From:CarlP.Zeithaml Date:Monday,April29,20138:37AM To:AllUndergraduateStudents,AllGraduateStudents,FacultyandStaff Subject:CommentsonFriday'sSymposium DearMcIntireCommunity, AtourAnnualSpringSymposiumonFriday,ouralumni/facultypanelistshadaninterestingandspirited discussiononawiderangeofissues.Towardtheendoftheevent,oursecondpaneltookaquestion (actuallyseveralquestionssubmittedbytheaudienceraisedthesamepoint)regardingthe opportunitiesforwomeninthetrading/hedgefund/investingindustryandtheabsenceofwomenon thepanel.Inresponsetothisquestion,severalpanelistsofferedreasonsthatrelativelyfewwomenare foundamongtheranksofparticularlyolder,moreexperiencedtraders.Duringtheexchange,oneofour panelistsdiscussedhisopinionthattradersrequireextraordinaryfocusandcommitment,working many,manyhoursoftensevendaysperweek.

k.Citinghisviewthatmengoingthroughdivorceand womenstartingfamiliesoftenfinditdifficulttomaintainthisfocusand/ortheychoosetodevotetheir timetofamilyorotherpursuits,heofferedhisviewsonthedisproportionatenumberofmeninthe industry. Essentially,hesuggestedthatwomenintheindustrywhobecomemothersoftenoptoutofahigh intensitytradingcareer.Thepanelthendiscussedthatmanywomenandmothershaveverysuccessful careersinfinance,bringingavarietyofcriticalskillsandperspectivestotheirorganizationsandjobsthat arefundamentaltothehighperformanceofthesefirmsandeveryoneinthem.Thepanelistwhomade thepreviousremarksagreedwiththesecommentsaswell,andmanyofthealumniwomeninthe audienceonFridayareexcellentexamplesofthislatterpoint. AftertheSymposium,severalwomenraisedconcernsaboutboththesubstanceandframingofthe panelist'sremarks,andoneofouralumni(aformerCommerceCouncilPresident,hedgefund professional,andbusinessexecutive)askedmetoshareheropinionontheissuewithourcommunity.I amhappytodoso,andheropenletterisattachedbelow. Ireallyappreciatethatsheofferedthisperspectiveformetosharewithyou,asitisfarmorecompelling comingfromsomeonewhohasdealtwithandcontinuestodealwiththeissuesraisedbythequestion. OnbehalfoftheSchool,Iwanttoemphasizethateveryone,includingwomenandunderrepresented minorities,shouldenthusiasticallyandoptimisticallypursuethecareersinwhichtheyhaveaninterest andforwhichtheyhaveanaptitude.Inparticular,Istronglyencouragewomenwhowanttopursuea careerinindustriesorprofessionsthathavenottraditionallyincludedwomeninlargenumberstodoso. Youshouldneverbedissuadedbyafewstatisticsfrompursuingyourpassion.Severalweeksago,the SchoolhostedEllenKullman,CEOofDuPont,forasimilarevent,andshecertainlyrepresentsavery successfulbusinessprofessionalwhoachievedherpositionbecauseofherabilitiesandhardwork.Ona personalnote,Ihavetwodaughtersandadaughterinlawthathavehadorcontinuetohavevery successfulcareersinbusiness,includingasfinanceprofessionals.

Theworldhaschangedsincemanyofouralumnienteredtheirprofessions,andmanyofouryounger alumniarebothdrivingandarethebeneficiariesofthesechanges. Universitiesaregreatplacestodiscusschallengingissues,andIappreciatetheparticipationandcandid opinionsandobservationsfromourpanelistsonallissues,aswellasthepassionateengagementand responsesfromallmembersoftheMcIntirecommunity.Wecanalllearnfromtheseexchanges,andI hopethateachofyoufoundFriday'sdiscussioninformativeandinteresting.Iwishyouthebestaswe concludethesemesterandbeginfinals. DeanZeithaml AnopenlettertothewomenandMcIntireandUVa, IrecentlylistenedtotheperspectivesofonealumnusduringtheMcIntireSymposiumonFriday.Hewas askedtocommentonwhytherearesofewwomenintrading.Whilehiscommentslikelyreflectedhis experiences,Iamsaddenedtoknowthathundredsofyoungandeagertolearnstudentsheardhis feedbackandpotentiallytookhiscommentsasdestinyandreality. Puttingmyselfinthatseatfifteenyearsago,IknowIwouldhavebeendisappointedandpotentially convincedthatthebiggestcareerkillerforwomenishavingchildren.Andthatfinancewasn'tagood careerchoiceforme. Thereisarealitytowhathesaidlifeisn'teasy,lifeisaboutchoices,andsexismisaliveandwell.Career andfamilychoicesareespeciallyhard,whetheryou'reinfinance,technology,orconsulting.Butthey arejustthatchoices.Nopathisguaranteed,andyouchooseyourdestiny.Lifeishardlyperfect,butit istheretomakeyourownwithlotsofcareerandfamilychoicesavailabletoyou.Havingchildrenanda vibrantcareerisbeyondpossibleit'sreality.Eveninfinance. How?Iencourageyoutodotwothingsasyougraduateandstartyourcareerhopefullyinfinance. First,seekoutmentors.Onlythroughtalkingwiththosewhohavesimilarexperienceandhaveseenthe opportunitiesavailablecanyougettheencouragementandperspectiveyouneed.Ihavebeenblessed withmanymalementorswhohavepushedmetoaimhigherandthinkbiggerincludingmymentors whowerealsoonthepanelonFriday.ThisisthecandorIneeded,andIamforevergratefulfortheir encouragementtoseethatcareerandpersonalsuccessgohandinhand.Notallmeninfinancethink havingafamilyisacareerkillersomeevenencourageit. Second,don'toptout.SherylSandbergrecentlywroteawonderful,candidbooktitled"LeanIn"which discussessimilarsentiments.Oneofhermainmessagesisthattoomanyyoungwomenyouchoose nottopursueanambitiouscareerbecauseyouthinksomedaywon'tbepossiblewithafamily.Butthis isridiculous.Don'toptoutnowdon'tlistentothealumnus.You'retooyoungandyouhavenoidea wherelifewilllead.Ifyouchoosetoquityourjoboneday,letitbewhenthechoiceisuponyouand youhavetriedworkingandhavingafamilynottodaywhenyouhavenoideawhatispossible. Becauseeverydaymillionsofworkingmothersgotoworkinfinanceandloveit.Seekoutopportunities youwantnotwhatsocietytellsyouthatyoucanandcan'thave. Andafinalthought,therearemanypeoplewhoagreewiththealumnus'scomments.Whenyoucome acrossthosepeople,gotheotherway.Lifeishardenough.Youdon'tneednegativeperspectivesor

peoplewhotellyouwhatisnotpossibleinyourlife.Goaroundthemandthenprovethemwrong.Do well,andcomebacktotellthenextgenerationofwomenwhatispossible. Wishingyouaveryprosperousandfulfillingcareer,AmandaCOMM2001