Women Advisor Summit 2025: Empower, shape, define – InvestmentNews

Report on the Women Advisor Summit 2025: Fostering Leadership and Sustainable Growth
Event Overview and Strategic Objectives
- Event: Women Advisor Summit 2025
- Date: October 21, 2025
- Primary Objective: To provide a professional development platform for women in the wealth management sector, equipping them with strategies to navigate industry changes, grow their professional practice, and lead with purpose.
Alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The summit directly contributes to this goal by empowering women to assume leadership roles and expand their influence, addressing gender disparities within the financial industry.
- SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Sessions focused on building a sustainable business and scaling operations promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth by providing women advisors with tools for long-term success and resilience.
- SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By creating a dynamic community for female advisors and their allies, the event works to reduce inequalities within the financial sector, fostering a more inclusive and equitable professional environment.
- SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The summit acts as a critical partnership platform, uniting influential leaders, advisors, and industry stakeholders to share knowledge and collaborate on advancing gender equality and sustainable business practices.
Key Thematic Sessions
- Understanding the neuroscience of peak performance.
- Defining a professional niche to build a distinguished business.
- Strategies for scaling a practice sustainably to prevent burnout.
Featured Industry Leaders
- Patti Brennan, CEO, Key Financial
- Nancy Daoud, CEO, Ameriprise Financial Services
- Kay Lynn Mayhue, President, Merit Financial Advisors
- Liz Miller, Founder and President, Summit Place Financial Advisors
Concluding Ceremony: Women to Watch Awards
- The event will culminate in the Women to Watch Awards ceremony.
- This initiative recognizes and celebrates trailblazing women who are actively reshaping the future of wealth management, directly supporting the objectives of SDG 5 and SDG 10 by highlighting female leadership and success.
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 5: Gender Equality
- The article is about the “Women Advisor Summit,” an event specifically designed for “women in wealth management.” Its purpose is to help them “expand their influence, and lead with purpose,” directly addressing the empowerment of women in the economic sector. The event features “influential women in leadership” and concludes with the “Women to Watch Awards” for “trailblazing women,” all of which promote gender equality in a specific industry.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- The summit’s core mission is to equip women to “grow their practice” and “build a sustainable business.” This focus on business development, professional growth, and navigating a “rapidly changing industry” directly contributes to sustainable economic growth and the promotion of productive employment and decent work.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Under SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The article highlights this target by focusing on an event that helps women “lead with purpose” and “expand their influence.” It showcases female leaders like CEOs and Presidents (Patti Brennan, Nancy Daoud, etc.) and gives awards to “trailblazing women who are reshaping the future of the wealth management industry,” which directly aligns with promoting women’s leadership in economic life.
Under SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The article mentions that the industry is in a “constant state of flux” due to “the macro environment, client demands, and technology.” The summit aims to provide “practical tools and fresh strategies” to navigate these changes, which supports the goal of increasing productivity through adaptation and innovation.
- Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value. The summit’s objective to help women “grow their practice” and “build a standout business” directly supports the creation of productive employment. By empowering women in the high-value wealth management sector, it implicitly advocates for equal opportunity and value in the workplace.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Indicators for SDG 5, Target 5.5
- Implied Indicator (related to 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions): The article does not provide statistics but implies this indicator by featuring a list of female leaders (CEOs and Presidents) as speakers. The “Women to Watch Awards” also serve to recognize and quantify the number of “trailblazing women” in leadership roles, acting as a qualitative measure of progress. The number of attendees who hold or achieve leadership positions post-summit could be a direct measure.
Indicators for SDG 8, Targets 8.2 and 8.5
- Implied Indicator for Target 8.5: The article implies indicators such as the number and growth rate of women-led firms or practices in wealth management. The summit’s focus on helping attendees “grow their practice” and “build a standout business” suggests that an increase in the number and success of these businesses is a key outcome.
- Implied Indicator for Target 8.2: An implied indicator is the adoption of new business strategies and technologies by women advisors. The summit offers “actionable insight” and “fresh strategies” to deal with a “rapidly changing industry,” suggesting that progress could be measured by how effectively attendees implement these innovative tools to improve their business performance.
4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs | Targets | Indicators (Identified or Implied in the Article) |
---|---|---|
SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in economic life. | Implied: Proportion of women in leadership positions (CEOs, Presidents) within the wealth management industry, as highlighted by the list of speakers and awardees. |
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through innovation and technological upgrading. | Implied: Adoption rate of “fresh strategies” and “practical tools” by women advisors to navigate market and technology changes. |
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men. | Implied: Number and growth rate of women-led firms as a result of learning how to “grow their practice” and “build a sustainable business.” |
Source: investmentnews.com