By Jules Lewis Gibson
GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com | 43
WOMEN IN FINANCE
he financial industry has long been an old-boys-club. Few women in past decades
were able to break the glass ceiling towering over Wall Street, but it's a different
story these days. Recent studies show that women-led venture capitol groups on
average show higher returns than ones lead by men, motivating investors to give the
ladies a closer look. And, with women predicted to control 65% of the wealth in the
United States by 2020, financial firms recognize the importance of having more female
advisors on their team.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with three of the most respected women
in various sectors of the Greater Tampa Bay financial industry. Susan Blackburn,
president of Freedom Bank, redefines our image of a bank president with her affable
and unassuming demeanor, while Aimee Cogan of Morgan Stanley— Sarasota displays
a calm confidence and grace befitting her standing as one of the highest ranking wealth
advisors in the country. Rounding out our impressive trio, Agnes Lee, managing director
of media & entertainment at the CEA Group, has successfully combined her legal skills
and negotiating acumen to become a formidable motion picture financier far from
the hills of Hollywood. Each of these ladies remain unequivocally feminine and true to
themselves, debunking the idea that finance is a man's world.
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