“Wall Street is boom or bust -- they over-hire and then consolidate. The swings are more dramatic and more frequent than in other industries,” Newton says. “That drives women in their 30s to their 50s to want to stay relevant, and to continue to contribute in a meaningful way."
Also the industry is continuing to consolidate, leaving fewer positions for senior-level women to move into, Newton adds.
“Since our first forum in 2010, and continuing for the next several years, many prominent, senior-level women left the Street. Their very visible departures, coupled with the 2008 recession, seemed to rock the outlook for other women looking to reach the highest levels,” she adds
However, the women who participated in the 2016 forum showed less pessimism than might be expected. “Rather, participants exhibited confidence, cautious optimism and a clear willingness to reinvent themselves to move ahead,” says Newton. "My focus is to help these women navigate the headwinds and tailwinds on Wall Street and to stay both emotionally and financially secure.”