In April, the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary hosted its eighth annual Women's Equity Pitch in Miller Hall to celebrate women in finance across borders.
Bringing together small teams of three to four women from universities across 12 states and six countries, the symposium was a culmination of talent, passion and dedication that attracted participants, top alumni and corporate sponsors, making it the most geographically diverse competition to date.
For many, the journey began in December 2023 and was marked by tireless preparation and exhaustive research. The team meticulously vetted companies and crafted investment thesis that resonated with their values and beliefs. Xuantong Tan, representing the National University of Singapore, expressed her team's enthusiasm for Neste, a Finnish company specializing in sustainable fuel systems. She highlighted the compelling narrative of their presentation and highlighted the company's firm purpose and focus.
“Our team wanted to pitch more than just a company,” says Tan. “We felt Neste had a compelling story to tell, and that was what drove our pitch.”
Kendyl George, 26, a finance major at the College of William and Mary, reflected on the friendships she forged during the rigorous preparation period: Daily rehearsals honed her presentation skills, deepened bonds with her teammates, and provided crucial support during times of uncertainty.
“By consistently practicing every day, we were able to support each other and build unity and confidence when we were nervous,” George said. “We helped each other with memorization and gave each other hints when we needed them or someone couldn't think of something. Plus, by staying together and encouraging each other during competitions, we were able to build unity even more.”
The culmination of months of hard work came on April 6, when the team made it through three rounds of tough competition, with tensions reaching a fever pitch in the final showdown, where Utah State University, Memorial University of Newfoundland and New York University emerged victorious.
After lively presentations and in-depth questioning by the four industry experts who made up the judging panel, Utah State University took top honors, closely followed by Memorial University in second place and New York University in third place. Each award came with a cash prize, which was well-deserved recognition of each individual's achievement.
“These events are really inspiring,” said Emerald Spencer of Utah State University, highlighting her newfound confidence and passion for finance that the competition gave her. “Winning just inspires me, especially since I never expected such an outcome. Applying the knowledge I learned in the classroom through experiential learning has really changed me. I now have a real passion and knowledge for specific companies and am confident in recommending investment opportunities.”
The significance of the event went beyond mere competition, it served as a platform for empowerment and mentorship. Distinguished alumna Catherine Faddis (Class of 1991), Senior Portfolio Manager at Zevin Asset Management, shared her valuable insights in her keynote address on Saturday and urged participants to cherish this important milestone in their professional lives.
“I think it's unique and valuable because it gives you a real-time look at what it's like to pitch a stock to investors. I wish I had this opportunity when I was in school,” Faddis said. “I think the women here are rock stars. They are light years ahead of everyone else. They've learned more than they even realized. I think they'll look back on this as one of the turning points in their lives.”
Molly Pieroni, president of Yachtman Asset Management, emphasized the importance of the “Women's Equity Pitch” in amplifying the voices of women in the finance industry.
“This is all about women sharing their ideas, defending their causes and competing in a supportive environment,” Pieroni noted. “This is a stock pitch competition for women, because women need a voice and sometimes they just need a little nudge to use their voice.”
For participants like Xuantong Tan, the event was a valuable opportunity to connect with peers facing similar challenges in the industry and foster a network to support future endeavors.
“For me, it's about connecting with people who have had similar experiences,” Tan says. “What's really important is building a supportive network of women who are interested in this field.”
Kendyl George said she is grateful to all the corporate partners who send participants to the equity pitch every year. At the 2023 equity pitch, George met with a female representative from the corporate partners and was mentored on her financial journey.
“We first met during my freshman year and our bond grew even stronger when she returned this year. I reached out to her via email after securing a position on the 2024 stock pitch team and her unwavering support has been invaluable,” George says. “Our relationship deepened through our joint participation in Women's Stock Pitch. It's wonderful to see this opportunity foster meaningful connections and foster relationships that last long after the event itself.”
“I also think it's great that men are participating in the competition,” she added, emphasizing the importance of support and cooperation between men and women in promoting diversity and inclusion in the financial industry. The competition is open to male participants and also features male support ambassadors who assist the team with various tasks.
“Every year, this platform empowers women to thrive in the finance sector,” says George. “It's also encouraging to see men getting involved and promoting support and inclusivity. In business, networking is paramount, regardless of gender. We need to support and lift each other up, recognising that success is collective.”
The international appeal of the event attracted participants like Rona Yaniv from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who enjoyed engaging with diverse perspectives and global thought leaders. Indeed, as Kendyl George pointed out, the international dimension of the competition enriched the discussion and reinforced the universality of equity pitching as the language of opportunity.
“The transition from Israel's informal social structure to the American way of life is interesting. Working with an international team and gaining insight into business and finance in another country is what motivated me to take on this journey,” Yaniv said.
Julie Agnew (Class of 1991), the Richard C. Kramer Professor of Business Administration and executive faculty director of the Borley Center for Financial Excellence, credited William & Mary’s commitment to experiential learning with nurturing initiatives such as stock pitches by women.
“If you want a career in finance, there's only one place to come to the College of William & Mary. We value creative thinkers and collaborative people,” Agnew said. “Our continued success, as evidenced by our recent performance in The Wall Street Journal's Finance Survey, is due to our incredible alumni network, who return to share their expertise with current students. This is the kind of collaborative community you'll find when you come to us.”
Matthew Brady Siano, managing director emeritus at Two Sigma, adjunct instructor at the Mason School and trustee of the Raymond A. Mason School of Business Foundation, has been involved with Women's Stock Pitch since it began more than eight years ago.
Ciano said that when she first began working as an adjunct professor, she saw too many female students drop out of finance because they didn't believe they could “make it” on Wall Street. Despite attempts to persuade them, these students struggled to find their place at the heart of America's financial world, Ciano said. She explained that as a foundation board member, she similarly understands that for Mason School to thrive, it must make an effort to send more female graduates into Wall Street and the finance industry.
“I made it my mission to find a way to get more female graduating students and finance majors to realize that Wall Street is a place for them and that they can thrive there,” Siano said. “I thought the stock pitch contest would be a great opportunity for them, and for women from other colleges, to meet each other and see that they can do it too.”
Opening keynote speaker Lisa Petrelli, head of global markets in Canada for UBS, praised the university's role in advancing women in finance.
“There's momentum behind this and it's driving us forward. That's the most exciting thing. It's a joy to see the groundswell of energy driving this forward. Enjoy this moment. There's a community around you and it's global,” Petrelli said. “This event is starting to take the world by storm.”
As the eighth year of Women’s Equity Pitch came to a close, it was clear that the impact of the event reverberated far beyond the Hall of Mirrors, with each presentation and exchange illuminating the path forward for the many women brave enough to seize a career in finance.
Hannah Sawyer ’27 and staff from the Raymond A. Mason School of Business
