RTSWS Announces Canadian Advisory Council Expanding its Financial & Investment Literacy Programming for Toronto’s High School Girls

RTSWS Announces Canadian Advisory Council Expanding its Financial & Investment Literacy Programming for Toronto’s High School Girls

by | Apr 19, 2024 | Canada, Press Releases

During Financial Literacy Month, Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS), bringing the M in STEM to diverse high school girls, is proud to announce the establishment of its Canadian Advisory Council, featuring prominent industry leaders.

RTSWS is dedicated to bringing financial and investment mathematics to high school / secondary school girls providing additional support through university, internships, job shadow and early career roles across 25 cities in the US, UK, and Canada. The council members include Netila Demneri from Russell Reynolds, Amy Miller, former Managing Director & Global Head of Loan Syndications at Scotiabank, Ingrid Montarras, a bilingual Co-op and Business Teacher, Frederick Pinto, CFA, CEO of CFA Society Toronto, and Anthony Ostler, President & CEO of the Canadian Bankers Association.

Founder & CEO Maura Cunningham shares her vision: “Toronto, as Canada’s hub for business and finance, has been a key location for us. This vibrant city’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity has already proven an ideal environment for our launch last year in Toronto. This Financial Literacy Month, we are especially inspired by the support from Canadian leaders and organizations eager to contribute to our mission of enhancing financial literacy among talented, hard working young women.”

Rock The Street, Wall Street provides invaluable opportunities for racially diverse high school girls to deepen their engagement with math, encouraging them to choose STEM-related university courses and career paths. Notably, RTSWS alumnae pursue degrees in finance, economics, or related fields at a rate 5x higher than the national average for female university students. Earlier this month, the organization unveiled its newly reimagined Alumnae & Career Center, empowered by ING Americas, aimed at supporting students and graduates as they advance through the RTSWS programs and transition through university and into early careers in the financial sector.

With over 25 years of Wall Street experience, Ms. Cunningham has dedicated her career to empowering the next generation of women in STEM, specifically financial math, emphasizing the transformative power of these professions to elevate families in one generation.

Contributing as an RTSWS Canadian Council Member, Ingrid Montarras of Harbord Collegiate Institute also serves as the first RTSWS School Champion. “I am honored to work alongside such distinguished industry leaders on the Canadian Advisory Council,” said Ms. Montarras. “This collaboration with Rock The Street, Wall Street forges significant connections and elevates the understanding of financial and investment math among our high school girls, opening doors to financial, business and academic sectors in Toronto.”

“RTSWS is enthusiastic about the impact we are creating together. The students are propelled by strong programming and gain from the expertise of female leaders in finance as volunteer instructors and mentors, alongside the support of male allies and sponsoring firms. RTSWS Canadian Advisory Council marks a significant step forward within the financial community as we build strong corporate and academic partnerships that will have a lasting impact on young women in Canada,” Ashley Leftwich, RTSWS Chief Operating Officer remarked.

Rock the Street, Wall Street’s supporters include leaders from Morgan Stanley, CIBC, ING Americas, J.P. Morgan, Scotiabank, Ernst & Young, Ninety One, CFA Society Toronto, Bloomberg, Franklin Templeton, Invesco, Amazon, Carson Group, Varde Partners, LightBay Capital, Canadian Bankers Association, and many others. Click here for a complete list.

About Rock The Street, Wall Street:

RTSWS is a pioneering 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings the intricacies of finance to high school girls, fostering financial and investment literacy before college and career decisions are made. Founded by former Wall Street executive Maura Cunningham, RTSWS has grown internationally, reaching young women in over 60 high schools across more than 25 cities in the US, UK and Canada. The program leverages the expertise of female leaders in finance as volunteer instructors and mentors, alongside the support of sponsoring firms, to help students envision themselves in influential roles within the financial sector, thereby addressing the gender gap in STEM fields effectively.

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RTSWS Board Member Stephen Tisdalle Accepts New Role as CMO at FS Investments

RTSWS Board Member Stephen Tisdalle Accepts New Role as CMO at FS Investments

by | Apr 15, 2024 | RTSWS in the News

We are proud to announce that Stephen Tisdalle, a valued Rock The Street, Wall Street Board member, has taken on the role of Chief Marketing Officer at FS Investments, a global leader in alternative asset management.

Enrico Gaglioti, Co-President of FS Investments, is excited about Stephen’s appointment, remarking, “We look forward to Stephen’s leadership in driving our brand and marketing initiatives as we continue to grow.”

Stephen is eager to leverage the firm’s expanded capabilities, stating, “I am excited to bring the full power and breadth of our enhanced platform to our clients.”

Join us in celebrating Stephen’s achievement, a testament to the impactful leadership within the Rock The Street, Wall Street community.

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New Study Highlights Overwork Disadvantages for Women

New Study Highlights Overwork Disadvantages for Women

by | Apr 9, 2024 | Inclusion in the News

Americans are known for logging more hours at work than most other developed nations, often linked to higher raises and faster promotions. However, a recent study published in Social Psychology Quarterly reveals how this overwork culture significantly disadvantages women in two key ways, whether they choose to overwork or not.

The study involved 230 U.S. employees who reviewed two hypothetical worker profiles with identical performance reviews but different working hours—one at 40 hours a week, and another at 60. Despite similar performance levels, the worker logging 60 hours was favored nearly 89% of the time for promotions and management training, indicating a strong overwork premium.

This bias puts women at a disadvantage for several reasons:

  • Women and Unpaid Labor: Women often engage in more unpaid household and childcare labor, which can limit their availability for extended work hours.
  • Efficiency Overlooked: Even if women complete the same workload more efficiently in fewer hours, their efficiency is undervalued compared to longer working hours.
  • Gender Bias in Overwork: When women do work longer hours, the study found they are less likely to receive the same rewards as men, who are often seen as more committed.

The findings suggest a critical need for organizations to move away from hours-based performance evaluations to more objective and results-oriented metrics. This shift could enable fairer assessments and help close the gender gap in workplace rewards. Moreover, promoting more balanced work hours and reducing the emphasis on overwork could benefit all employees’ health and overall workplace productivity.

For more detailed insights, read the full article: https://www.forbes.com./sites/michelletravis/2024/04/09/why-women-cant-overwork-themselves-out-of-workplace-inequality/?sh=2fe893e5485b

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ING Americas & RTSWS Celebrate FinLit Month with Launch of Reimagined ACC

ING Americas & RTSWS Celebrate FinLit Month with Launch of Reimagined ACC

by | Apr 4, 2024 | Canada, Press Releases, US

ING’s Transformational Grant to RTSWS’s Career Platform Streamlines and Automates Features Better Serving Girls with Tailored Access to Leadership, Mentoring and Financial Services Roles

NEW YORK, April 4, 2024 – Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS), the nonprofit dedicated to bringing the world of financial and investment mathematics to high school girls, is proud to announce a significant milestone one year into its successful rebuild of its Alumnae & Career Center with significantly increased efficiency, functionality and user experience. This innovative overhaul was made possible by a grant from ING Americas and ING’s global community investment fund, marking a critical step forward in providing access and opportunity to young women entering the workforce.

With increased user benefits and more robust functionality, the revamped Career Center incorporates innovation at each level with automated, trackable, user-friendly offerings. The career and leadership platform also offer sponsor firms one-step access to posting internships, job shadows, entry-level, and early career roles. The RTSWS Students gain clarity and access around those early professional opportunities as well as extended programming in RTSWS leadership series, networking events, and mentor matching.

“We have a natural alignment with Rock The Street, Wall Street, which is helping to bring both gender and racial equity to the financial markets,” commented Andy Schaeffer, CEO of ING Americas. “At ING, we are focused on guiding and supporting people towards stronger financial health through financial literacy education and career development. With this grant, we can ensure that the training and experience RTSWS Alumnae receive continues to be supported as they enter the workforce, increasing the number of women in finance and math-related jobs.”

The Career Center provides comprehensive support to RTSWS alumnae and students as they navigate their collegiate and career paths, as many families lack that direct experience in the home. More than 70 financial firms post job openings on the platform, with some also providing career fairs, interview training, and recruitment events for these cohorts, fostering ongoing networks and support as they advance in their careers.

“I’m delighted that ING is helping women take their first steps in establishing financial careers by providing access to firms and networking opportunities,” commented Katharyn Meyer, Head of Financial Markets, ING Americas, and a lead sponsor of this partnership. “As I’ve shared, my love of math and finance has been encouraged by my teachers, parents, and mentors throughout my academic and professional journey. It is my hope to pass forward this gift of engagement and support to others with the help of ING and industry colleagues.”

Rock The Street, Wall Street Founder & CEO Maura Cunningham, with 25 years of Wall Street experience, remarked, “Understanding math and the power it can have offers these talented students a seat at the table, diversifying and strengthening the workforce. Thanks to ING, we’re increasing workforce readiness and future proofing this training through bringing together technology, leadership and investment mathematics. We all recognize, STEM professions are exciting, purposeful, and can lift families up in one generation.”

Raising Awareness during Financial Literacy Month, RTSWS is participating in several industry events, thanking volunteers, and recognizing students and alumnae. Most RTSWS student cohorts have Spring Mentoring Sessions throughout April and are registering on the reimagined Alumnae & Career Center.

Maura Cunningham kicks off the Alumnae & Career Center opportunities via recent events:

 – CFA Society Toronto webinar (replay available) 

 – London Bloomberg Day of Insight to Finance for secondary school girls

 – New York Student CEO event, bringing together Student Leaders

 – RTSWS has relaunched its website and supporting Career Quiz 

 – Upcoming: Chat with Sallie Krawcheck CEO & Founder of Ellevest, on the key to financial & investment understanding; later in the month (more to come!)

RTSWS COO Ashley Leftwich highlights steps to expanding the talent pipeline with the power of mathematics and the Alumnae & Career Center:

  – Share the innovations of the Alumnae & Career Center at the recent PREA, Pension Real Estate Association’s Spring Conference

– Discuss benefits of Math, Access, and Community in recent radio interview

 – Spotlight RTSWS Alumnae Council, encouraging current RTSWS students to participate

The relaunched offering was tested by RTSWS Students in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland. In New York, students looked toward access and the benefits of bringing RTSWS Students together

“As we raise awareness during Financial Literacy Month, we are grateful to our sponsors and volunteers for helping our remarkable students and alumnae,” said Ashley Leftwich, RTSWS COO. “We know there is a long road ahead, so it’s great to reflect on our wins as we move forward together. This strategic grant from ING Americas helps RTSWS grow with our students and improve the young women’s experiences as they work hard to enter the workforce.”

Rock The Street, Wall Street is now in more than 60 high schools across 30 cities and has engaged more than 6,000 girls through its program. Completing the program, the young women’s financial and investment concepts improves by an average of 70%, and their pursuit of a finance, economics, or related degree is 5x higher than the national average. 73% of RTSWS students are from BIPOC populations, and 50% are from schools with free and reduced lunch. Rock The Street, Wall Street is a 501c3 and operates in the US, Toronto, and London.

About ING Americas

ING Americas is the brand name of ING’s wholesale business in the Americas region and a part of ING Group N.V., a global financial services company of Dutch origin with a network spanning the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam, Brussels, and the New York Stock Exchange.

About Rock The Street, Wall Street

RTSWS is an innovative nonprofit dedicated to bringing the world of finance to high school girls, providing financial and investment literacy before college and career selections are made. Founded by former Wall Street executive Maura Cunningham, RTSWS has expanded internationally to bring STEM to young women in more than 60 high schools across 25 cities in the US, London and Toronto. The programs leverage women leaders in the financial industry as volunteer instructors and coaches, and firms as sponsors, helping students see themselves in key roles, expanding their reach, and offering them the social capital and a flight path into STEM careers.

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