NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Girls Who Invest (GWI), a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the investment management industry by attracting and advancing women and non-binary investors, changemakers, and leaders, will host its inaugural gala celebration on October 1, 2024 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City. The event will celebrate GWI’s robust Alumni Community and honor Leadership Circle supporters Jean M. Hynes of Wellington Management and Robert F. Smith of Vista Equity Partners for their unwavering support since GWI’s founding.
“We are incredibly honored and excited to present these awards at our inaugural gala to Jean and Robert, who are both leaders and role models in making investment management a more inclusive and representative place,” said Katherine Jollon Colsher, President and CEO at Girls Who Invest. “In the first nine years since our founding, GWI has made tremendous progress in bringing incredible talent into the investment management industry. With our first-ever gala, we will celebrate the change we have achieved so far and look forward to a bright future supported by our partners and Alumni.”
In 2023 and 2024, GWI welcomed its largest classes to date, with each including over 600 individuals. Each summer GWI Scholars receive paid, frontline investing internships at one of over 120 investment management firms. The GWI community continues to grow, with 3,000+ GWI Alumni and an extended community of thousands who work together to change the face of investing.
“It is a privilege to be a part of the Girls Who Invest inaugural gala in celebration of the GWI mission and work to transform the investment management industry. Empowering women in finance and bringing diverse voices to the table will contribute to a more equitable and prosperous future," said Molly Shannon, Co-Chair of the GWI Gala and Head of Focus Initiatives and the New York Office at Wellington Management. “It is exciting to see Jean Hynes and Wellington Management being recognized for their longstanding support of GWI and their steadfast commitment to advancing women and non-binary investors, changemakers, and leaders.”
“Girls Who Invest is not just changing the face of investing, it’s shaping the future of our industry,” said Lauren Dillard, Co-Chair of the GWI Gala and Chief Financial Officer at Vista Equity Partners. “Through intensive training programs, competitive internship opportunities, mentorship and a growing Alumni community, GWI is cultivating a self-reinforcing ecosystem that is building a pipeline of talent for the investment management industry. Vista is proud to have partnered with GWI since its inception, and we look forward to an exciting evening that showcases the organization’s important work and mission to existing and new partners alike.”
“Apollo and the Apollo Opportunity Foundation are proud to celebrate and partner with Girls Who Invest,” said Christine Moy, Co-Chair of the GWI Gala and Partner, Head of Digital Assets, Data & AI Strategy at Apollo Global Management. “GWI’s mission of diversifying talent pipelines across investment management aligns with AOF’s pillars of career education, workplace development and economic empowerment. We are thrilled to support their great work as we seek to recruit top talent to build great teams for the future.”
Support for GWI’s inaugural gala will allow GWI to expand its tuition-free flagship Summer and Online Intensive Programs; provide more need-based financial assistance to GWI Scholars to support out-of-pocket summer expenses, such as travel and short-term housing; seed GWI’s two signature Alumni programs to be launched in Fall 2024 and Winter 2025; and cultivate a growing Alumni Community through ongoing career advisory, professional development, and transformative connections for early to mid-career professionals.
For more information on the event, visit girlswhoinvest.org/2024gala
Bios of Honorees
Jean M. Hynes is Chief Executive Officer, Managing Partner, and Portfolio Manager for Wellington Management, one of the world’s largest independent investment management firms. As CEO, Jean oversees nearly 3,000 employees in 16 offices across North America, Europe, and APAC. Wellington Management has been a Girls Who Invest partner since our founding year in 2016 and a proud member of GWI’s Leadership Circle.
Robert F. Smith is an American investor, inventor, engineer, philanthropist and entrepreneur. He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a leading global investment firm focused exclusively on enterprise software, data, and technology-enabled businesses. Vista Equity Partner has been a Girls Who Invest partner since our founding year in 2016 and a proud member of GWI’s Leadership Circle.
About Girls Who Invest
Girls Who Invest (GWI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the investment management industry by attracting and advancing women investors, change-makers and leaders. GWI does this through tuition-free education programs for first and second-year college students. Once Scholars complete their program, GWI provides career advisory services, community-building and connections for Alumni at all stages in their careers, with a focus on long-term professional development, retention and advancement. We believe, and studies show, that advancing diverse investors brings unique and previously excluded perspectives to the industry and leads to higher performance. To date, GWI has reached more than 3,000 Alumni in just nine years. To learn more, visit GirlsWhoInvest.org.
