100 Women in Finance

Operating in 32 locations on five continents, 100 Women in Finance (100WF) is a global finance industry organisation whose core member services are to provide industry education, peer networks and impact opportunities. The current strategic priorities include the “investing in the next generation” initiatives and elevating the public visibility of female investment professionals and women in senior fintech roles.

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www.100women.org
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Mission

The mission of 100WF is to strengthen the global finance industry by empowering women to achieve their professional potential at each career stage. It inspires, equips and advocates for a new generation of industry leadership, in which women and men serve as investment professionals and executives, equal in achievement and impact.

The organisation operates under a guiding principle called Vision 30/40, where the goal is for women to occupy 30 per cent of senior investment roles and executive committee positions by 2040. This target requires reaching more women in finance and advocating for a new generation of industry leadership.

The organisation furthers the progress of women who have chosen finance as a career, through education, peer engagement and impact. This enables its positive influence over pre-career young women.

History

100WF was founded in 2001, when three women working at hedge funds had a novel idea: bring together 100 female investment professionals to lever their collective relationships and enhance connectivity within the alternative-investment industry.

The group was initially called 100 Women in Hedge Funds. In the beginning, the founders identified three areas where collaborative efforts could effect change in the industry and beyond: peer engagement, philanthropy and education. A simple idea became a powerful mission and rippled through the industry – drawing members from hedge funds and alternative investments as well as the wider finance industry.

From the beginning, the 100WF model has been practitioner- and volunteer-driven. With a small staff and a volunteer global governing board, the organisation boasts 500 active volunteers who implement the mission.

In late 2016, the organisation formally re-branded to become 100 Women in Finance. The rebranding expresses a more inclusive membership across the financial spectrum – including all forms of alternative investments, the traditional long-only industry and new iterations of finance such as fintech.

In 2019, 100WF evolved the pillars of its core enterprise to be education, peer engagement and impact – which was formerly the philanthropy pillar. With its impact pillar, 100WF works to strengthen and diversify the finance industry’s investment and executive talent and to create purposeful pathways toward careers in finance for pre-career young women of all backgrounds.

Membership

100WF’s members are finance-industry practitioners of all levels of seniority and any area of functional expertise. Membership is open to all, women and men, who support the mission and wish to benefit from 100WF’s industry education and professional-development programmes, global peer networks, impact opportunities, job board and other membership features. Members are asked to pay a modest annual fee for access to 100WF’s offerings and many members additionally support 100WF’s mission as “global angels”.

Industry connections

The organisation enjoys sponsorship by a large number of corporate entities, primarily large global financial institutions, alternative investment firms and industry service providers. Sponsors provide funding for key 100WF initiatives, and operations and memberships to 100WF for their employees. Some companies provide in-kind support to the organisation via event hosting, offering speakers and providing professional services.

The group additionally works in conjunction with select industry organisations to offer opportunities that further benefit 100WF members.

Events

100WF produces more than 350 events per year, globally. They range from large, in-person industry gatherings and conferences to smaller, more intimate gatherings of senior professionals who share common professional interests. Increasingly, 100WF events are recorded and made available for members’ on-demand enjoyment.

Board members

The group is a nonprofit organisation governed by the 100WF global association board, a diverse group of senior finance industry executives. The board sets the organisation’s strategic objectives, develops global policies and oversees finances. It governs all 100WF legal entities to achieve the organisation’s mission and comply with regulations in global locations in which 100WF operates. The board meets quarterly, usually in New York – where the organisation is headquartered.