Finalist: Monika Lopez

Senior Vice President
The Northern Trust Company

Monika Lopez, a finance professional, found her passion at Northern Arizona University after changing her major to finance. She began her career at the Vanguard Group, gaining foundational knowledge, and later joined The Northern Trust Company, where she worked her way up to becoming the senior investment officer for the Orange County office. She pursued the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designations to enhance her expertise. Despite facing challenges Lopez persevered, and after five years, earned her CFA designation. As Senior Investment Officer, she oversees a team managing $4.5 billion in assets under management. She actively promotes gender diversity by participating in Northern Trust’s “Elevating Women” events and mentoring her peers. Her dedication to empowering women extends to her volunteer work with Girls Inc., focusing on recruiting more women to the investment industry. Lopez stands as one of only two female senior investment officers among 16 markets in the west region.