Wall Street Leadership
More than three decades of experience leading major financial institutions, investment research teams, and wealth management businesses.
RESEARCH · WEALTH · LEADERSHIPExecutive Biography
Sallie Krawcheck
Financial Executive, Entrepreneur, Author & Investor
More than three decades of experience across Wall Street and fintech, leading major wealth management businesses and building platforms that expand access to investing.
A career dedicated to financial innovation, long-term security, and creating greater opportunity for people to build wealth with confidence.
Wall Street LeadershipCitigroup · Merrill Lynch · Bank of America
Financial InnovationCo-Founder · Ellevest
Economic EmpowermentInvesting · education · opportunity
30+Years in financeInvestment research, wealth management, entrepreneurship, fintech, and board leadership.
Co-FounderEllevestA digital investment platform designed to help women invest and build long-term financial confidence.
3 InstitutionsSenior leadershipCitigroup, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of America.
2026Duolingo boardJoined as an independent director and Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee member.
01 — Executive Profile
Leadership Across Wall Street and Fintech
Sallie Krawcheck
Sallie Krawcheck is a financial executive, entrepreneur, author, and investor with more than three decades of experience across Wall Street and fintech. She is the Co-Founder of Ellevest, a digital investment platform focused on helping women invest and build long-term financial confidence.
Her career has centered on wealth management, investment research, financial innovation, and creating greater opportunities for individuals to build long-term financial security.
She has held senior leadership positions at some of the world's largest financial institutions, including Citigroup, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of America.
Throughout her career, Ms. Krawcheck has focused on improving access to investing, financial education, and wealth-building opportunities while advocating for stronger transparency, research independence, and investor protection.
Her work brings together institutional leadership, financial technology, professional advancement, and a sustained commitment to expanding economic opportunity.
02 — Leadership Focus
Three Areas That Define Her Career
Financial Innovation
Co-Founder of Ellevest, creating investment solutions designed to help individuals achieve long-term financial goals.
FINTECH · INVESTING · ACCESSEconomic Empowerment
Building platforms and initiatives that expand access to financial education, professional development, and wealth creation opportunities.
EDUCATION · OPPORTUNITY · GROWTH03 — Career
From Independent Research to Financial Innovation
A career spanning equity research, global wealth management, entrepreneurship, and technology-enabled investing.
A Foundation in Research Integrity
SALOMON BROTHERS · SANFORD C. BERNSTEINMs. Krawcheck began her Wall Street career at Salomon Brothers after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1987.
She later served as CEO of Sanford C. Bernstein, where she gained recognition as a leading equity research analyst known for independent and objective research.
Fortune magazine described her as “The Last Honest Analyst” for her commitment to research integrity and transparency.
Independent Research
Built a reputation for objective analysis, transparency, and high standards of research integrity.
Sanford C. Bernstein
Led the firm as CEO after establishing herself as a prominent equity research analyst.
Leading Major Wealth Management Businesses
CITIGROUP · SMITH BARNEY · MERRILL LYNCH · BANK OF AMERICAShe held several senior leadership roles at Citigroup, including CEO of Smith Barney and CEO of Citi Wealth Management. In these roles, she managed large financial businesses and led thousands of professionals across investment research, brokerage, and wealth management.
Following Bank of America's acquisition of Merrill Lynch in 2009, Ms. Krawcheck was appointed President of Global Wealth and Investment Management.
She led major wealth management businesses, including Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and U.S. Trust, during a period of significant change following the global financial crisis.
Her leadership focused on strengthening client relationships, improving business performance, and maintaining high standards of financial advisory services.
Citigroup
CEO of Smith Barney and CEO of Citi Wealth Management.
Bank of America
President of Global Wealth and Investment Management, leading Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and U.S. Trust.
Building New Platforms for Opportunity
ELLEVATE NETWORK · ELLEVEST · DUOLINGOIn 2013, Ms. Krawcheck acquired 85 Broads and transformed it into Ellevate Network, an organization providing professional development, networking opportunities, and career resources to support women's advancement worldwide. She serves as Chair.
In 2014, she co-founded Ellevest, a digital investment platform created to help women invest and achieve their financial goals.
Under her leadership, Ellevest became one of the most recognized investment platforms focused on women's financial goals in the United States.
In August 2026, Ms. Krawcheck joined Duolingo's Board of Directors as an independent director and serves on the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee.
Ellevate Network
Chair of a global professional network supporting women's career development and advancement.
Ellevest
Co-Founder of a digital investment platform focused on long-term financial confidence.
Duolingo
Independent Director and member of the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee.
04 — Innovation & Impact
Expanding Access to Investing and Opportunity
Building financial and professional platforms around the realities that shape individual outcomes.
Ellevest was designed to address factors that can influence financial outcomes, including differences in career paths, pay patterns, investment participation, and longevity planning.
Ellevest
A digital investment platform created to help women invest, pursue financial goals, and build long-term confidence.
Ellevate Network
Professional development, networking opportunities, and career resources designed to support women's advancement worldwide.
Gender-Lens Investing
Served as Chair of the Pax Ellevate Global Women's Leadership Fund, investing in companies demonstrating leadership in women's representation, gender equality, and workplace diversity.
Investor Protection
Advocated for transparency, stronger research independence, and improved investor protection, including efforts during the 2008 financial crisis to compensate investors sold unsuitable products or given incomplete information.
05 — Author & Advocate
Own It: The Power of Women at Work
A book about leadership, career development, and women's advancement in the workplace.
Leadership and financial confidence grow when people have the tools, access, and agency to make informed choices.
Published in 2017, Own It: The Power of Women at Work became a Wall Street Journal and Washington Post bestseller.
The book examines leadership, career development, and the opportunities available to women as workplaces and the economy evolve.
The book was later translated into Chinese under the title Courage: Be Your Fearless Self.
Ms. Krawcheck's broader public work continues to connect professional advancement with financial knowledge, investing participation, and long-term economic security.
06 — Board Service
Governance, Risk, and Professional Advancement
Duolingo
Independent Director. Member of the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee since August 2026.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR · PRESENTEllevate Network
Chair of the professional network providing development, networking, and career resources for women worldwide.
PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENTPax Ellevate Global Women's Leadership Fund
Served as Chair of a fund investing in companies demonstrating leadership in representation, equality, and workplace diversity.
GENDER-LENS INVESTING07 — Education
Business and Journalism
1990–1992
Columbia Business School
Master of Business Administration.
1983–1987
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
08 — Select Recognition
Recognized for Leadership and Impact
Honors spanning finance, entrepreneurship, leadership, and service.
Fortune
Most Powerful Women.
Forbes
World's Most Powerful Women.
Barron's
100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance.
Inc.
Top Women Founders.
World Economic Forum
Young Global Leader.
University of North Carolina
William Richardson Davie Award and Distinguished Young Alumna Award.
09 — Professional Timeline
More Than Three Decades of Leadership
Began her Wall Street career at Salomon Brothers after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Built a reputation as a leading equity research analyst and later served as CEO, championing independent and objective research.
Served in senior leadership roles including CEO of Smith Barney and CEO of Citi Wealth Management.
Appointed President of Global Wealth and Investment Management following Bank of America's acquisition of Merrill Lynch.
Acquired 85 Broads and transformed it into Ellevate Network.
Co-founded Ellevest, a digital investment platform designed to help women invest and achieve their financial goals.
Published Own It: The Power of Women at Work, a Wall Street Journal and Washington Post bestseller.
Joined Duolingo's Board of Directors as an independent director and member of the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee.
SK
Sallie Krawcheck
A financial executive, entrepreneur, author, and investor whose career connects Wall Street leadership with innovation, investor protection, and economic empowerment.