In a few words, what does being a “Trailblazer” mean to you, and how did your path into wealth management begin?
To me, being a trailblazer means creating your own path when there isn’t a clear roadmap, and then helping light the way for others who follow.
Before entering wealth management, I built and led teams in large-scale national events, including PGA tours and major music festivals. When I became a mother, I wanted to translate that leadership and operational background into a more traditional career that allowed me to stay closer to home. I joined a local wealth management practice to build out their internal recruiting and onboarding platform. Although I didn’t come from a traditional finance background, I quickly learned the business by analyzing operational workflows and identifying opportunities for improvement well beyond onboarding. That curiosity and problem-solving mindset ultimately led my role to expand across firmwide operations, supporting the CEO and the broader leadership team.
When you first entered the industry, what did the landscape look like for women, and what early lessons still shape how you lead today?
The firm I joined included several former Wall Street advisors, and with that came a very male-dominated culture. Women were largely viewed as support staff, with little visibility into growth paths or leadership opportunities. Entering that environment as a new mother left a lasting impression on me.
That experience continues to shape how I lead today. I am deeply focused on creating clearer pathways for women to grow and advance, while also encouraging the confidence to speak up, especially in rooms where women may be outnumbered. Representation matters, but so does empowerment.
What challenges have you faced along the way, and what mindset or skills helped you push through and keep going?
Women often feel the need to prove themselves twice as much to be taken seriously. It can be tempting to let that reality shift you into a negative mindset, but I’ve found that focusing on advancement instead of adversity makes all the difference.
For me, the mindset shift was toward constant learning. I became committed to understanding every aspect of the business and becoming truly excellent at what I do. Knowledge is power and when you build expertise, confidence naturally follows.
Where are you today in your career, and what unique perspectives do you believe women bring to wealth management and leadership?
Today, I have the privilege of leading the build-out of an entire operations team from the ground up at a newly independent firm managing over $8 billion in assets. Being able to create meaningful, scalable impact at that level has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m constantly looking for ways to add structure, streamline processes, and remove unnecessary hurdles.
Women bring a powerful perspective to wealth management and leadership, particularly when it comes to organization, systems, and long-term thinking. Having women at the decision-making table adds clarity and balance, and ultimately leads to stronger, more sustainable outcomes for firms and clients alike.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of women in wealth management, and what advice would you give to the next generation of trailblazers?
I’ve loved watching the increase in female representation across both advisory and leadership roles over the past decade. I’m especially excited to see more female advisors rise to the very top of advisory firms—that will be an incredible milestone for the industry.
My advice to the next generation is simple: when things get hard, that’s when you push harder. Don’t take the easy way out. You are capable of creating real change, even when the path isn’t obvious.
I believe the most meaningful progress happens when we intentionally create space for others to grow. Leadership isn’t just about building systems—it’s about building people. If we continue to support, mentor, and advocate for one another, the future of this industry will be stronger than ever.
