Rock The Street Wall Street (RTSWS) proudly celebrates Women’s History Month with a series of impactful events spanning more than 30 cities across the US, Canada and the UK. Throughout March, RTSWS is connecting students, alumnae and industry leaders with both its Founder and its CEO through keynotes, panels, mentorship, and networking, reinforcing its mission to bring the M in STEM to life through financial and investment mathematics for young women.

Rock The Street Wall Street is collaborating with Citadel and Citadel Securities for an International Women’s Day event in New York, giving high school students and alumnae a front-row seat to careers in finance. RTSWS CEO Ashley Leftwich will moderate a panel featuring Citadel’s Emily Yan and Bhavya Kethireddipalli, along with Citadel Securities’ Melody Wen, who will share insights on careers in investment management, trading, and quantitative finance. The event will also include small-group networking with Citadel professionals from both firms, offering students valuable industry access and background insight.

Another featured event is the Inaugural RTSWS Woman of the Year Luncheon, honoring Founder Maura Cunningham for her leadership in advancing financial and investment literacy for over 7,500 young women. Set for March 27 in Nashville, Tennessee, the event will be co-chaired by Ashley Leftwich and Keri McInnis, SVP at Pinnacle Financial Partners, the event’s presenting sponsor. 

“Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate progress and drive continued action,” said Ashley Leftwich, CEO of Rock The Street Wall Street. “It’s an opportunity to expand access for young women in finance while reinforcing our commitment to creating more pathways in the industry. From our visionary Founder to our dedicated sponsors, volunteers and students, we are proud of this work and grateful to those who help open doors for the next generation of women in the capital markets.”

Beyond these milestone events, RTSWS expands its offerings to serve young women entering the industry:

> RTSWS established its West Coast Advisory Council, expanding opportunities in key financial hubs with regional leaders.

> Alumnae & Career Center increases Open Role Opportunities and virtual programming, including recent sessions for RTSWS students such as, Crafting Your Resume for University & Career Success as well as Career Insights: Exploring Paths for University and Beyond.

> The Executive Sponsor & Volunteer Gallery launches this month, highlighting industry leaders and their impact on RTSWS students, with featured spotlights including Kristie Feinberg, President & CEO, Manulife John Hancock Investments, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management.

RTSWS invites you to help expand access for young women and celebrate Women’s History Month in a meaningful way.

Click to register for the RTSWS Woman of the Year Luncheon

Click to support RTSWS programs

Supporters can post open roles to the RTSWS Alumnae & Career Center

About Rock The Street Wall Street

Rock The Street Wall Street (RTSWS) empowers high school girls and university women by bringing the M in STEM to life through Financial & Investment fundamentals. Providing industry access, mentorship and career guidance to support students and alumnae on their journey from classrooms to careers, RTSWS fosters expanded participation in the capital markets.

The 2024 RTSWS Annual Report has been recently released, showcasing the organization’s growth and industry collaborations. Each year more than 1,000 RTSWS students enter the workforce through internships and early-career roles, many of which are sourced through the RTSWS Career Center. Alumnae demonstrate a 70% increase in Financial & Investment literacy and RTSWS students pursue finance, economics and related degrees at five times the national rate for female students, driving a more inclusive and dynamic future across the industry.

Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS) proudly announces the relaunch of its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting a transformative year of leadership transitions, program expansion, and a steadfast commitment to empowering young women through financial and investment literacy.

The 2024 Annual Report celebrates significant milestones, including the appointment of Ashley Leftwich as RTSWS’ CEO. A seasoned leader and lifelong advocate for mathematics, Ashley brings a unique perspective shaped by her personal experiences. 

“My deep affinity for math has shaped my career and leadership,” Ms. Leftwich shared. “Early on, I recognized the transformative power of mathematics—as a subject as well as a tool to open doors, solve problems, and create opportunities. At RTSWS, we are dedicated to sharing that power with young women, equipping them with the understanding and access to excel across finance. This year, reaching over 7,000 students highlights the incredible impact we’re making together with our sponsors and volunteers.”

Maura Cunningham, RTSWS Founder and Executive Chair, reflected on the organization’s origins: 

“As a Wall Street veteran, I witnessed firsthand the stark gender gap in leadership and knew the importance of creating opportunities for young women to imagine themselves in those positions. Engaging with these ambitious high school girls in dynamic, financial professional led cohorts helps them understand the strength of investing and the power of math.”

Anders Hall, Chair of the RTSWS Board and Vice Chancellor for Investments and Chief Investment Officer at Vanderbilt University, commended the organization’s progress: 

“Rock The Street Wall Street has positively impacted thousands of families by equipping young women with the skills and opportunities to enter the financial industry. Under Ashley’s leadership, we look forward to empowering even more young women to flourish in the financial sector, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable workforce.”

The 2024 Annual Report highlights key accomplishments, including:

• Expansion to over 60 high schools across more than 30 cities, including new locations in Canada and the UK.
• The launch of the reimagined Alumnae & Career Center, connecting high school and university students with university guidance, internships, job shadowing, and early career opportunities.
• Signature events like the Student CEO Summit in NY; Empowering Secondary School Girls with Financial & Investment Literacy in London; and Toronto Stock Exchange Market Close and Industry Panel, Driving Inclusion Across the Industry

As RTSWS looks to the future, the organization remains steadfast in its mission to transform lives through financial education, foster inclusion, and create opportunities for young women in the financial industry.

The RTSWS 2024 Annual Report is available now.

During National Mentoring Month, Rock The Street Wall Street proudly announces its inaugural Woman of the Year Luncheon. This special event will honor visionary founder Maura Cunningham taking place during Women’s Month on March 27, 2025, in Nashville.

RTSWS Founder & Executive Chair Maura Cunningham commented:

When I founded Rock The Street, Wall Street 13 years ago, my vision was clear: To see more women in leading roles within the financial industry and to ensure they have a seat at the table in corporate boardrooms. I wanted to create opportunities that empower young women to pursue careers in finance, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and networks needed to break barriers and drive meaningful change in the industry.

 

As a Wall Street veteran, I witnessed firsthand the stark gender gap in leadership and knew the importance of creating opportunities for young women to imagine themselves in those positions. Empowering high school girls through participatory, hands-on financial projects led by female financial professionals — introducing them early to the math behind investing—has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. All too often, we hear from our volunteers and academic partners that they, too, wish they had access to such opportunities and networks during their own high school education.

The RTSWS Woman of the Year Luncheon is co-chaired by Ashley Leftwich, RTSWS CEO, and Keri McInnis, SVP at Pinnacle Financial Partners and a member of the Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees. Pinnacle Financial Partners serves as the presenting sponsor, demonstrating its commitment to community engagement and financial education.

RTSWS also recognizes its dedicated volunteers and talented students who participate in programs across more than 30 cities in the US, as well as in Toronto and London. Mentoring Month highlights the critical role our female mentors play in inspiring young women to explore careers across the financial arena. Through mentorship and guidance, RTSWS students gain access and tools to pursue opportunities from high school and university to internships, job shadows, as well as early professional roles through the RTSWS Alumnae & Career Center. 

“This inaugural event celebrates the transformative impact of Maura Cunningham’s vision and her enduring legacy in empowering young women,” said Ashley Leftwich, RTSWS CEO. “Maura’s leadership established a strong foundation, allowing us to advance alongside our high school and university students as they pursue degrees, internships, and early professional roles. Together, we are cultivating a pipeline of motivated talent prepared to excel across the financial industry.”

The RTSWS Woman of the Year Luncheon will bring together industry leaders, sponsors, and supporters to celebrate Maura Cunningham’s contributions and the organization’s ongoing impact. Looking ahead, RTSWS plans to rotate the Woman of the Year event across its cities.