Essi Sadeghi, CFA®
Director, Investment Solutions, T. Rowe Price
How important is it for you to be a role model for the upcoming generations of women in the retirement industry? I view being a role model as necessary and hugely important. I, as an experienced and successful woman in business, have an obligation to give back and support upcoming less experienced professional women. I can hopefully provide guidance on navigating a complex industry, opportunities through creating networks, and facilitating introductions for any women I have the privilege of mentoring. In a way, that sets a precedent for how those women will subsequently give back as they advance through their own careers.
What changes do you hope to see for women in the retirement industry in the next 5 –10 years? Clearly, I would like to see improvements for pay equity for women, not to mention increased gender diversity in company hiring practices, particularly in a still heavily male-dominated industry. I would also be excited to see more women taking the initiative and courage to build organizations that support and provide employment opportunities for women who have gone through certain life events – women returning to the workplace after an absence, due to illness, raising a family, divorce, lay off, etc. – and which have a dual focus on the financial needs of women, particularly given the growing concentration of wealth with women.
How did you find out about WIPN? I found out about WIPN from a friend who is the current President of WIPN, Jen Mulrooney. Jen reached out to me to tell me that WIPN was changing its name and charter to be an inclusive space for all women (and for those WIPN members that don’t know me, I am a trans female and woman) and I decided to join.
How has WIPN had an impact on you and your career? This is a good question. I think honestly WIPN was a huge influence in my ability to manage through my transition with ease and confidence, as it gave me strength to know there were safe spaces and support networks for a woman such as myself. Obviously, in a political environment where we have observed increased polarization of political views and anti-trans rhetoric recently, this matters. It also gave me a chance to reconnect with old friends (I reconnected with Daniella Moseyev through this organization and caught up with Jen again at a recent NJ WIPN event), and make new ones and connections along the way.
What has been most important to your career so far – a mentor, a sponsor or both? For me, having strong mentors in my professional career has been hugely influential as it has helped guide my self-awareness, my professional growth, and obviously opened up opportunities for me as I have navigated my career journey over the last three decades.
Ellen D. Shiery, CFP®, CDFA®
Wealth Management Advisor
Global Institutional Consulting
How did you find out about WIPN? I had seen WIPN posts on LinkedIn for a couple of years and was encouraged to join by WIPN member Denise D’Antuono. As a perennial ‘joiner,’ I was sold on the opportunity to connect with fellow women professionals in the retirement space.
How has WIPN had an impact on you and your career? I’ve only been a member of WIPN for a year but I’ve already met a number of great women. At our summer networking event last year, I met a fellow member for the first time who turned out to be a friend of a friend. It’s a small world and I’m always appreciative when it gets a little smaller!
What changes do you hope to see for women in the retirement industry in the next 5 –10 years? In a word – More. I hope to see more women in positions of power and more women leading conversations in the retirement industry.
How important is it for you to be a role model for the upcoming generations of women in the retirement industry? No matter what part of the retirement industry a woman is in, seeing other women in roles that they aspire to is essential. You’ve got to see it to be it. My career path has been far from a straight line and it could certainly zig or zag a few more times. I hope that younger women see that as inspirational, and I hope that I’m both setting a good example for them and helping to create opportunities for them to come through the door behind me.
What has been most important to your career so far – a mentor, a sponsor or both? While I can name a number of women who have held doors open for me, I’ve learned far more in my career from making my own mistakes than from asking for or taking and acting on advice. As a matter of fact, someday I plan to write a book titled, “That Won’t Work, I Wouldn’t Do That If I Were You, That’s a Waste of Time and Other Bad Advice.” Having a good network is, to me, far more valuable than a mentor or a sponsor.
