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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PRESENTED BY:
SPONSOR:
Judith Posnikoff, PhD is a Managing Director of Martlet Asset Management, LLC, a private investment firm in Newport Beach, California. Prior to forming Martlet, Judy was a founding partner at PAAMCO where she was involved in all aspects of the firm’s investment process throughout the years from identifying investment opportunities to working on portfolio construction and risk management to chairing the firm’s investment oversight committee. She worked directly with the firm’s institutional clients on custom portfolio construction, including bringing diversifying exposures to their portfolios of direct investments.
Judy is involved in a number of industry-related associations such as 100 Women in Finance and serves on the board and investment committees of several non-profit organizations. Judy has 25+ years of experience in investment management and portfolio construction for institutional investors.
Candice Stack, CFA is a managing director in the Newport Beach office and head of PIMCO's client management group across the Americas. She is also a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. In her previous roles at PIMCO, she managed the U.S. institutional client management team, the U.S. corporate team, and the endowment and foundation team. She has worked with a diverse set of institutional clients since joining PIMCO and also serves as a board member and vice president of The PIMCO Foundation and as a board member for the nonprofit organization Girls Who Invest, focused on increasing gender diversity in the investment management industry. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2006, Ms. Stack was at Goldman Sachs. She has 22 years of investment experience and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She received her undergraduate degree in economics from Duke University. She is a CFA charterholder.
Professor Zheng Sun, PhD is a professor of finance at the Paul Merage School of Business. She is a strong advocate of the Merage School’s inclusive Excellence Effort. She co-founded and serves as the faculty co-chair of the Merage School’s API initiatives. Outside of the business school, she has been actively involved in promoting women in academic finance careers, by serving as a mentor and guest speaker and event organizer for the Academic Female Finance Committee. Professor Sun has published extensively in the field of investments. Her research focuses on the skills and talents in the asset management industry.
Testimonials
"What a meaningful event for our students, scholars, and community! The Women Investing In Security and Education event not only illuminated various career paths in financial services and shared essential knowledge on financial literacy and investment strategies but also fostered a supportive environment that encouraged diverse voices in the industry. It inspired the next generation of leaders while allowing our students and scholars to connect with industry professionals from organizations like Simplify, Pacific Life. This was a fantastic opportunity to practice networking skills and gain the key competencies and connections essential for future success! Thank you to our moderators Angela Dailey and Jonathan Treussard, Ph.D., our panelists Judith Posnikoff, PhD, Candice Stack, and our very own University of California, Irvine— Professor of Finance Zheng Sun for sharing your invaluable insights and wisdom. Your contributions made the event truly impactful! Thank you to our excellent Deans, Kristine M Collins, and Jaymi Lee Smith, for their continuous support and dedication to our learners and scholars. Kathy Tam, I will never say no to collaborating with you; you are a rock star!" - Jennifer Ellinger
"What an incredible day for our team at the University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education and the UC Irvine Graduate Division as we co-hosted the 2024 Tearing Down the Pink Wall event!We are immensely grateful to Women Investing In Security and Education, an award-winning nonprofit with 25 years of impactful history, for leading the charge in empowering women financially. For the first time since the pandemic, WISE brought together a vibrant community for face-to-face discussions that uplifted women through financial education and ignited conversations around career journeys in the financial services industry. A heartfelt thank you to our brilliant event moderators, Angela Dailey, CEO of WISE and Managing Partner of DAI Partners, and Jonathan Treussard, Ph.D., WISE Board Member and Founder of Treussard Capital Management LLC. Your leadership was invaluable! We also appreciate the support of our deans, Kristine M Collins and Jaymi Lee Smith. Our expert panelists truly transformed the lives of our UCI undergraduate and graduate students, providing the encouragement and insights necessary to help them further consider careers in finance. A huge round of applause for Judith Posnikoff, Ph.D., Partner at Martlet Asset Management, Candice Stack, Managing Director and Head of Client Management at PIMCO, and Zheng Sun, Ph.D., Professor of Finance at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business.Together, we are breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of women in finance. Let’s continue this momentum and support one another on our journeys!" - Kathy Tam
"I feel fortunate to have attended the Top Women in Finance event that WISE hosted. Hearing about the professional journeys of the panelists was inspiring, especially as a woman aiming to establish herself in finance. I was struck by the reflections on learning from esteemed colleagues to advance in the industry. I would be honored to attend future events you host and to continue to learn. Thank you for the opportunity." - Event Participant
