New York, NY – November 15, 2019 – 100 Women in Finance (“100WF”), a global, practitioner-driven nonprofit organization that serves more than 15,000 professionals in the finance and alternative investment industries, announced at its annual New York Gala that it successfully raised more than $1.1 million USD in gross proceeds in support of its Investing in the Next Generation Initiative, which reaches, inspires, and supports pre-career women of all backgrounds, to become the finance industry’s leadership pipeline.
The Gala was attended by HRH The Countess of Wessex, who serves as 100WF’s Global Ambassador of Next Generation initiatives. The Countess delivered a stirring speech about the importance of gender diversity in corporate leadership. The Gala additionally featured CNBC’s Leslie Picker as the Master of Ceremonies. An auction was conducted by Geraldine Nager of Sotheby’s.
Pictured (left to right): Leslie Picker, Mary Duffy, HRH The Countess of Wessex, Jade Friedensohn and Rupal Bhansali
A gallery of images from 100WF’s 2019 New York Gala can be viewed here.
The 18th Annual 100WF New York Gala was held on November 13 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, with the support of leaders from New York’s financial services and alternative investment industry. Ms. Rupal Bhansali, CIO and Portfolio Manager, International and Global Equities, Ariel Investments, LLC, received 100WF’s 2019 North America Industry Leadership Award. This Award is presented annually in recognition of exemplary professional talent, business ethics, and passion for investing that further define and advance the industry’s standards of excellence. In alignment with 100WF’s focus on Investing in the Next Generation, the organization favored the selection of an honoree who would be particularly inspirational to the younger generation of female investment professionals.
Rupal Bhansali’s Acceptance Speech
In recognition of those whose work has created more expansive professional opportunity for women in the finance industry, the organization additionally honored the following individuals with its 2019 Effecting Change Award: Mary Duffy, Vice President, Talent Development and Senior Executive Producer, CNBC; Jade Friedensohn, Managing Director, Information Management Network (IMN); and Louise Zarrilli, Global Head of Investor Relations and Product Development, Tudor Investment Corporation. The Effecting Change Awards were presented by HRH The Countess of Wessex.
To view past 100WF Industry Leadership Award and Effecting Change honorees, click here.
“100 Women in Finance is thrilled to recognize Rupal Bhansali with our 2019 North America Industry Leadership Award. In a year when the organization has prioritized calling greater attention to the achievements of female fund managers around the world, while advancing our mission to inspire the next generation, Rupal emerged as our ideal honoree,” said Lauren Malafronte, Managing Director, Scotiabank and Chair, 100WF Global Association Board.
“We are further delighted to shine a light on professionals whose work helps to realize 100 Women in Finance’s strategy to enhance the public visibility of female investment professionals. Mary Duffy, Jade Friedensohn and Louise Zarrilli have all played an important role in changing the default public perception of what an investment expert looks likes, and who gets to be seen as an authority. This work helps the next generation of young women better visualize what’s possible,” added Malafronte.
New York Gala Co-Chairs Anjuli Patel and Alexandra Burban noted, “We are honored to have worked with 100WF’s leadership, our Gala Committee, this year’s honorees and all of our generous sponsors and donors. It’s been so gratifying to experience the financial community coming together in support of the Gala and 100WF’s Investing in the Next Generation Initiative. We truly believe these initiatives not only create a space for critical conversations on the gender gap in the workforce, but are also instrumental in impacting and effecting change. We are proud to represent this organization and can’t thank all those involved in the 2019 Gala enough for their dedication.”
To support 100WF’s Investing in the Next Generation Initiative, please contact Amanda Pullinger, CEO of 100WF, or kindly click here.
About Women in Finance
100 Women in Finance’s more than 15,000 members strengthen the global finance industry by empowering women to achieve their professional potential at each career stage. Its members inspire, equip and advocate for a new generation of industry leadership, in which women and men serve as investment professionals and executives, equal in achievement and impact. Through Education, Peer Engagement and Impact, the organization furthers the progress of women who have chosen finance as a career, and enables their positive influence over pre-career young women.
About 100WF’s Investing in the Next Generation Initiative
100WF’s Investing in the Next Generation Initiative is a global effort to establish more purposeful pathways into the finance industry for women of all backgrounds. It reaches, inspires, and supports pre-career women who are the industry’s leadership pipeline by encouraging them to look favorably at careers in finance and investing, by creating educational opportunities and access points for them to join the industry, and presenting greater visibility of female role models.
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To read HRH The Countess of Wessex’s remarks at the Gala see here.