CAIA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative

To best serve the alternative investments industry, we seek both an acute understanding of its evolving demographics and the opportunity to ensure all perspectives are represented.

Amplifying Voices and Impact

Many financial service companies today are making progress to attract, recruit, retain, and promote more women. Research clearly shows that diversity matters to the bottom line and can impact  greater innovation and higher productivity. 

With our Members working across all alternative investment sectors and many holding senior-level roles, CAIA has a unique opportunity to contribute its voice, amplify impact, and influence change across the industry.

Hearing from Women Executives

  • Gender Diversity Advisory Committee:  In 2018, CAIA formed a Gender Diversity Advisory Committee, comprised of senior-level women in the industry. Their perspectives as seasoned professionals and experience working on diversity issues locally and regionally inform and help shape CAIA’s ongoing initiatives.
  • Diversity at the podium and within Chapter Leadership Committees: We are committed to “walking the walk” by ensuring each CAIA Chapter includes women on their executive committees, which provides greater access to strong peer networks and supports our goal of having women represented at the podium and on panels at every CAIA event. 100 Women in Finance offers an excellent resource for women speakers here.
  • Amplifying the Voices of Women Executives: With so few women at the top, it’s difficult for early-career women to find role models or potential paths to executive level leadership. This Way Up is an interview series offering a window into the corner office of women who have made it to c-suite in our industry. Our conversations look at the professional lives and personal aspirations of extraordinary women who offer their candid thoughts, indispensable advice, and sometimes unexpected insights to those just starting out.
  • Next Generation Efforts: There are many organizations and company-sponsored initiatives underway dedicated to increasing the number of women in finance and specifically in leadership roles. CAIA is partnering with like-minded organizations, such as 100 Women in Finance, to provide greater access to the CAIA programs through scholarship opportunities. We also partner with organizations, such as Women’s Association of Venture and Equity (WAVE), that are dedicated to the advancement of women in the industry.   

 

 

 

This way up - A CAIA Interview Series
Gender Parity in the Age of COVID-19
In this one-hour discussion, Deborah McLean, CAIA's Managing Director of Global Relations, talks with three heads of organizations each taking the lead on closing the gap in both interest and success in the financial fields for women and girls. Has the current pandemic changed the dynamics enabling women to be more effective workers, leaders, and mentors? How can we capitalize on remote work – increasing exposure of young women and girls to finance and providing leadership training that may play to women’s strengths? Amanda Pullinger, CEO, 100 Women in Finance, Janet Cowell, CEO, Girls Who Invest, and Lindsay Burton, Founder & President, Kayo Conference Series off their insights – you are sure to come away energized and with a new perspective on what could be. https://caia.org/videos/gender-parity-age-covid-19
Conversation with Christina Qi, CAIA, CEO Domeyard Fund (Part 1)
Named Forbes 30 under 30, a member of the World Economic Forum, and founder of a high frequency trading hedge fund launched from her MIT dorm room, Christina Qi, CAIA, opens up about her career, facing set-backs, insecurities, and adversity head on, and what propels her forward even on days when she admittedly “would rather be watching Netflix.” Part 1 of 2.
Conversation with Christina Qi, CAIA, CEO Domeyard Fund (Part 2)
Part 2 of our 2-part conversation with Christina Qi, CAIA, Founding Partner of Domeyard Fund, Debbie McLean, Managing Director of CAIA's Global Relations learns more about Christina's path from an internationally-trained pianist to starting one of the most successful hedge funds.
Careers for Women in Alternative Investments: Opportunities/Challenges
CAIA New York, Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, and 100 Women in Finance partnered to present a panel discussing the opportunities, challenges, and strategies for a successful career in asset management for women.Over 50 students, new and seasoned professionals gathered to network and hear from women who shared their strategies for success.