Smart Woman Securities: Empowering Women in Finance Through Mentorship and Opportunity

Since 2019, the Smart Woman Securities (SWS) chapter at the Isenberg School of Management has evolved from a student-run finance club into a community that empowers women to thrive in the competitive world of finance. What began as a space to foster interest in stock analysis and career development has transformed into a vital platform for mentorship, networking, and hands-on experience.

SWS Co-CEO Kate O’Donnell ’25 leads the club this year in partnership with Ada Nystrom ’26. “Leading Smart Woman Securities alongside Ada provides a unique position to give back to the community and organization that was so formative to my undergraduate experience at UMass,” O’Donnell says. “As a transfer student, I immediately found community in SWS through the variety of opportunities the club has to offer."

Building Financial Confidence
For many SWS members at Isenberg, the Stock Pitch Competitions hosted each semester are an introduction to the fast-paced world of finance. Members are introduced to the fundamentals of stock equity research, valuation methods, and risk analysis, and they compete on campus to suggest the most realistic “buy, hold, or sell” of the respective company’s stock.

Every fall, SWS hosts the Beyond Your Degree Conference, which allows members to forge connections with alumni and finance professionals who visit Isenberg for the day and participate in panel discussions and networking sessions. Student participants appreciate the unique opportunity to explore the diverse career paths available in finance. Each year, these events inspire new ambitions and provide students with the tools to pursue them.

Real-World Exposure & Creating Connections
SWS also organizes annual networking trips to Boston and New York, offering members direct exposure to the industry’s top firms. In Boston, members visit financial powerhouses such as Fidelity, Cambridge Associates, Wellington Management, and Loomis Sayles. The trip to New York includes treks to notable firms such as Wells Fargo, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, AS Birch Grove, and JP Morgan.

One of the defining aspects of SWS is its commitment to mentorship. Recognizing that growth extends beyond the classroom, the club pairs members with more experienced student peers and alumni who offer valuable advice on everything from networking to career exploration. It’s through these connections that students have been able to broaden their professional horizons, secure internships, and gain confidence as they prepare for life after graduation.

“Since joining as a general body member in my first year, Smart Woman Securities has helped me develop valuable technical and professional development skills and has expanded my network by providing opportunities to connect with esteemed professors, alumni, and industry professionals," says Nystrom.

The faculty advisor for the SWS Chapter is Mila Getmansky Sherman, Fuller and Meehan Endowed Professor of finance and associate director of the Center for International Securities and Derivatives Markets. “SWS organized online courses on financial literacy for local middle school and high school students online,” she says, praising the work the group has done to bring their skills and mentorship to the community. “When the pandemic started, parents did not know what to do with their kids as all enrichment and club activities were canceled, and SWS filled the void and students learned as a result. Just last year, in conjunction with Ancestral Bridges Foundation and Amherst Regional High School, they participated in a financial literacy class geared toward BIPOC students. They presented, participated, and were mentors. The teacher and students loved SWS students and want them back, and they will come back later this semester.”

Looking Ahead: Plans for Fall 2024
The fall semester will bring a host of new and returning initiatives, including the upcoming fifth annual Beyond Your Degree Conference, the peer and alumni mentorship program, the fall Stock Pitch Competition, and career development panels such as the Girls Who Invest panel. Beyond technical skills, SWS will also focus on personal finance lessons, market and Bloomberg talks, and industry speakers, giving members a well-rounded understanding of the financial world. As the organization moves forward, its mission remains clear: to empower the next generation of women in finance, providing them with the skills, knowledge, and networks they need to succeed.

Beyond Your Degree

Smart Woman Securities hosted the fifth annual Beyond Your Degree Conference on Saturday, October 26th, 2024 from 1-6PM in the Isenberg Innovation Hub. 

The conference offered students the opportunity to connect with alumni and learn more about various career paths a degree in Isenberg can lead to. The event hoped to inspire and motivate students by involving them in a keynote introduction, collaborative panels, and valuable networking opportunities. Any major and any year was welcomed to join.

Elizabeth D. Bednarczyk is senior marketing and communications coordinator in the UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management’s Marketing and Communications office. Submit story ideas to ebednarczyk@isenberg.umass.edu.