In recognition of Women’s History Month (March 1-31), Better Markets is honoring women leaders who work at our financial regulatory agencies and in Congress for their contributions to build a stronger, more equitable economic and financial system for all Americans, especially those from underserved communities.
Below are just a few names of the women who are making history through their leadership and vision to make sure that the financial system serves society and protects Main Street workers, consumers, investors, families, businesses and community banks.
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House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, an inspiring, fearless and outspoken advocate for justice, equality, women, children, people of color and the poor. We have been honored to work with Chair Waters over the years, including most recently on the Committee’s GameStop hearings and she was a speaker at Better Market’s recent virtual conference on the 10-year anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Act.
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Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a relentless fighter for structural change that would transform our economy, rebuild the middle class, and dramatically reduce inequality. We have been honored to work with Sen. Warren for many years, including as a keynote speaker at the 5th anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers and also as a keynote speaker at Better Markets’ virtual conference celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Dodd-Frank.
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Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the first woman in the history of the U.S. Department of the Treasury to hold the position. She is also the first woman to have held each of the top economic positions in federal government, having served as chair of the Federal Reserve and chair of the Council of Economic Advisers. We have also enjoyed working with her, including on a recent panel on Dodd-Frank reining in systemic risk.
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Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard is an American economist who previously served as Undersecretary of the Treasury for International Affairs and has served on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors since 2014, where she has been a stalwart leader for sensible financial regulation and stood up against mindless deregulation of county’s biggest and most dangerous banks over the last four years.
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Acting Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission Allison Herren Lee, appointed to the SEC by former President Trump and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. President Biden recently named her Acting Chair and, wasting no time, she has pushed for greater enforcement by restoring investigative authority to the SEC’s professional staff and has become a leader on climate related regulatory issues.
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Former FDIC Chair Sheila Bair, a bold, independent and courageous leader during the 2008 financial crisis. She has been named twice by Forbes Magazine as the second most powerful woman in the world. She also was a speaker at Better Market’s virtual conference on the 10-year anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Act.
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Former Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Sarah Bloom Raskin who made history when named to that position, becoming the highest-ranking woman in the department’s history, after serving as a Governor of the Federal Reserve. She also was a speaker at Better Market’s virtual conference on the 10-year anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Act.
