Tearing Down the Pink Wall: Turning Ambition Into Action: Insights from Women Who’ve Reached the Top
When you hear about someone who is at the top of their game in a male-dominated field, it’s easy to forget that they once had to start at the bottom and work their way up. For young, university women - may it be for their undergraduate or masters- they are just beginning their careers and their knowledge and experience may be limited to what they’ve learned in the classroom. So, for young women excited about a career in finance, learning from those who have been in their shoes and excelled in their field is invaluable.
On October 25th, at the University of California, Irvine, WISE hosted a panel event titled “Tearing Down the Pink Wall: Turning Ambition Into Action: Insights from Women Who’ve Reached the Top.” Moderated by WISE CEO Angela Dailey and WISE Board Member Jonathan Treussard, the panel consisted of Judy Posnikoff, PHD, a partner at Martlet Asset Management, Candice Stack, CFA, a managing director and head of PIMCO’s client management group, and Zheng Sun, a professor of finance at the Merage School of Business.
With over 200 attendees, including UCI students and WISE board and advisory members, the event drew a large crowd eager to hear insights from these accomplished professionals on a Friday evening. The panelists emphasized that every career path is unique, just like every person, but there was a universal message of finding something you are truly passionate about, striking a balance between structure and inspiration, and not being afraid of failure.
Hearing about how these women broke barriers and finding success is motivational, but learning about the bumps they encountered along the way makes them even more admirable. This was evident as attendees eagerly asked questions during the Q&A session and expressed their gratitude and takeaways during the reception that followed along with taking photos with the WISE backdrops and sporting their new hot pink WISE lanyards.
The event was fun and informative for UCI students and other attendees but also served as a reminder that WISE is dedicated to shaping the next generation of financial trailblazers. As these students follow the paths laid out by others, they carry with them the newfound determination to forge their own.
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