10 Women Awarded FWSF Scholarships in 2024

Vira is a first-year MBA student at Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, focusing on marketing and finance. In her role as the business operations manager at Arcon Construction Corp, a development company in the Bay Area, which builds condo properties and provides shelter for low-income families through the BMR program. Vira holds a Master's Degree in English and German philology from V.I. Vernadsky Taurida National University in Ukraine. She actively participates in the Business Women’s Club at SCU and serves as a financial consultant for Ukrainian refugees seeking safety in the USA. Her post-graduation aspiration is to develop innovative financial products and services to uplift underprivileged communities worldwide.

Evelyn, an incoming MBA Candidate at Stanford, completed her undergraduate degree in economics at Claremont McKenna College. Her multicultural upbringing across China, New York City, and suburban Boston sparked her passion for guiding individuals to discover their unique purposes and reach their full potential. Evelyn established a startup incubator in China that has nurtured more than 50 student-founded startups. Before Stanford, she enhanced the corporate development and strategic investment function at FalconX, a growth-stage startup in the fintech industry. Evelyn also gained experience at PIMCO focusing on macro strategies and Evercore focusing on M&A. She aims to construct financial infrastructure that provides universal access to resources enabling everyone to achieve their aspirations.

Ruth, a dynamic leader with a robust finance background, commenced her MBA journey at the University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business. Before pursuing her MBA, Ruth spent over nine years in Nigeria's financial services sector, beginning as an analyst at a boutique investment bank and later joining KPMG Nigeria's Deal Advisory Unit. At KPMG, she offered transaction and valuation advisory services across various industries for three years. In 2020, Ruth co-founded a credit startup aimed at extending financial access to small and medium-scale businesses neglected by traditional lenders. At Haas, she holds leadership positions such as the International Student Representative for the EMEA region and roles within various student organizations.

Yvonne is a full-time MBA student at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, holding a BS in Business Administration from the same institution. She is also a CJ White Finance and Impact CFO Fellow. At Haas, Yvonne is actively involved in several leadership roles such as Co-President of 1G@Haas, VP of Community for Latinx Business Club and Consortium, VP of Finance for Latin American and Hispanic Business Association, and VP of Engagement FT for Finance Club. Prior to pursuing her MBA, Yvonne worked in Corporate Banking and currently serves as a board member of the East Los Angeles Community Corporation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing financial empowerment to her community. She is also a mentor in the Haas Mentor Collective Program and will be interning at the Morgan Stanley Investment Banking office in San Francisco.

Kavya, driven by a passion to empower marginalized communities, charted her course in computer science engineering, a predominantly male-dominated field, and founded a social e-commerce platform. Her firsthand experiences witnessing the challenges faced by rural populations ignited her commitment to effecting social change. With eight years of volunteering with NGOs at USF and working with one of India's largest Edtech companies, Kavya reinforced her belief in education's transformative potential. Pursuing an MBA with a focus on business analytics & finance, Kavya aims to bridge the gap between business and social good to enhance her e-commerce platform's social impact and financial viability. Her vision includes establishing an NGO dedicated to empowering rural women through financial literacy and independence.

Jouel, a junior accounting major at Saint Mary's University of California, originally from Cameroon, Central Africa, relocated to the United States five years ago. Despite facing numerous challenges as a first-generation college student, Jouel remains determined to pursue her accounting degree and help others. She currently serves as a resident advisor, finding value in supporting her residents and serving the community, a trait instilled in her by her upbringing in a large family.

Angelica, a first-generation undergraduate student at Saint Mary's College of California, is majoring in Finance, Economics, and Data Science. She currently serves as the Finance Intern for Gael Women in Business and offers mentorship to her peers as a peer mentor. Active within the Asian Pacific American Association, she contributes to fostering community and cultural awareness. Angelica's consistent academic excellence has earned her a place on the Dean's List. Post-graduation, she plans to pursue a Master's in Finance, aspiring to be a role model and provide resources and opportunities to underserved, first-generation women pursuing careers in finance.

Morgan, a first-generation college student studying business at Dominican University of California, specializes in finance and minors in global innovation and entrepreneurship, along with creative writing. Committed to furthering her education with a master's degree from the Barowsky School of Business, Morgan is involved in various campus activities. As Co-President of the Rotaract club, treasurer of the Barowsky Student Association, and a student leader for Dominican's Institute of Leadership, she actively engages with her community and is currently serving as a student consultant for the Peace Corps. Her post-graduation goals include working with firms like Deloitte and pursuing a career in corporate finance.

Kaitlyn, an undergraduate student at Santa Clara University pursuing degrees in finance and music while minoring in real estate, is deeply involved in campus activities. Holding leadership positions in various student organizations, including President of the consulting club and roles within the music program, Kaitlyn is passionate about creating supportive communities. She mentors undergraduate and high school students and will be interning this summer at BTIG, with a keen interest in startup work and venture funding for her future endeavors.

Sherlene, an undergraduate student pursuing degrees in Business Administration and Data Science while minoring in Music at UC Berkeley, is driven by her commitment to uplift minorities in male-dominated industries. Involved in organizations like Consult Your Community and Women on Wall Street, Sherlene serves as a mentor and guest speaker, advocating for women and non-binary individuals in finance. As a Girls Who Invest SIP scholar, she spent time at UPenn learning about finance intricacies before interning as a Credit Research Analyst at PIMCO. Sherlene looks forward to her upcoming internship with Vanguard as an Investment Management Analyst, continuing her journey in finance and supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives.