Paulina Bren

In the latest Read The Bull interview recorded live from Vassar College, Professor Paulina Bren, discusses her acclaimed book "She Wolves: The Untold History of Women on Wall Street," which she notes takes over from her previous book, "The Barbizon." She-Wolves, now out in paperback, chronicles women's experiences in finance from the 1950s through 9/11. Despite having little knowledge about finance, Bren noted she became fascinated with the women who went to work on Wall Street. She undertook extensive research to uncover stories of pioneering women who were largely invisible in traditional financial histories.

Bren tells Read the Bull host Stefan Prelog that the book explores how early women entered Wall Street through clerical positions and research departments, often coming from working-class backgrounds. Bren highlights numerous women throughout the book, but she alternates her focus on six woman - Muriel "Mickie" Siebert (first woman to buy a NYSE seat), Alice Jarcho (first woman floor trader), Marianne Spraggins (early mortgage-backed securities expert), Lillian Hobson (the first African American woman to receive a Harvard University MBA), Beth Dater (one of the first female media analysts) and Doreen Mogavero (founder of the first and only floor based, direct access firm to be wholly owned and operated by women). Bren's book covers the evolution from scrappy 1950s-70s pioneers to MBA-educated 1980s professionals, examining how changing market conditions, and the cultural landscape helped shaped women's experiences.

Bren explains ending her narrative at 9/11 as a pivotal moment when Wall Street's geographic identity dissolved, marking the end of an era for the financial district's unique culture and community. The discussion touches on the global financial crisis, another flashpoint for women on Wall Street as many long-standing investments firms like Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers. Bren's book is delightful look at these pioneering women on Wall Street, but it also tells the story of how women became an integral part of the workforce. "She-Wolves" is a must read. 

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