Theresa A. Matacia, CFA, QRD®’s Post

Let's talk #womeninfinance. While there has been an increase in women studying finance, only a small percentage of leadership positions in finance are held by women. Our President and COO, Audrey Averill, was recently featured on a panel with the Charlotte Business Journal to speak about her experience in the industry, her path at The Pelora Group, and the importance of women in the financial services industry. From the article: “Leading or even starting a business demands a vast skill set. Averill says she sees female entrepreneurs often thinking they have to do it all on their own. ‘There is a thought that you need to be the pioneer and just grind it out,’ she says. Instead of that insular approach, Averill says Pelora’s advisors are more successful when they take advantage of the resources that surround them. ‘When they lean into people who have paved the way before and seek counsel or opportunity, that business they are building starts to generate more revenue and starts to become bigger and greater,’ Averill says.” Thanks again to the fantastic team at the Charlotte Business Journal, and shout out to the other impactful female leaders in this discussion: Raichelle "Rai" Glover, regional market president of Huntington National Bank, Rebecca Hardin, CFO of Verigent, and Tao-Hsien Dolly King, professor of finance and interim dean of the UNC Charlotte Belk College of Business. Photo credit: Charlotte Business Journal #femalefinancialprofessionals #womeninwealth #womenworkinginwealth #femaleCFP #femalefinancialadvisors #charlottebusinessjournal

Here are the women who are not necessarily amid the world’s 100 most powerful, but whose influence is on the rise. Here’s who we’ll be watching in 2024. #diversity #investinwomen #leadership #diversity #investinwomen #leadership #diversity #investinwomen #leadership

March is #WomensHistoryMonth, a time to honor and celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions women have made throughout history. Take a peek at the progress we're making at Eide Bailly: 👀 ◾ In August of 2022, Eide Bailly launched its Women Empowered Employee Resource Group with the mission of creating a supportive and collaborative community for women to connect, grow, and thrive. The group now has more than 265 members and continues to grow. ◾ In 2023, Eide Bailly made the Accounting Move Project’s Best CPA Firms for Women and Best Firms for Equity Leadership lists. This was the fourth time Eide Bailly made the Best CPA Firms for Women list and the third time the firm made the Best Firms for Equity Leadership list. ◾ As of January 2024, 32% of partners at Eide Bailly are women, and 46% of senior managers are women, an increase from 2021. Learn more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion and how we're building a workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve: https://bit.ly/3RvbVXD.

🚀🌟 Exciting times! EY has welcomed its first female CEO, a proud moment for both EY and the cause of DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion). As an alumnus, I couldn't be more proud. According to the latest stats, women hold less than 5% of CEO positions in S&P 500 companies, but this number is on the rise. This shows the power and potential of women leaders and reminds us that DEI is still a vital topic we need to be passionate about. 📊 Some fun facts: - The proportion of female CEOs in the S&P 500 is growing. - Studies show that gender-diverse teams tend to perform better. - Diversity and inclusion are not just moral imperatives but also drivers of business success. #EYFirstFemaleCEO #DEI #WomenInLeadership #BusinessSuccess #DEIChampion

According to the Center for Research & Data at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, a quarter of chief executives (i.e., Chief Executive Officers, Chief Diversity Officers, Chief Financial Officers, and Chief Operating Officers) in the Cincinnati Region are women. This is a slight increase from a decade ago, when only 24% of chief executives were women. Nationally, the proportion of women in top executive positions in 2021 was 26% indicating that Cincinnati is almost on par with national trends, but there is more progress to be made.

Founder and Principal Consultant at Odit Frontier Partners (OFP) Advisory Services, Doris Odit Achenga features alongside other female entrepreneurs in CIO TIMES "Inspiring Women Leaders Revamping the Future 2024" Series. In this feature, Doris shares her vision for OFP and the lessons she has learned along the way over the last 16 years of her non-linear career, which has spanned multiple transitions from NGOs to multi-sector management consulting, to development consulting, to alternative finance, finally culminating in a return to management and development consulting. These transitions and the diverse perspectives gained in each role and each sector have shaped her vision and philosophy for an impact-focused multi-sector and multi-discipline consulting approach that places purpose ahead of profit. Click here to read the feature article: >>>https://lnkd.in/gcZs4jPP An annual listing, the CIO TIMES "Inspiring Women Leaders Revamping the Future Series" recognises the efforts of women who are charting a course to revolutionise the industries they operate in.

As we commemorate the Fourth of July, a day that symbolizes freedom and independence, it's also a fitting moment to celebrate the incredible women who have been game changers and leaders in our communities, industries, and beyond. -Honoring Brave Women Leaders Just as our nation’s founders were driven by the vision of a better future, countless women have been at the forefront, championing change and paving the way for progress. Their courage and resilience embody the spirit of independence we honor today. -Breaking Barriers Women leaders have broken barriers in every field, from technology and science to politics and social justice. They remind us that true independence includes the freedom to dream, achieve, and lead without limitations. -Inspiring Future Generations The legacy of women game changers inspires the next generation to rise, innovate, and lead with confidence. Their stories teach us that independence is not just about individual freedom, but also about lifting each other up and creating inclusive spaces for all. As we celebrate this Fourth of July, let’s also take a moment to honor the incredible contributions of women leaders who continue to shape a brighter, more equitable future. Your leadership, vision, and unwavering spirit are what make our communities—and our nation—stronger. #IndependenceDay #WomenInLeadership #GameChangers #WomenEmpowerment #FourthOfJuly #CelebrateChange #changemakers #leadership #nonprofit #artgeneratedwithai

Last week, I was fortunate to attend a sell out event with 50/50 Women on Boards hosted at the Canary Wharf Group at their impressive venue. It was a chunky agenda with speakers and content to match on the trends surrounding board diversity. Chaired by Kate Smith, Julie Carlyle & Vanessa Dal Busco it covered the results of a report from Cranfield University. The 2024 Female FTSE board report supported by EY included a panel discussion with Rebecca Worthington, Suniti Chauhan & Patrick Dunne on their journey to the boardroom. 🌱 There were some green shoots, but overall the outlook was not promising, with so much more to be done to ensure gender parity for both C level & NED roles. 🚨 "The Executive Gender Paradox" 🚨 👉 No of women on FTSE 100 & 250 boards has increased 👉 An average of 40% are women 👉 However, executive directorship roles held by women has dropped from 47%- 41% 👉 There is a stronger weighting to women being placed in NED roles, over C level positions 👉 Only 36 companies in FTSE 100 have women in executive director roles 👉 On both FTSEs, significant changes to CFO roles could have driven change, but has been a missed opportunity to place more women into these positions 🤯 The most vulnerable part off the talent pipeline is the mid career point , where women drop of their planned career trajectories due to policies stacked against them & assumptions made about their attitudes to work. I met some brilliant women within the first 5 minutes. Thank you Kate Smith for the invite 🙏 You were knock-out. Rachel Bale, Sophie Dupré-Echeverria  #womenonboard #womenleadership #womenintech

This week has been filled with opportunities to connect with and be inspired by powerful women, and I feel so grateful for the exposure to these transformative events. First, I attended Northwestern Mutual Women’s Affinity Summit, where women from all walks of life came together to learn, grow, and be inspired by each other. We delved into the unique challenges women face in financial planning, and it was clear that many of us still lack the confidence we deserve in managing our finances. The stories of entrepreneurial journeys shared were deeply motivating. Next, I was honored to attend the @MAC’s Women of Distinction luncheon, where incredible women were recognized for their contributions to the St. Louis community and their professional accomplishments. The authenticity with which they shared their challenges and triumphs really struck a chord with me—success as a woman is often met with obstacles that require resilience and grace. Finally, I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Erin Joy, PhD Joy speak. While I’ve attended her personal events before, this was my first time hearing her in this capacity, and her insights on building a personal brand resonated deeply. Her alignment between personal and professional authenticity is something I truly admire. Reflecting on all of these experiences, I want to highlight how much I appreciate events that encourage women to step into their power. But I also often see us positioning ourselves as “behind” or “wrong” in comparison to men. I believe we are exactly where we are meant to be. Instead of making men wrong for the disparities between the sexes, I believe we create real change when we recognize and respect each other’s talents and contributions. It’s about mutual respect—when both men and women see each other as equally valuable and essential in our collective growth, we’ll start to balance out those disparities. I encourage women to continue doing the inner work to claim their space and identity with confidence, without needing to diminish anyone else in the process. And for those who feel less confident in their finances, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to connect and support you in building confidence around your money and investing. Let’s rise together. #WomenInBusiness #FinancialConfidence #WomenSupportingWomen #Leadership

Female CFOs are outstanding financial leaders. The recent trend of ING-FINEX CFO of the Year awardees underscores this. In fact, three of the last four winners of this prestigious trophy have been women. Will another female CFO take home the award this year? #2024INGFINEXCFOoftheYear #GameChangerDifferenceMaker