The ten greatest female fund managers, listed

Women have played an important role in the history of Wall Street, although their contributions have often been overlooked or marginalized. Women began to enter the financial industry in the late 19th century as clerks and secretaries, but were largely excluded from the field during the early 20th century.

However, during World War II, many women entered the workforce, including the financial industry, as men were drafted into the military. In 1967, Muriel Siebert broke the gender barrier on Wall Street by becoming the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). During the 1970s and 1980s, more women entered the financial industry, but they faced discrimination and harassment.

The first Women in Finance Symposium was held in 1987, which helped to bring attention to the issue of gender equality in the financial industry. In recent years, Stacey Cunningham became the first female president of the NYSE in 2018. Despite progress, women are still underrepresented in the financial industry, particularly in leadership positions, but there are many initiatives and organizations working to promote gender equality and support women in finance. Women have made significant contributions to the financial industry and continue to break down gender barriers on Wall Street.

Identifying the greatest female fund managers of all time can be subjective and dependent on various factors, such as investment success, impact on the industry, and overall influence. However, here are ten female fund managers who have made significant contributions to the investment world:

Abigail Johnson

Abigail Johnson is an American businesswoman and the CEO of Fidelity Investments, one of the world’s largest asset management firms. She was born on December 19, 1961, in Boston, Massachusetts, and is the daughter of Edward C. Johnson III, the former chairman of Fidelity.

Johnson started her career at Fidelity in 1988 as an analyst and portfolio manager in the company’s mutual fund division. She worked her way up the ranks, eventually becoming the president of Fidelity’s Personal and Workplace Investing division in 2010.

In 2014, Johnson succeeded her father as the CEO of Fidelity, making her one of the most powerful women in finance. Under her leadership, Fidelity has continued to expand its offerings, including launching several index funds with no management fees and entering the cryptocurrency market with the launch of a bitcoin fund.

Johnson has been recognized for her achievements and leadership in the industry, including being named one of the world’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes magazine. She is also a member of the board of directors for the Financial Services Forum and the Boston Celtics.

Mary Callahan Erdoes

Mary Callahan Erdoes is an American business executive who is currently the CEO of JPMorgan Chase’s asset management division, J.P. Morgan Asset Management. She was born on August 13, 1967, in New York City.

Erdoes graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Mathematics in 1989 and went on to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1993.

Erdoes began her career at the investment bank, Drexel Burnham Lambert, and later joined Meredith, Martin & Kaye as an analyst. In 1996, she joined J.P. Morgan as an analyst in the fixed income division and quickly rose through the ranks, holding various positions in the company.

Erdoes was named the CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset Management in 2009 and since then has been instrumental in expanding the division’s global presence and growing its assets under management to over $2 trillion.

Erdoes has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including being named to Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list multiple times and receiving the HBS Alumni Achievement Award in 2018. She is also actively involved in philanthropic activities, serving on the board of various organizations, including the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and the New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Anne Walsh

Anne Walsh is an American businesswoman and the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of fixed income at Guggenheim Investments, a global investment management firm with over $300 billion in assets under management. Walsh oversees all aspects of the firm’s fixed income business, including portfolio management, research, and trading.

Walsh has over three decades of experience in the financial industry, having started her career as a credit analyst at Citigroup in 1983. She joined Guggenheim in 2007 as a managing director and senior portfolio manager, and was appointed as the CIO of fixed income in 2015.

Under Walsh’s leadership, Guggenheim has been recognized for its strong fixed income performance, with the firm receiving numerous industry awards. Walsh has also been recognized for her leadership in the industry, having been named as one of the Top Women in Asset Management by Money Management Executive.

Walsh is also an active participant in industry organizations and initiatives. She is a member of the Economic Club of New York, the Fixed Income Analysts Society, and the Municipal Bond Club of New York, among others.

Cathie Wood

Cathie Wood is an American businesswoman and founder of ARK Invest, a New York-based investment management firm that specializes in actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on disruptive innovation.

Wood began her career in finance in the late 1970s, working as an economist for several investment banks before moving on to portfolio management roles. She worked at Jennison Associates, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, for over a decade before founding ARK Invest in 2014.

Under Wood’s leadership, ARK Invest has become known for its focus on investing in innovative and disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and genomics. The firm’s ETFs have seen strong performance, with the ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) gaining over 200% in 2020 alone.

Wood has become a prominent figure in the investment industry, frequently appearing on financial news networks and podcasts to discuss her investment strategies and outlook for the market. She has also been recognized for her achievements and leadership in the industry, including being named as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2021.

Wood is known for her optimistic outlook and willingness to take bold positions in her investment decisions, which has gained her both supporters and detractors. She has been a vocal supporter of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and has also made high-profile bets on companies such as Tesla and Square.

Nancy Zevenbergen

Nancy Zevenbergen is a well-known American businesswoman and investment professional who is the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and portfolio manager of Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC. She is best known for her expertise in investing in technology and innovation companies.

Zevenbergen started her career in 1984 as a stockbroker and later worked at various investment firms before founding her own firm, Zevenbergen Capital Investments, in 1987. The firm is based in Seattle, Washington and specializes in growth investing.

Under Zevenbergen’s leadership, the firm has grown to manage over $8 billion in assets under management and has earned a reputation for investing in innovative and disruptive companies. Zevenbergen has a long track record of successful investments in companies such as Amazon, Google, and Tesla, among others.

In addition to her work at Zevenbergen Capital Investments, Zevenbergen is also involved in philanthropic activities. She is a board member of the Washington Women’s Foundation and the Seattle Foundation, which both support charitable organizations in the Pacific Northwest.

Zevenbergen has been recognized for her investment expertise and leadership. She has been named to Barron’s list of top women advisors and Forbes’ list of America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors multiple times. Additionally, she was awarded the 2020 InvestmentNews Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award for her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the finance industry.

Dana Emery

Dana Emery is an American businesswoman and the CEO of Dodge & Cox, an investment management firm based in San Francisco, California. Dodge & Cox is a privately held company that manages over $300 billion in assets across a range of investment strategies, including mutual funds and institutional separate accounts.

Emery has been with Dodge & Cox for over three decades, having started her career at the firm in 1985 as a research analyst. She has held a variety of roles within the firm, including managing director and member of the board of directors, before being appointed as CEO in 2019.

Under Emery’s leadership, Dodge & Cox has continued its focus on value-oriented investing and a long-term perspective, with a commitment to fundamental research and a bottom-up approach to stock picking. The firm has received numerous industry accolades for its investment performance over the years, including recognition from Morningstar, Lipper, and Barron’s.

Emery is also an active participant in industry organizations and initiatives. She serves on the board of directors of the Investment Company Institute and is a member of the Financial Women’s Association and the CFA Institute, among others. She has also been recognized for her leadership in the industry, including being named as one of the Most Powerful Women in Finance by American Banker.

Debora Spar

Debora Spar is an American academic, author, and former president of Barnard College, a women’s liberal arts college in New York City. She is currently a professor at Harvard Business School, where she teaches courses on strategy, innovation, and leadership.

Spar has written extensively on topics related to gender and women’s leadership, including the books “Wonder Women: Sex, Power, and the Quest for Perfection” and “Work Mate Marry Love: How Machines Shape Our Human Destiny”. In her work, she explores the ways in which gender impacts individuals’ professional and personal lives, as well as broader societal trends and cultural norms.

Prior to her academic career, Spar worked as an attorney for several years before transitioning into the business world. She held executive roles at companies such as Goldman Sachs and served on the board of directors of several organizations, including the New York Times Company.

As president of Barnard College from 2008 to 2017, Spar oversaw numerous initiatives aimed at promoting women’s education and leadership, including the creation of the Athena Center for Leadership Studies. She also championed efforts to improve diversity and inclusivity on campus and fostered collaborations between Barnard and other institutions in the region.

Spar’s work has been widely recognized, including being named as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2012. She continues to be an influential voice on topics related to gender and leadership in the academic and business communities.

Elaine Stokes

Elaine Stokes is an American businesswoman and investment manager. She is currently the co-CEO and co-CIO of Loomis, Sayles & Company, a global investment management firm based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Stokes joined Loomis Sayles in 1988 and has since held various roles within the company, including portfolio manager and director of research. In her current role, she oversees the firm’s investment strategies and portfolio management activities.

Stokes is widely recognized as an expert in fixed income investing and has been instrumental in the development and implementation of Loomis Sayles’ credit research platform. She has also been an advocate for responsible investing and has led the firm’s efforts in this area, including the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into investment decision-making.

In addition to her work at Loomis Sayles, Stokes is a member of several industry organizations and initiatives, including the Investment Company Institute and the CFA Institute. She has also been recognized for her leadership and contributions to the industry, including being named as one of the Most Powerful Women in Finance by American Banker and as a Top Woman in Asset Management by Money Management Executive.

Stokes is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. She has been a vocal advocate for women in finance and has worked to promote greater gender diversity within the industry.

Ingrid Dyott

Dyott is the co-founder and portfolio manager of Neuberger Berman’s Socially Responsive Investment (SRI) team, which manages over $5 billion in assets.

 

Lisa Shalett

Lisa Shalett is an American businesswoman  and Chief Investment Officer, Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley.