FWSF Q3 2024 Connections Newsletter

2024 FWSF VP Membership Committee
(View Bio)

Dear Members,

The FWSF membership committee, co-chaired by Minako Steel and Heather Kerr, has had a busy 2024!

Professional women in the financial services industries inquiring about FWSF, often have their first contacts with FWSF through the membership committee. Committee members meet virtually and in person to discuss the benefits of joining FWSF and the application process. Ahna Azevedo, Anna Ng, Minako Steel, and Heather Kerr have been instrumental in many of these introductions.

After joining FWSF, new members are introduced to allies from the FWSF Board of Directors to learn more about membership benefits. The membership committee is currently working to expand the ally program and connections with the membership committee: Maria Castel has been leading the work on the ally program.

In addition, the membership committee hosts lunches to welcome new members, meet members of the FWSF Board of Directors, and provide information on opportunities to serve on committees. Minako Steel and Marilena Niovie Stavrides organized and lead these events.

The membership committee sponsors monthly programs providing opportunities for members to build business relationships and friendships:  Bring Your Own Lunch, hosted by Sheila Cunningham, in which participants discuss current topics of interest in the finance and financial services industries and share work experiences and leadership skills in an informal setting; and Book Club co-hosted by Ashley Crawford and Carmetta Joyner featuring lively and interesting discussions around books with a wide range of topics including success and leadership, motivation, and growing your network. 

The membership committee also works and collaborates with the programs committee on networking events. The membership committee co-hosted the Mix’n’Mingle networking event in August with California Bank & Trust on the rooftop of CB&T’s offices. Thank you to Yvonne Le at California Bank & Trust and the CB&T team for working with FWSF and providing an incredible venue with panoramic views of San Francisco for our members to enjoy at this event. 

Participating in the FWSF membership committee is a great way to meet new people and assist in growing FWSF’s membership. If you are interested in learning more about the FWSF membership committee, please contact us at info@financialwomensf.org.

We look forward to connecting with you.

On Wednesday, September 18, FWSF hosted a successful Financial Woman of the Year Award Program and Luncheon that honored Lisa Pantages, CFO of the San Francisco Giants, as our 2024 Financial Woman of the Year.

Click here for more event details, including a video featuring Lisa Pantages.

The Financial Woman of the Year event and our sponsors, partners, and donors make it possible to provide scholarships to fantastic young women pursuing careers in the fields of accounting, finance, and/or the financial services industry.

Click here for a video featuring our 2024 Scholarship Winners and click here to learn more in depth about each individual winner.

Part of FWSF’s mission is to encourage women to seek career opportunities in finance and business. This Member News item is another example of FWSF fulfilling that mission.

Abigail Medina (Abby) is a high school senior, interested in a career in finance, who sent an email to FWSF. Anne Chambers, a long time FWSF board member, has been FWSF’s representative working with Rock the Street Wall Street to coordinate financial literacy training in a San Francisco High School. Anne facilitated Abby taking the Rock Street course and invited her to attend FWSF’s Master Class and Scholarship events where she was introduced to Lisa Pantages (our 2024 Financial Woman of the Year) and several of the 2024 scholarship recipients. Abby expressed her thanks for the exposure to financial women at FWSF events and to Anne/FWSF for learning more about finance and career opportunities.

Abby plans to study finance in college and is already doing remarkable things! She has published a children’s book “Meow Money” on Amazon that she authored and illustrated to introduce finance to young kids. Abby mentioned that the book is now also on Rock the Street Wall Street’s back to school reading list.

FWSF congratulates Seema Jain for her recent promotion to Managing Director at KPMG! 

Elizabeth Holt Andrews, a lawyer at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, was licensed by the California State Bar as an appellate specialist effective August 1, 2024. This credential is held by fewer than 30 attorneys in San Francisco and only about 300 state-wide. It is reflective of Elizabeth’s twenty-year career spent representing clients in the California Court of Appeals, California Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States Supreme Court, and numerous other appellate courts nationwide. Elizabeth specializes in banking and financial services and is particularly eager to work with fellow members of FWSF on their litigation needs at both the trial and appellate levels.

Saiqa Ann Qureshi authored a two-book series that was published on Amazon in 2024. Book 1 was available in February, Create and Live the Life You Love: The Authentic Self, Vision and Goals, Priorities and Balance. Saiqa explains “this book is about inclusion, giving yourself permission to be you and asking you to allow others to do the same.” Book 2 was published in July, Create and Live the Life you Love: Change, Optimism & Gratitude, and Boundaries. The focus, as Saiqa describes, is a “book on change, optimism and gratitude, and boundaries, built upon the continuation of the core message that happiness is driven from the alignment of values and doing the thing that makes you proud, satisfied and fulfilled.”

FWSF Celebrates 20-Year Membership Anniversaries!

FWSF appreciates the longstanding association and support you have provided as members over the past 20 years. A big Thank You for all that you have contributed to FWSF and continue to do!

Tracy Teale has served in various leadership positions on the FWSF Board, including President, and even now is serving our organization as VP, Scholarship Committee.

Kim Crosslin is a prior FWSF Board member who has held several roles and continues to serve the organization by being our Wells Fargo liaison and the FWSF Scholarship Program’s Lead for St. Mary’s College.

Michelle Alberda previously served on the FWSF Board and held various leadership positions, including FWSF President. Notably, in 2020, Michelle and another member were responsible for the development of 2 FWSF hosted virtual events and the production of the “Passing the Torch” film for the 100-year celebration of the passing of the 19th Amendment, the first major step in giving all women the right to vote.

Did you get a promotion? Change jobs? Launch a business? We want to know so that we can promote your news to the FWSF community! Submit your news.

Kim Crosslin is a Commercial Banking Leader at Wells Fargo Technology Banking. Learn more through her interview here.

You can provide a full interview through our Meet A Member Monday Series. You will be able to introduce yourself and more detailed info you would like to share. Please include a photo!

Our members want to meet you. Fill out the questionnaire.

Michelle Espejo, Financial Services Recruiter, Robert Half Financial Services Group

Renee Huang, First Vice President, East West Bank

Han Lee, CPA, Audit Senior Manager, Grant Thornton, LLP

Nina Maystrovich, Senior Credit Officer, ApplePie Capital

Anna O’Brien, SVP, Business Development, TMC Financing

Our Summer Mix 'n' Mingle, held on Thursday, August 1, at California Bank & Trust in San Francisco was a success! The event was on the rooftop patio of CB&T in downtown SF and provided a wonderful opportunity for FWSF members to meet and commune with other finance professionals.

On Wednesday, August 14, FWSF took to the ball field to celebrate 2024 Financial Woman of the Year, Lisa Pantages, at a San Francisco Giants vs. the Atlanta Braves game. Sponsored by Workday, and featuring club-level seating, a pre-game reception, and networking, attendees had a lot to cheer about! The proceeds of the ticket sales were donated to the FWSF Scholarship Fund.

Designed to bring together women from various sectors of the financial industry for an evening of networking and enjoyment, our popular Sip & Connect event on August 22 was full of fine wines, tasty bites, and excellent company! This event provided a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere to build connections, share insights, and unwind after a busy day.

FWSF continued its four-part golf series in Quarter 3, beginning with the third golf event on September 12, 2024 at the Presidio Golf Course. This popular event consisted of a one-hour golf clinic led by one of the talented golf instructors at Presidio, followed by drinks and food at the Presidio Clubhouse.

On Wednesday, September 18, we honored Lisa Pantages, CFO of the San Francisco Giants, as our 2024 Financial Woman of the Year. Event highlights included a silent auction of San Francisco Giants memorabilia and photographs, a talk by Lisa Pantages, and an introduction of the 2024 scholarship recipients including a video featuring each of them and one of the Financial Woman of the Year, Lisa Pantages.

FWSF collaborated with AssetMark, a leading wealth management advisory firm, for an enlightening discussion held on September 26 on unmasking microaggressions. The event featured the FWSF book club book titled "50 Questions Inclusive Leaders Ask" written by our special guest Dr. Alexandria White, Ed.D. Our distinguished speaker Daryl Graves of AssetMark, a DEIB Professional, joined her for an interactive deep dive that challenged perceptions and armed participants with strategies and resources for understanding and transforming workplace dynamics.

Our book club events are held virtually each month. These Quarter 3 book events stimulated engaging discussions:

July: Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty

Our July book club book choice was Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day, by social media superstar and host of the #1 podcast On Purpose, Jay Shetty. Shetty drew on his time as a monk to share practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life. Our animated discussion touched on the inspiring, empowering wisdom on how to overcome negative thoughts and habits, access calm and purpose, and reduce stress.

August: Do Less: The Unexpected Strategy for Women to Get More of What They Want in Work and Life by Kate Northrup

The focus of August’s book club event was Do Less: The Unexpected Strategy for Women to Get More of What They Want in Work and Life by Kate Northrup. This is a book for working women and mothers who are ready to release the culturally inherited belief that their worth is equal to their productivity, and instead create a personal and professional life that's based on presence, meaning, and joy.

September: 50 Questions Inclusive Leaders Ask: How Forward-Thinking Leaders Stay Current by Diane Flynn and Dr. Alexandria White

September’s book club event was based on 50 Questions Inclusive Leaders Ask: How Forward-Thinking Leaders Stay Current by Diane Flynn and Dr. Alexandria White. It is a practical guide to stay current in today’s ever-changing workplace and addresses real, raw, authentic questions in the spirit of calling people into the conversation. The book’s co-author, Dr. Alexandria White, attended our book club! Dr. White was also the featured speaker at our September 26 event, “Unmasking Microaggressions: Debunking Common Misperceptions.” The two events complemented one another.

We have highly informal events that are a fantastic opportunity to get to know other FWSF members, discuss work experiences, and explore mutual business opportunities. FWSF offers similar events at different times of day to better serve your busy schedule.

Monthly Meditations: Virtual event typically occurring near the beginning of the month at lunch time. A monthly meditation practice, using mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought or activity. A great way to unwind and calm yourself from your busy day!

Virtual Book Club: No Hard Feelings
Thursday, October 30, 2024 | 5:15 – 6:30 p.m.

Monthly Meditation – November
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 | 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.

Professional Development Panel with Rey Valle and Ami Arroyo
Thursday, November 7, 2024 | 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Virtual Bring Your Own Lunch
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Real Estate Futures: Insights from Women in Commercial Real Estate
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

SAVE THESE DATES

Post-Election Analysis
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 | 5:00 – 6:15 p.m.

FWSF Holiday Party and Annual Meeting
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Economic Trends and Market Outlooks for 2025
Wednesday, February 5, 2025

International Women’s Day
Thursday, March 6, 2025

Are you looking to help make a positive impact on women in our community? Interested in building your leadership skills and a path to a FWSF Board seat? If so, please consider joining one of our fantastic Committees! As a volunteer-run organization, our Committees are integral to making FWSF an essential source of insight and inspiration. Committees are also a great way to gain exposure to FWSF's leadership and develop the skills for a future position on our Board.

Learn more here