The world of finance may have been traditionally dominated by men, but there have been many exceptional women traders throughout history who have made their mark on the industry. These trailblazers have broken down barriers, cracked the glass ceiling, and, paved the way for other women to succeed. From the pioneering efforts of Muriel Siebert, the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, to modern-day traders & investors like Kathy Lien and Ann Miura-Ko, these women have played an important role in shaping the financial markets.
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Let’s take a closer look at some of the best female stock traders of all time and explore what makes them so remarkable.
Muriel Siebert
Muriel Siebert, was a pioneer in the world of finance. Also known as the “First Lady of Wall Street,” Muriel “Mickie” Siebert was a legendary stock trader and businesswoman. In 1967, she was the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Alongside 1,365 men sat Siebert, on a trading floor so male-dominated that it didn’t even come equipped with a women’s restroom. After 20 years of waiting for a woman’s bathroom, Siebert threatened to install a porta-potty on the trading floor, triggering the NYSE to finally install one.
Siebert quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of the most successful traders of her time. Siebert went on to found her own brokerage firm, Muriel Siebert & Co, and she would later become the first woman to serve as superintendent of banking for the state of New York.
Siebert was a trailblazer for women in finance, breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations of female investors and traders. She spent most of her riches championing causes that promoted financial literacy for women and funding women-owned businesses, as well as supporting animal-welfare charities. She passed away in 2013 at the age of 84, but her legacy continues to inspire and motivate women in the financial industry to this day.
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Cathie Wood
Cathie Wood is a highly regarded stock trader and investment manager who has gained widespread recognition for her bold investment strategies and successful track record in the world of finance. She is the founder and CEO of ARK Invest, an investment management firm that focuses on investing in disruptive technologies and innovative companies. A polarizing figure, seen by some as a stock-picking genius, and by others as a herald of high-valuation names, Cathie has solidified her place in stock market history.
In one of Cathie’s most well-known investments, Wood bought 275,000 shares of Tesla in 2016, for an average closing price of $13.14 per share. By Q3 of 2018, with Tesla trading near $20 per share, Cathie had increased her stockpile to more than 11 million Tesla shares. Despite incurring plenty of volatility along the way, Tesla has risen 9X to roughly $180 per share at the time of writing – and Cathie Wood has actively traded it the whole time.
Wood is known for her deep knowledge and expertise in the field of technology and her willingness to take bold investment positions in emerging technologies and industries. Synonymous with the growth trade, she has a reputation for being a long-term investor who is not afraid to take risks, and her investment philosophy is based on the belief that disruptive innovation will be the primary driver of economic growth and investment returns in the future.
Over the years, Wood has become a legend in the world of finance, with many investors and analysts following her every move and looking to her for guidance on where to invest their money. She has been recognized by numerous publications and organizations for her contributions to the finance industry, and she has also become a regular fixture in the media, frequently appearing on television and in print to share her insights and opinions on the latest market trends and investment opportunities.
Linda Bradford Raschke
Linda Bradford Raschke is a renowned stock trader and author who has made a name for herself in the world of finance with her expertise in technical analysis and her successful track record in the markets. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, Raschke is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished traders of her generation.
Born in Pittsburgh in 1959, Raschke grew up with a love for mathematics and a fascination with the stock market. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in political science, she began her career on the trading floor of the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange in San Francisco in 1981.
Raschke quickly gained a reputation as a skilled trader and rose through the ranks to become a floor trader and then a member of the Pacific Stock Exchange’s board of governors. In 1987, she founded LBR Group, a trading firm that specializes in short-term trading strategies.
Over the years, Raschke has gained widespread recognition for her technical analysis skills and her ability to identify profitable trading opportunities in even the most volatile markets. She has authored several books on trading, including “Street Smarts: High Probability Short-Term Trading Strategies” and “The Complete Guide to Technical Analysis for Short-Term Trading.”
Raschke’s success as a trader has earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of the top 10 female traders of all time by “Trader Monthly” magazine. She has also been featured in numerous publications, including “The Wall Street Journal” and “Barron’s,” and has been a regular guest on financial news programs such as CNBC and Bloomberg.
Kathy Lien
Kathy Lien is widely regarded as one of the most successful female stock traders in the industry. She has over 20 years of experience trading currencies and is a well-respected analyst and strategist. Lien is the managing director of FX Strategy at BK Asset Management, a leading provider of forex news and analysis. She is also a frequent contributor to Bloomberg, CNBC, and Reuters, and has authored several best-selling books including, “Day Trading and Swing Trading the Currency Market: Technical and Fundamental Strategies to Profit from Market Moves. ”
Lien’s expertise lies in her ability to identify market trends and anticipate economic events that can impact currency movements. She is known for her in-depth analysis of global economic data and her ability to communicate complex concepts in a way that is accessible to traders of all levels. Lien’s trading strategies are grounded in technical analysis, but she also incorporates fundamental analysis into her approach.
In addition to her success as a trader and analyst, Lien is also a trailblazer for women in the industry. She is a vocal advocate for gender diversity and has been recognized for her efforts to promote women in finance. Lien has also served as a mentor to many aspiring traders, particularly women, and is an inspiration to those seeking to break into the male-dominated world of finance.
Ann Miura-Ko
Ann Miura-Ko is a co-founder and partner at Floodgate Capital, where she has built a reputation as a top investor in the tech industry. Ann has made a name for herself due to her prolific early investments in burgeoning businesses. Her portfolio includes successful investments in Lyft, Refinery29, and Bolt Financial, among others.
In one of Ann’s most incredible investments, she staked $1.2 million dollars on Lyft when it was in its earliest development stages, and then saw a remarkable 10,000x return on her investment following Lyft’s debut on the public market (which earned it a hefty valuation of $24 billion). In another instance, Ann was an early investor in Refinery29, which turned out to be a smart move – Refinery29 would soon be acquired by Vice Media for $400 million dollars.
She is also a board member at Yale University and serves as a co-director of a tech leadership fellowship at Stanford, where she earned her PhD in computer security. In addition to being named to Barron’s 100 Women Shaping the World of US Finance list, Miura-Ko is a member of All Raise, an organization focused on promoting diversity in asset management. Ann is still at it, making waves with her early investments in StarkWare, a blockchain startup which has now reached a valuation of $8 billion dollars.
The Bottom Line
These women have shown that gender is no barrier to success in the world of finance. They have broken through the glass ceiling and have made significant contributions to the industry. From pioneers like Muriel Siebert to modern-day traders like Cathie Wood, these women have proven that hard work, discipline, and expertise can lead to success in any field. Their stories inspire us all to pursue our dreams and never give up no matter what obstacles stand before us.
