There's a Connection Crisis for Women in Finance

A professional support system is essential to achieving success. But, too many women in financial services don’t have a community to turn to for help or advice. 

There’s a connection crisis for women in finance.

Too many of us don’t have mentors or industry friends to turn to when we need advice or encouragement. Without those relationships, our careers sometimes feel daunting. We feel like no one understands our struggles or can help. 

I’ve been there and I know exactly what that feels like.

In my mid-20’s, I had a job working for one of the first internet start-ups. Everyone in the company was young, smart and ambitious. I was the operations person, which meant I dealt with all of the logistics. I liked it, but the job was easy for me. I soon became enamored with the idea of advancing and becoming a leader. I wanted to be a general manager—the person who was out in the community, building relationships. 

I made my goal known, and, about a year later, I got my wish. I was promoted to the role of general manager and was assigned a team. But, I was paralyzed. 

I went from being an “inside” person to an “outside” person overnight. Have I mentioned that I’m kind of an introvert? I had no idea what to do. And, I didn’t have anyone to ask for help or advice. I felt like a failure at that job. And, I don’t want anyone else to ever feel that way.

We need a place to connect. 

As I think back on my career, I realize that I never really had a professional support system to turn to when I needed help. Although I've achieved success, I can't help but wonder how it might have been different if I had a group of peers to help guide me through challenges like the one above. 

Of course, every woman's professional story is unique, but we have a lot of experiences in common, too. We should all have a place to share our stories, to help each other out, and to get to know each other better.

My team and I couldn't find anything like this, so we created it.

Women in Consumer Finance is a community you can go to for engagement, connection, good advice and active professional development. It’s the support system that so many of us need.

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