Did you know that only 26.4% of finance professionals are women? This alarming statistic led sophomores Charlotte Flandina and Sara Cutinho to found Latin’s Females in Finance club this year.
Charlotte and Sara worked together to ensure that girls at Latin feel they have a space in the field of finance. They have brought in four different speakers so far this year, all women who work in finance. The speakers discussed their experiences being a woman in a male-dominated field, as well as how they started their careers. Through their meetings during clubs block, Charlotte and Sara have inspired many girls to consider pursuing careers in finance.
“I felt like the clubs at Latin that involved finance or business fields a lot of the time had only boys,” Charlotte said. “As a girl, I felt kind of out of place. I wanted to create a space where girls who are interested in finance can talk about it.”
Inspired by her mother, a managing director at Equity Group Investments, Charlotte thought she could solve this problem by providing a space geared toward girls—while all genders are welcome—to discuss finance.
“I’ve always had an interest in [finance], so I wanted to explore more and learn more, especially as I grow older and start thinking about future career paths,” Charlotte said.
Charlotte shared her idea with Sara, her fellow classmate in the first semester’s finance elective. Sara was eager to join Charlotte’s efforts in creating the Females in Finance club.
“Both [my parents] and Charlotte’s parents work in finance, so I’ve grown up learning about it,” Sara said. “Through the finance elective, I have found my love for finance.”
Charlotte and Sara then filled out the club proposal Google form, and Upper School math teacher Michelle Neely agreed to act as the club’s advisor.
“Charlotte and Sara have been really doing everything themselves without any of my help, so it’s quite an easy club to be an advisor for because they’ve been phenomenal,” Ms. Neely said.
The Females in Finance members discuss various aspects of finance, such as private equity and investment banking. “The primary goal for females in finance is to allow young girls to gain more knowledge of finance,” Charlotte said. “But we’re not focused on just one thing.”
Charlotte and Sara have brought in Tracey Benford, Jessica Lee Hansen, Elizabeth Betten, and Kathleen Steele, all Latin parents who are involved in finance, to speak to the club. The club debriefs each conversation and comes up with questions for the next speaker.
“Through the club’s different opportunities to meet strong women in finance, it has allowed me to gain confidence in my future and what I am interested in,” freshman Dixie Szczerba said.
Many speakers discuss methods to combat the intimidation of being a woman in a male-dominated field.
“They use it as a way to stick out,” Sara said. “A lot of them have said it has pushed them further, and that has really inspired me and will inspire other people.”
While attending the meetings with speakers, Ms. Neely noticed how a lot of the women had math degrees, and math professions, were interested in math, much like herself.
“I’ve sat in the back and listened, and I’m like, why did finance never come up as a career option for me? I didn’t even think about it. I went straight into teaching mathematics,” Ms. Neely said. “What I hope the girls in the room are learning is that this is an opportunity. If they are into math and economics and stats and finance, this is a career that they could be enormously successful in.”
Charlotte and Sara have not only learned more about finance through founding the club, but they have also developed important life and leadership skills.
“I have learned how to navigate conversations and discussions with people that are older than me and super successful,” Charlotte said. “I’ve also learned from older people’s experiences and their career paths. I like having a leadership opportunity because I think it teaches me a lot about leadership and how to become a leader for the rest of my life.”
Sharing their passion for finance is not Charlotte and Sara’s only hope, however, as there were other aspects of the field that influenced the club’s creation.
“I want more people in high school to be able to understand what finance really is and how to get into it and how hard it is, especially as a woman,” Sara said.
The club has had a great turnout thus far for its speakers, which further inspires female students at Latin to consider a career in finance.
“I really like how the club is small and just females because it is a safe space to talk about interests and relate to them,” freshman Alexis Fischer said. “The speakers are super inspiring, and because it is a small group it is easier to connect with them.”
Ms. Neely emphasized the importance of bringing awareness to a young group about finance and how to pursue it. “We’re hoping you all are going to go change the world,” she said.
