Avenger of the Week | Sharon Bowen

What does it mean to be a trailblazer? When we think about women trailblazers, we often think about those who forge their path or make a new way for women or people with similar identities. Trailblazers not only inspire us, but they create opportunities for others where there was no path before.

In December of 2021, Sharon Bowen made history as the first Black woman Board Chair of The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the world’s largest equities exchange. The NYSE is owned and operated by International Exchange Inc. (ICE) and has made inroads in gender equity with female presidents at the helm in the past. This is huge considering Deloitte’s report that women accounted for just under 22% of leadership roles in 2019. If we continue this trend, the financial services industry may not reach gender equity in leadership roles until 2085. Bowen’s appointment as NYSE Board Chair is just one more step in the right direction for women’s leadership in the financial sector. 

This isn’t the first time Bowen has been a pioneer. In 2014, she became the first African American to be appointed Commissioner of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission under former President Barack Obama. Sharon holds degrees in economics, business administration, and law and is using her experiences to make space for other up-and-coming Black professionals. Understanding that law school tuition is a barrier to entry for many people, Sharon joined fellow Northwestern Law School alumni to set up the African American History and Culture Endowed Scholarship. The hope is to recruit and diversify the student body “and foster an inclusive and socially engaged academic community.”

For fearlessly forging new paths, remembering her roots, and preparing the frontier for future leaders, Sharon Bowen is our Avenger of the Week.

🔥Trailblazers not only inspire us, but they create opportunities for others where there was no path before. This week Sharon Bowen, the first Black woman Board Chair of The NYSE, is our #GenderAvenger #AvengerOfTheWeek.