On May 13th, join GYL for a special live webinar featuring two trailblazing women that have helped shape the investment world: Rajini Kodialam, Co-Founder & COO of Focus Financial Partners, and Michelle Clayman, CFA, Founder, Managing Partner & CIO of New Amsterdam Partners LLC.
This one-hour roundtable will be hosted by Melissa Ciotoli, CFP®, CDFA™, and is a unique opportunity to hear directly from two innovative leaders of the investment space. Michelle and Rajini will be discussing key points from their careers along with sharing advice and mindsets that have helped them during their respective professional journeys. Additionally, they will be discussing the topic of “doing good by doing well” and share how their success has enabled them to support organizations working to empower the next generation of business leaders.
This event is open to everyone but will be particularly impactful for women with an interest in capital markets, entrepreneurship, leadership, or business ownership. We hope you can join us.
Register for this webinar:
Meet the Presenters
Michelle Clayman, CFA
Throughout her career, Michelle Clayman, CFA (Founder, Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer of New Amsterdam Partners LLC) has committed herself to empowering women, not just in finance but in all walks of life. The contributions Michelle has made to the advancement of gender equality have been significant — so significant, in fact, that she is the namesake of the Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University, which was founded to inspire innovative solutions that advance gender equality. Michelle is also an active volunteer in her community, where she serves on the Board of the Girl Scouts of Greater New York and co-leads a virtual troop of high-school girls in the Bronx and Brooklyn.
After founding New Amsterdam Partners in 1986, Michelle grew the firm to over $3 billion in assets under management and has since gone on to become one of the most influential women in finance. Michelle has been published in the Financial Analysts Journal, the Journal of Investing and NYSSA Financial Professionals’ Post, and is a frequent commentator on Bloomberg and other financial media. In addition, Michelle sits on the Boards of the Society of Quantitative Analysts (of which she is a past President), and The Institute for Quantitative Research in Finance, and is a volunteer for the CFA Institute. Michelle also co-authored the 2016 paper “A Practical Guide for ESG Integration for Equity Investing” by Principles of Responsible Investing (PRI), a United Nations-supported network of institutional investors.
Michelle holds a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University, England (MA (Oxon)), and an MBA from Stanford University. Michelle has given back to her alma mater, serving as a member of Stanford University’s Board of Trustees, as Chair of the Advisory Council for the Institute for Gender Research, and on the Dean’s Council at the Graduate School of Business; Michelle also serves on the Dean’s Council at the Harvard Divinity School. In 2008, she was the first woman to receive Stanford Business School’s Excellence in Leadership Award and in 2010, she was awarded a National Council for Research on Women (NCRW) “Making a Difference for Women” award.
Rajini Kodialam
Focus Financial Partners Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer (COO) Rajini Kodialam believes there is a need for advisers who are able to effectively serve a diverse group of clients, and throughout her career, Rajini has worked to make that goal a reality and pave the way for greater female representation in finance. Rajini serves on the Impact Committee for 100 Women in Finance, an organization aimed at empowering and encouraging more women to enter the financial services industry. Rajini is also a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), where she has served on the executive committees for the organization’s Financial Services Network and the Women’s Network. In addition, Rajini works with programs in India that help provide better nutrition for children and vocational training for students.
Rajini is a practice management expert with proficiency in organizational structure and effectiveness and talent management. As Focus Financial’s COO, Rajini is responsible for identifying high-quality wealth management firms to join the partnership. Rajini is also focused on wealthtech, using data to create the personalized and human-enhanced customer experience clients deserve. Rajini currently serves on the Fidelity RIA Advisory Council, and in 2020 she was recognized Crain’s New York’s list of “Notable Women In Financial Advice.” Rajini serves on the board of Focus as well as Smart Asset, a Y-Combinator fintech firm.
Prior to co-founding Focus, Rajini worked at American Express where she managed interactive services for the U.S. Consumer Card and Travel businesses. Prior to joining American Express, Rajini was with McKinsey & Company, which she credits with sparking the interest in fintech and wealthtech that drives her today. Rajini holds an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York, a PGDM from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and a BA from Delhi University, India. Rajini lives in New Jersey with her husband and two sons. She is an avid gardener, likes to cook and aspires to write a sci-fi novel someday.
Melissa Ciotoli, CFP®, CDFA™
Melissa Ciotoli, CFP®, CDFA™ is a Senior Wealth Advisor at GYL Financial Synergies. Melissa joined the firm in 2017, and she works closely with clients to help them achieve their financial goals, advising on asset allocation, investment management and financial planning. Melissa specializes in helping women navigate difficult transitional periods in their lives, working with clients who need advice before, during, and after divorce, as well as helping clients navigate the transition from working to retirement.
Melissa brings over 20 years’ experience in financial services gained from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Price Financial Group and Barnum Wealth Management. She holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation. Melissa earned a BS in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Lower Fairfield County and volunteers with the CT Money School. A resident of Norwalk, CT, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family, singing with local bands, working out, and trying to learn golf.