Today we are more than pleased to have the opportunity to speak with one really extraordinary woman from the CFA community – Sarah Yao Schutzman, CFA. She is a very active member of the CFA and investment community, especially regarding DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and gender diversity matters.
Mrs. Sarah Yao Schutzman is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of the hedge fund Providence Heights Capital Management. Prior to co-founding Providence, Mrs. Schutzman managed investments across the capital structure at Canyon Partners and advised companies and stakeholders as an investment banker at Houlihan Lokey and Goldman Sachs. Throughout her career, she has managed investments in global equities and debt, across developed and emerging markets.
Mrs. Schutzman has been an active member of the CFA Institute since 2018. She co-chairs the CFA Institute DEI Sub-Committee on Gender Diversity and serves as a member of the CFA Institute DEI Executive Committee. In this capacity, she reviews and supports gender-based programs as part of the CFA Institute’s DEI work globally.
Mrs. Schutzman is a Co-Founder, President and CEO of Collaborative WIM (Women in Investment Management), a global alliance led by the CFA network focused on the advancement and development of female leaders of all backgrounds. Collaborative WIM has been featured by Bloomberg, NASDAQ, CFA Institute, Cboe Global Markets, Yahoo Finance and Institutional Asset Manager, among others.
From 2019 to 2023, Mrs. Sarah Yao Schutzman served on the Board of Directors of CFA Society Indianapolis. In this capacity, she chaired the Marketing, Membership, and Philanthropy Committees. Between 2019 and 2022, she served as a regional judge and industry mentor for the CFA Institute Research Challenge, a global investment case study competition.
Mrs. Schutzman also serves on the Advisory Board of Women in Funds (WIF), a community of female leaders in the private investment funds industry, based in New York City with over 400 members across the US and Europe.
All the above mentioned makes her a perfect interlocutor for DEI, gender diversity, and women leadership related topics. We, as a part of the global CFA network, are very proud to have high-caliber female leaders like Sarah Yao Schutzman beside us.
What do you think makes a successful leader? And in particular women leaders?
A successful leader is someone who listens, adapts, and leads with empathy. Leadership, to me, is about creating a collaborative environment where every voice is heard and valued. Women leaders, in particular, often bring unique qualities to the table—emotional intelligence, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to see the bigger picture. These strengths allow women to lead in a way that fosters consensus and nurtures the talents of those around them, which is essential for sustainable success. Having spent much of my career as the only woman in the room, I now feel privileged to be part of a strong network of women leaders who continually inspire me.
Early in my career, I learned that fortitude is as important as aptitude. Adaptability and resilience are key—the capacity to recalibrate quickly and adjust to new circumstances and challenges is essential for long-term success. In finance, as in life, change is constant. The aptitude to evolve, learn, and navigate shifting environments has been crucial for my personal and professional growth—and the willingness to grow and move forward with an open mind is a trait I recognize in those I respect and admire, including my dear friends and leaders of Collaborative WIM.
Thinking through the full range of outcomes and embracing diverse perspectives is essential for long-term, sustainable success in both life and career. As a first-generation immigrant, I’ve witnessed firsthand how capital can drive change and create opportunities. In my career, I’ve worked in financial restructuring, distressed investing, and across global credit and equity markets, including both domestic and emerging markets. A fresh perspective can unlock tremendous value, especially when focused on long-term, thoughtful strategies. These experiences have shaped our mission at Collaborative WIM, where we believe that meaningful change is driven by combining diverse viewpoints with the strategic use of capital. It’s these connections that fuel real progress and sustainable growth.
As a co-founder and CEO of CWIM, could you tell us what was your key driver for starting and running this project?
Our key motivation for founding Collaborative Women in Investment Management (CWIM) was the glaring lack of diversity in leadership within the industry. My friends and I wanted to create a global platform where women could access top-tier mentorship, career support, and networking opportunities to navigate the often challenging path to leadership. We believe that gender diversity is not only a social imperative but also a business imperative—when women succeed, the entire industry benefits. CWIM was born from our desire to help women realize their potential and drive meaningful systemic change in the investment management industry.
What are the key benefits for you of being part of CFA and CWIM communities?
Being part of the CFA and CWIM communities is incredibly rewarding. The CFA network, with its global reach of charterholders, offers access to industry-leading research and unparalleled networking opportunities worldwide. Through our work chairing the CFA Institute Gender Diversity Subcommittee, Collaborative WIM leads gender diversity efforts across the CFA network globally, providing a focused network of high-caliber female leaders and allies within the investment management industry.
Over the years, I’ve taken on various roles within both communities, including serving as a regional judge for the CFA Institute Research Challenge and as a board director of CFA Society Indianapolis, alongside our work dedicated to developing and advancing female leaders. My involvement in these communities has been both professionally and personally fulfilling, leading to some of my most cherished friendships.
CWIM offers incredible access to high-caliber professional programming, mentorship, and networking opportunities— all at no cost to participants. The fact that this women-founded and fully volunteer-led charitable nonprofit has come so far is a testament to the essential nature of these resources and the commitment of the community supporting it, including the valuable contributions from our wonderful friends at CFA Society Serbia!