What do you think is the most important attribute that enables a woman to successfully lead a community that supports
women in STEM?

She has to believe in herself: to understand that even though she might fail at something, there is always a message in the mess, and to know that her job is always to read and understand that message.

What do you aspire to accomplish in your career and why?

I aspire to make a difference in the lives of women financially and intellectually. I believe that if you can reach the woman, you will propel the home. Our families and society would be much further ahead if women were both empowered and awarded equal access.

How has AWIS helped you professionally and/or personally?

AWIS has renewed my hope and determination to excel personally and professionally. There is a sense of empowerment, knowing that an entire organization of women has been formed with the goal to see me succeed in STEM. I have been encouraged, comforted, and counseled during my professional journey as an AWIS member, and if I haven’t said it before, thank you so much for the passionate and relentless support.

Karene Richards, CFA, is a capital markets quantitative expert and women’s advocate with over 14 years’ experience in the investment banking industry. Ms. Richards most notably built the first carbon finance model for the World Bank in addition to a mortgage backed security model that generated $25M for Route 66 Ventures. She received a Master of Financial Mathematics and Statistics from Columbia University and Bachelor in Electrical Engineering from Howard University. She is a member of Women in Housing and Finance and has been an AWIS benefactor since 2016. She was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation from the CFA Institute.