|
Brandy Patterson FWIT 2025-2026 Association President It is an absolute honor to serve as your 2025-2026 FWIT Association President, something I never imagined for myself. I still hear Jess Eckstrom’s words from our Longview conference: “Why not you?” That question has stuck with me ever since. I’ve had the privilege of watching those who lead before me in this position. These women have been trailblazers, mentors, and advocates. Their collective efforts have strengthened our community, expanded our reach, and inspired us to thrive in this world of finance. Throughout the past year, I’ve reflected deeply on our theme. Change can be difficult, especially when things are working well. But our mission remains: Helping Women Succeed. We exist to bring women in finance together; to exchange ideas, experiences, and interests. We also exist to advance the careers and professions of our members. Under Jessica Lovell’s leadership, we’ve seen tremendous growth in professional development, student membership, and the launch of our mentorship program. So, what does it truly mean to help women succeed? I believe it’s time to REALIGN with the vision our founders had when FWIT was formed. It’s time to REDEFINE success—not just in words, but in action. That means:
We must make the table bigger. We must lift each other up—not step over one another. We must be the light that helps others shine. As John Maxwell said, “The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There’s no limit to what we can achieve when we raise up good people and help them grow.” That’s my focus this year: to help us succeed through professional development, leadership growth, mentorship, and student engagement. I want to encourage every woman in this space to say:
Thank you for walking with me. Thank you to those who came before me and helped pave the way. And above all, thank you to my Lord and Savior for this opportunity. With
gratitude and excitement, |
.png)