulfill the FWA’s mission to contribute to our communities and prepare the next generation of professionals through this multi-year initiative. As the financial services industry continues to go through technological and regulatory changes, the Committee hopes these young professionals will gain an edge as they enter the financial services industry with the additional technical skills and financial knowledge acquired from the training program. In the excerpts below, a few participants share how the course helped their corporate valuation knowledge and express their gratitude to the FWA and BMO Capital Markets. Click here to view the complete Participants Testimonial booklet . For more information about the FWA Graduate School Partnership, please contact committee chair Christine Li-Auyeung .

FWA Immediate Past President Hermina "Nina" Batson Featured in Equities.com

March 20, 2025
We're proud to celebrate our immediate past President, Hermina "Nina" Batson's recognition in Equities.com ! Her career resilience, leadership during the pandemic, and unwavering commitment to provide access, inclusion, and diversity continue to inspire. Read more here: Nina Batson: A trailblazing Black woman on Wall Street - Equities.com

Greetings From France!

March 13, 2025
This past week, we had the privilege of celebrating International Women's Day and kicking off our International Business Conference here in France. We began with a warm welcome dinner on Sunday night, followed by a series of events at businesses across central Paris. We have taken a deep dive into France’s technological advancements, energy sector, markets, and economic leadership. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity presented by the FWA International Business Conference, which has brought together delegates from around the world since 1978. It has been an absolute pleasure to experience France in such a unique and enriching way. As we approach the conclusion of this conference and prepare to head back home, I will carry with me the unforgettable experiences and knowledge gained here. La vie est belle!  Best, Annette Stewart FWA President 2023 - 2025

Spotlight on Kelsey Halloran, FWA Secretary

February 27, 2025
Supporting corporate governance through top-notch administration People who enjoy solving puzzles and problems are often detail-oriented, observant, organized, patient and analytical. These traits enable them to approach complex challenges methodically and effectively. For Kelsey Halloran, these qualities have been key to her success as a forensic accountant at a leading global advisory firm and have made her a prime choice for secretary of the FWA.  Sherree DeCovny, co-chair of the FWA’s Marketing & Strategic Communications Committee, talked with Kelsey about her career and the role the FWA has played in developing her leadership skills and shaping her professional growth.
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