Women in Securities Finance

What Women in Securities Finance does

Women in Securities Finance (WISF) is a volunteer-led professional networking organization founded in early 2018, dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion, and the professional advancement of women in the securities finance industry. The organization serves women working across trading, sales, relationship management, legal, technology, product development, operations, and portfolio management roles, and is open to all members of the securities finance community including allies. As of recent disclosure, WISF has grown to over 1,000 members organized across chapters in New York, Boston, Toronto, London, and a virtual chapter, with an APAC expansion announced for 2026.

WISF's core offerings include (1) the Perspectives podcast series, launched in August 2020, covering career stories, industry developments, and leadership topics; (2) the Grow Your Network program, a structured mentorship initiative that pairs members for 1-to-1 introductions based on skill set, experience, and level; (3) regional chapter events including speaker sessions, panel discussions, and social gatherings; (4) curated industry articles and news; and (5) annual philanthropy initiatives supporting causes such as mental health, women's shelters, and food security. The organization maintains recurring presence at major industry conferences including ISLA, CASLA, RMA, IMN, and PASLA, and has secured high-visibility recognition through bell-ringing ceremonies at NYSE, TSX, and LSE.

The business model is freemium by design — membership is completely free, with no membership fees charged. The organization is sustained through volunteer leadership drawn from senior practitioners at the industry's most prominent institutions (Vanguard, DTCC, Fidelity Investments, J.P. Morgan, BNY Mellon, RBC Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Scotiabank, BMO Capital Markets, EquiLend, Invesco, State Street, Charles Schwab, and Northern Trust). Distribution is conducted via LinkedIn (company page and community group), the Squarespace-hosted official website, PodServe.fm for podcast distribution, and quarterly newsletters. WISF received the 2022 Securities Finance Times 'Diversity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year' award and is governed by three co-founders serving as Global Chairs alongside chapter leads and a global marketing/brand ambassador team.

Name

Women in Securities Finance

Legal name

Women in Securities Finance

Website

https://womeninsecuritiesfinance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Women in Securities Finance is a free, volunteer-led professional networking organization founded in 2018, serving 1,000+ women across trading, legal, technology, and operations roles in the global securities finance industry through regional chapter events, the Perspectives podcast, and structured mentorship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Membership: WISF operates as a free membership organization. The group does not charge membership fees and is sustained through chapter events, sponsorships, and volunteer leadership. The organization generates value through community building, networking opportunities, and professional development programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Women in Securities Finance (WISF) is a global professional networking organization that operates regional chapters in major financial centers (New York, Boston, Toronto, London, and a Virtual chapter) to foster connections and promote the inclusion and growth of women in the securities finance industry. The organization delivers value through chapter events, the Perspectives podcast series, the Grow Your Network structured mentorship program, and philanthropy initiatives. Membership is free and open to all members of the securities finance community.

Product overview

Women in Securities Finance (WISF) is a professional community and networking organization, not a technology product company. It offers a suite of member services including the Perspectives podcast series, the Grow Your Network structured mentorship program, regional chapter events across six chapters (New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, London, and Virtual), curated industry articles, and philanthropy initiatives. The organization functions as a community platform connecting women across the securities finance industry through events, content, and structured networking programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WISF Chapter Events Regional chapter-based networking events held in New York, Boston, Toronto, London, and Virtual chapters, featuring speakers, panel discussions, fireside chats, and social gatherings for women in securities finance.
• Perspectives Podcast Series A podcast series covering career stories, industry developments, professional advancements, and leadership topics, featuring interviews with women in securities finance.
• Grow Your Network Program A structured networking program that creates 1-to-1 connections by pairing members for icebreaker introductions, considering skill set, experience, and level to promote diversity across the WISF community.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Securities Finance CommunitycoreOthers · 1 January 2018WISF is an inclusive organization open to all members of the Securities Finance community including trading, sales, relationship management, legal, technology, product development, operations, and portfolio management professionals. The organization serves as a networking and professional development platform for the entire industry.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• 100 Women in Finance: Global membership organization for women in the finance industry, offering networking events, education, and philanthropic initiatives. Most direct comparable to WISF in mission, structure, and member base, though WISF is specifically focused on the securities finance vertical.
• Financial Women's Association: Long-standing New York-based association for women in finance offering networking, mentoring, and professional development programs. Comparable structure (membership networking organization serving women in finance) and overlapping New York professional community.

Others

• International Securities Lending Association (ISLA): Industry trade association for the global securities lending market. Not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem partner — WISF's London chapter lead serves on ISLA's Board, and WISF maintains presence at ISLA conferences for member networking.
• PASLA (Pan Asia Securities Lending Association): Industry association for the Asia-Pacific securities lending market. Strategic relevance as WISF enters APAC in 2026 with its first gathering at PASLA's International Conference on Asian Securities Finance.
• Canadian Securities Lending Association (CASLA): Canadian industry association for securities lending participants. Adjacent ecosystem organization — WISF's Toronto chapter leads serve as CASLA president and board members, indicating tight institutional overlap with the Canadian securities lending community.

Emerging players

• Women in ETFs: Global organization supporting the advancement of women in the ETF industry through education, networking, and thought leadership. Comparable mission and chapter-based model, though narrower product vertical (ETFs vs. broader securities finance).

Regional players

• Women in Capital Markets: Canadian non-profit dedicated to the advancement of women in capital markets through networking, mentorship, and education. Closely comparable mission; overlaps geographically with WISF's Toronto chapter and serves the same Canadian capital markets professionals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-in-securities-finance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Women in Securities Finance