What Is 100 Women in Finance

Overview

100 Women in Finance is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing women's careers across all levels of the finance industry. Founded in 2000, the organization celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025 while continuing its mission to empower women to achieve their professional potential. With offices and chapters in over 28 global locations, including its newest expansion to Luxembourg in 2025, 100 Women in Finance operates as a member-driven community staffed by more than 500 active volunteers worldwide. The organization serves professionals ranging from entry-level employees to senior executives, recognizing that supporting women's advancement at every career stage is essential to transforming the financial services industry.

The organization's guiding principle is known as Vision 30/40, an ambitious goal to achieve 30% female representation in senior investment roles and executive committee positions by 2040. This strategic objective reflects the organization's belief that gender diversity strengthens financial decision-making and improves industry outcomes. By bringing together female professionals, institutional allocators, and industry leaders, 100 Women in Finance creates opportunities for mentorship, networking, and professional development that help women navigate the unique challenges of the financial sector. The nonprofit's work has resulted in organizing over 1,000 educational events and facilitating the fundraising of more than $55 million to support aligned nonprofit organizations and initiatives.

How It Works

100 Women in Finance operates through several interconnected programs and initiatives designed to create pathways for women's advancement in finance. The organization combines educational programming, networking opportunities, direct funding support, and strategic advocacy to achieve its mission. Here are the key components of how the organization functions and delivers value to its members and the broader finance industry.

• Vision 30/40: The organization's primary strategic framework that establishes the goal of achieving 30% female representation in senior investment roles and executive committee positions across the finance industry by 2040, providing a measurable target for progress.
• FundWomen Initiative: A cornerstone program that empowers female investment professionals by facilitating stronger networks within the institutional investment community and increasing capital allocations to female-managed funds and investment vehicles.
• Global FundWomen Week: An annual event launched in 2025 that brings together female fund managers, institutional allocators, and industry leaders to connect, share best practices, and accelerate investment flows to female-led investment management teams.
• Investing in the Next Generation: A comprehensive three-pronged initiative that demystifies finance careers, increases awareness of the full spectrum of opportunities in the finance industry, and provides young women with relatable role models and mentorship from experienced professionals.
• Educational Programming: The organization has organized over 1,000 educational events covering topics relevant to women's advancement in finance, including professional development, leadership training, and industry insights delivered through webinars, workshops, and in-person conferences.
• Member Communities: Local chapters across 28+ global locations enable women to build professional networks, access mentorship, share knowledge, and collaborate on advancing gender equity within their regional finance markets and institutions.

Key Details

The organization's strategic initiatives are designed to create measurable progress toward gender equity in finance. Annual events like the New York Gala (held November 5, 2025) and the Cayman Gala (February 7, 2025) serve as flagship fundraising events that support the organization's programs while honoring outstanding female leaders in finance. These galas recognize exceptional professionals through awards such as the ILA Award and provide platforms for networking and advocacy among senior institutional leaders. The 2025 New York Gala honored Managing Principal Jody Gunderson from AB CarVal, exemplifying the organization's commitment to recognizing female excellence in investment management.

Why It Matters

• Industry Representation: Women remain significantly underrepresented in senior finance roles, making targeted advancement initiatives essential to creating equitable career opportunities across investment management, banking, and related sectors.
• Economic Impact: Research demonstrates that gender-diverse investment teams and executive leadership produce better outcomes, stronger risk management, and improved returns, benefiting institutions and broader financial markets.
• Talent Development: By connecting young women with mentors, role models, and career pathways in finance, 100 Women in Finance helps address talent pipeline challenges and ensures the industry can access the full pool of capable professionals.
• Systemic Change: The organization's focus on institutional allocators and fund managers drives capital allocation decisions that directly support female-led investment firms and create structural change in finance industry composition.

100 Women in Finance represents a critical institutional force for gender equity in one of the world's most influential industries. By combining education, networking, mentorship, and targeted advocacy, the organization addresses the systemic barriers that have historically limited women's advancement in finance. The Vision 30/40 goal provides a concrete target for progress, while the organization's demonstrated success—evidenced by over 1,000 events and $55 million in fundraising—shows the power of coordinated professional communities working toward measurable change. As the organization continues expanding to new global markets and evolving its programs, 100 Women in Finance remains positioned to accelerate the transformation of the finance industry into a more inclusive, equitable, and ultimately more successful sector that fully harnesses the talent and leadership of women at all career levels.