Changing the Global Narrative:
Barbara Stewart is a highly sought-after global keynote speaker who has presented across four continents to banks, stock exchanges, CFA Societies, and large-scale corporate conferences. Her presentations are based on research interviews with successful men and women from diverse professions, industries and cultures.
Barbara uses her platform to share positive, empowering stories to move the world of finance forward. Her core speaking themes center on all aspects of investing and importantly she challenges outdated industry messaging. Her famous mantra: “Women aren’t risk averse, they are risk aware!”
Global
Finance. Human
Insight.
The Latest
Barbara was recently featured in Times Square, NYC! Nasdaq showcased Barbara Stewart, Global Researcher and CFA on the billboard - Wishing her congratulations on her 16th Annual Rich Thinking® Research Paper!
My Speaker’s Journey:
The Top 5 Highlights
When I was 12, I won an Ontario public speaking contest with a speech about Siamese cats and how to care for them. At one point, I mistakenly said it was important to clean their little ears with “a damp mop” instead of “a damp cloth.” I got a big laugh from the audience and at that moment I realized that talking in a natural down-to-earth way was my speaker superpower.
Throughout my career as a foreign exchange trader and then money manager, I spoke regularly to small audiences about trading strategies. But in 2011, I published my first proprietary Rich Thinking® research paper, and things started to get interesting. In chronological order, here are the top 5 highlights of my speaker’s journey:
2013
I gave a keynote at Nasdaq Sweden’s “Women’s Night at the Stock Exchange” for 2,500 people. My 20 minute inspirational talk encouraged all women to just get started investing: just buy a stock! I was asked to do repeat performances at the Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Reykjavik stock exchanges.
2015
CFA Institute had me share my report “The Future of Women and Finance” with CFA Societies around the world. From my first event in Istanbul in March 2015 to my most recent event in Sydney in April 2026, I have now given over 60 keynotes to 37 different CFA Societies globally. These include Societies in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
2016
I spoke to over 1,000 executives at the annual global event “Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society” held in Deauville, France. A top executive from a global bank was in the front row and hired me to do a two year commissioned research contract (and associated keynotes in various cities.)
2025
I joined the Milken Institute's “Women's Financial Security Initiative” in collaboration with Gloria Steinem and Gloria's Foundation. I attended two private “talking circles” with Gloria and guests at her apartment in New York and then the next year I spoke on a panel of six women leaders at the Milken Institute’s 29th Annual Global Conference on the topic of “Women, Money, and Power: Addressing the Feminization of Wealth”.
2026
My keynote to Nasdaq Toronto on “Health & wealth: What’s your healthiest habit?” was marked by Nasdaq posting a 50 foot high photo of me and my research on their Times Square billboard that same day.
From mopping the ears of Siamese cats to the Nasdaq Tower in New York, I’ve had an incredible speaker’s journey.
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