Barron's 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance 2024, Stephanie Braming

Stephanie Braming, CFA, Partner, Global Head of William Blair Investment Management, was named as one of Barron’s 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance 2024. The list honors the top 100 women executives in the United States who are helping shape today’s financial services industry and leading it into the future. This is the third year in a row Braming was recognized.

Stephanie joined William Blair in 2004 and was named Global Head of Investment Management in 2017. She sets Investment Management’s strategic direction, including leading and empowering the firm's investment, distribution, and infrastructure teams. Stephanie is Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President of the William Blair Funds; is Chairman of the William Blair SICAV; and serves on the firm’s Executive Committee, where she is responsible for oversight and strategic direction of the firm. She is also an executive sponsor for the William Blair Women’s Business Resource Group. Prior to 2017, Stephanie served as a portfolio manager for the International Growth and International Small Cap strategies totaling $20 billion in assets under management (AUM).

During her tenure as Global Head of Investment Management, Stephanie has overseen the launch of 13 new investment strategies with external assets; spearheaded an 11-person emerging markets debt team lift-out; acquired a $4.2 billion U.S. value firm; and continued our global expansion by adding distribution personnel in Asia and Europe. Each year under her leadership, William Blair Investment Management has been named a Best Place to Work in Asset Management by Pensions & Investments.

“Stephanie has curated the most diverse teams in our firm with an intentional recruiting focus and an inclusive culture that has expanded our firm’s breadth of perspectives,” says Brent Gledhill, President and CEO of William Blair. “This focus underpins her drive to increase the number of women leaders at the firm and within the financial industry, leading by example and empowering female colleagues to take on new roles.”

Stephanie is a board member of the Investment Company Institute, the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, and Working in the Schools. She serves as a member of the International Women’s Forum, Economic Club of Chicago, The Chicago Network, the CFA Institute, and CFA Society of Chicago. She also has the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Directorship Certification. Stephanie received a B.A. in English literature from DePauw University and an M.B.A. in economics and finance from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Barron’s 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance 2024
Barron’s Women in Finance: Stephanie Braming