More than 450 senior figures from across the global finance sector gathered at Cipriani 42nd Street on 5 November for the 24th Annual New York Gala hosted by 100 Women in Finance (100WF). The event raised $1 million to advance the non-profit’s mission of supporting women across all stages of their financial careers.
The evening paid tribute to MFA Board Chair Jody Gunderson, Managing Principal at AB CarVal, who received the 2025 Americas Industry Leadership Award. The award recognised her outstanding leadership and dedication to improving gender representation within the finance industry.
“It just shows what a combination of opportunity, support, risk-taking, and tenacity can do over time — and how powerful it is when organizations like 100 Women in Finance invest in helping people grow,” said Jody Gunderson.
Hosted by CNBC’s Leslie Picker, the evening featured speeches from Kristin Mott, Founder and Managing Partner of Amberlake Capital; Rehana Farrell, CEO of 100 Women in Finance; Kellan Brown, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Development Officer of 100 Women in Finance; Anastasiia Klimova, 2026 100WF Committee Chair for the LaunchMe Mentorship Program; and Heather Wyckoff, Partner at Alston & Bird LLP. The event celebrated the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and the shared achievements of the 100WF community.
100 Women in Finance is a global non-profit organisation with more than 10,000 members across 33 cities. It aims to build a more inclusive finance industry through professional development, education, mentorship, and community initiatives helping women progress and thrive in leadership roles.
The organisation expressed gratitude to its 2025 New York Gala sponsors and partners whose support made the evening possible. Among them were AB CarVal, Citadel Securities, D.E. Shaw & Co., Moore Capital Management LP, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Two Sigma, Balyasny, Blackstone, Blue Owl, CIBC, Deltroit Asset Management, Hudson River Trading, McDermott Will & Schulte LLP, Northern Trust, Point72, Renaissance Technologies LLC, RockCreek, Ropes & Gray, Tower Research Capital LLC, Walleye Capital, BDO, 400 Capital Management, Carbon Arc, Citco, Franklin Templeton, Morgan Lewis, Alston & Bird LLP, LifeHikes, and M.M.LaFleur.
“This event marks a new beginning as we work to change the game for women in finance—fostering open conversations about barriers and how each of us can be more aware and inclusive,” said Rehana Farrell, CEO of 100 Women in Finance. “Our mission has always been about creating opportunity, connection, and visibility for women in finance—and the Gala is a powerful reflection of that shared purpose.”
“The energy and generosity in the room were extraordinary,” added Kellan Brown, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Development Officer of 100 Women in Finance. “Every contribution helps expand our mentorship programs, elevate more women into leadership roles, and ensure the future of finance reflects the diversity of talent within it.”
As 100 Women in Finance approaches its 25th anniversary in 2026, the success of this year’s Gala paves the way for a milestone year, celebrating progress, collaboration, and a shared vision of equity and opportunity for women in finance worldwide.
