Changing the Face of Investing
Since 2015, Girls Who Invest (GWI) has been transforming the investment management industry by recruiting, training, and advancing women and nonbinary investors, change-makers, and leaders.
GWI’s five pillars drive the strategy and the success of its work by ensuring a comprehensive approach to talent development and growth.
Education
Internship
Career Advising
Retention
Advancement
Scholars educated in 2023
30
2016
60
2017
100
2018
200
2019
475
2020
525
2021
550
2022
600+Scholars
2023
Interns placed since 2016
2023
2016
Interns Placed
Volunteers, Ambassador Mentors, and Faculty
3 out of 4
Alumni working
full-time stay in finance
Alumni Mentors
Alumni Mentors
Diverse approaches, perspectives, and experiences can lead to enhanced long-term investing success. 1 GWI continues to support individuals with a wide range of backgrounds. In 2023, we supported our largest and most diverse intern cohort to date:
People of Color 2
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged 3
From Historically Underrepresented Communities 4
First-Generation College Students 5
Almost 1 out of 3 of GWI Alumni majored in STEM, the humanities, or other areas outside of business and economics.
Total GWI Alumni
Business, Economics, and Finance
Humanities and Other Majors
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
GWI Alumni have graduated from 200+ colleges and universities, including public, private, HBCU, land grant, Title V, liberal arts, and research institutions.
Alumni
- 400
- 300
- 200
- 100
- 0
An Unequal Landscape
Though there has been tremendous progress in the industry, significant work remains to promote equity across the sector. In 2021, entry-level women employees at North American financial services firms reached parity with men for the first time.
Women
Entry-Level Breakdown
Men
However, as roles get more senior - and more focused on investing - gender diversity significantly declines and women are given fewer opportunities to grow. Within financial services, only 86 women are promoted to manager for every 100 men. 1
Promotion to Manager
Women
Men
The gender gap expands as individuals progress in their careers due to attrition issues and a promotion gap:
Attrition
13% Higher
Women leave at a higher rate at the associate level v. men
Women
Men
Promotion Gap
11% Lower
Women are promoted to VP at a reduced rate v. men
Women
Men
Impact
Approximately 12%
of fund managers in the U.S. are women
Women
Men
Assets Managed
by Women
Ownership
Less than 1%
of assets under management in the U.S. are managed by firms owned by women 2
GWI's Track Record of Results
Girls Who Invest addresses the issues of gender inequity head on by recruiting and developing talented women and nonbinary investors. GWI Alumni who continue working in finance represent a diverse community with the right training and support to succeed in the industry.
All Alumni
First-Generation College Students
Historically Underrepresented Communities
People of Color
GWI Alumni go into finance at the same rate, regardless of background including first-generation college students, students from historically underrepresented communities, and people of color.
Feel Supported
80% of all GWI Alumni say they feel supported or very supported by the GWI community.
Girls Who Invest has an NPS of 87 among those who work in investing.
Alumni
90%+ of program Alumni working in investing attributed their success to Girls Who Invest.
In 2021, the first year with more than 200 GWI Alumni graduating from school,90% of GWI Alumni went into to finance,and of that group,90% are still working in the industrymore than 2 years later.
The Future of Finance
Girls Who Invest's educational and talent pipeline is a critical part of its programs, but GWI also continues to mentor and support its Alumni to ensure they have the opportunities to grow within the industry despite the challenges they face.
Improving mentorship programs is one of the best ways for financial services companies to create more diverse outcomes.
formal mentorship programs
Only 58% 2018 financial services companies surveyed had formal mentorship programs. 1
Fewer than 1 in 5 companies track outcomes of sponsorship and mentorship programs.
And these mentorship programs directly impact employee retention and leadership diversity for those with mentorship programs
management-level diversity
With mentorship programs, management-level diversity increasedfrom 9% to 24%
promotion and retention rates
With mentorship programs, promotion and retention rates for women increasedfrom 15% to 38% 2
Despite the challenges, GWI Alumni are positive about the present and optimistic about the future.
Alumni
More than 80% of GWI Alumni feel that financial institutions are changing for the better with respect to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Alumni
Almost 90% of GWI Alumni say they are likely to volunteer with GWI in the future to support the next generation.
The Girls Who Invest community is supported through guidance and mentorship by our 500+ women mentors and allies at every level of investment management.
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