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In honor of Black History Month, Vanderbilt Financial Group wanted to highlight 10 important figures who broke the racial barriers of Wall Street and other financial institutions. These stories bring these little known pioneers in the industry into the spotlight and show the importance of African-Americans in finance.

Happy Black History Month! Every February, we dedicate this month to celebrating the many contributions of the African American community to our society. Being in the financial services industry, we at Vanderbilt are continuously inspired by Black and Brown entrepreneurs that have overcome extreme challenges to achieve greatness.

Madam C.J. Walker is recorded as the first self-made female millionaire in United States history. Read on to learn more about her story!

Happy Black History Month! Every February, we dedicate the month to celebrating the many innovations and achievements of African Americans, while also acknowledging the challenges the community has faced and continues to face.

The finance industry is one of many that highlight the inequalities that exist for African Americans. Banks and other financial institutions have contributed to systemic racism, while wealth and income disparities are a major cause of inequality.

As with other aspects in society, Black leaders have had to fight tooth and nail for financial equality in their communities. We honor those who broke barriers and fought for fairness for all. Read on to learn more about some of the most pivotal moments in Black history in the finance sector.

Socially responsible businesses are not new concepts. For centuries, people have been using their businesses and investments to engage and better their communities and their environments. We saw this on a local level through examples such as corporate-sponsored community health programs.

Women have been historically underrepresented in Financial Services. According to a 2017 study by Stanford University, men comprise 75% of the Wealth Management field and fill 80% of the leadership roles. However, a young black woman from Georgia has continued the trend of women breaking the glass ceiling in Financial Services. In March 2017, Lauren Simmons made history as the youngest full-time woman equity trader at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). “I am proud to have a badge of a trader,” Simmons said of her achievement in an interview with LinkedIn.