Her Story
About Kathy
Kathy Olivari is a financial services and client relationship professional with extensive experience in wealth management and investment services, having begun her career in 1984. She currently works from home supporting a team at MyCIO Wealth Partners out of Philadelphia, managing background work on various products including hedge funds, investments, and money movement while preparing documentation and collaborating with analysts and Charles Schwab as custodian. Earlier in her career, she worked as a municipal bond trader at Legg Mason where she was promoted to Assistant Vice President in 1994, and she passed her Series 7 and 63 General Securities License as the first non-producing woman at Jenny Montgomery Scott, opening doors for others in customer-facing roles. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Syracuse University.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kathy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to longevity in this business and being able to adapt to the changing environment. You go through the 80s, 90s, 2000s, different blips in the market like the tech bubble and housing bubble. I have been through all of that. The change in technology from typewriters and green screens to now, just keep up on the technology. Longevity in this business is key, and keeping up with the trends and the times. Not fearing the men out there and being confident in yourself and your abilities.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from my father who was in this industry. Even if you are employed and happy in your role, if something comes along you need to investigate it. I take interviews with other companies when I'm not looking because it's good to keep in touch with what's going on. Investigate anything that comes across your desk because you just never know. That's exactly how I landed where I am today. I had a job I loved, wasn't looking, but a recruiter kept sending emails and I finally submitted to an interview.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Push through the boundaries. It is a male-dominated industry. Don't be afraid to voice your opinion or suggest things. Just because you're a woman doesn't mean you're not as talented, as intelligent, and as powerful as any man out there. So just push through and trust yourself and trust your abilities and just trust life that it's going to work out in the end.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Work usually comes down to time. That's the biggest challenge. I work in a very fast-paced firm that has $15 billion under management. Time would be definitely one of the challenges. An unspoken one for me is my age because a lot of women my age are already retired. Trying to save and continue to put away money to get to retirement is certainly a challenge. But I love my job and I'm always willing to stay on later or get on earlier.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty all the way. I am transparent with everybody, my wife, my son, her kids, my partner that I work with. If I make a mistake, I own it. Honesty is probably one of the trademark things. I got sober 8 years ago. My life was unmanageable and through that process of recovery I learned how to be honest not only with others but with myself. People know that I'm going to give them the straight story and I'm gonna own a mistake if I make it. That's true in my marriage as well.
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