Lauren Simmons (born August 11, 1994)[1] is an American producer, writer, and former stock trader for Rosenblatt Securities. On March 6, 2017, at age 22, she became the youngest and only current full-time female trader at the New York Stock Exchange. She also became the second African American woman in the Exchange's 228-year history to have such a position. Simmons left Wall Street in December 2018.

Lauren Simmons
Born (1994-08-11) August 11, 1994 (age 29)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materKennesaw State University
Years active2018–present
Known forYoungest and only (current, but not first) full-time female trader at New York Stock Exchange

She was named to Ebony's Power 100 list in 2018, and was also awarded 2018 Women of Impact by Politico.[2][3][4][5]

She has been referred to as the "Wolfette of Wall Street".[6]

Early life edit

Simmons was raised in Marietta, Georgia.[7] She received her bachelor's degree in genetics from Kennesaw State University in 2016 with plans to pursue a career in genetic counseling.[8] However, she decided instead to move to New York City and once there she met Richard Rosenblatt through networking.[3]

Career edit

Simmons gained prominence in 2017 at age 22, after she took a job at Rosenblatt Securities and became the youngest and only woman trader on the New York Stock Exchange.[9] She is also the second African American woman in history to have that position.[10] During her time as a full-time equity trader she earned $12,000 per year.[11] She left the position in December 2018, and cited exclusion by her coworkers after she received press coverage as one of her reasons for leaving.[11]

She is the co-executive producer on a forthcoming biographical film about her life, starring and co-produced with Kiersey Clemons for AGC Studios.[12][13]

As of 2021, Simmons is the host and producer of the upcoming web series Going Public, which helps viewers invest in companies that are preparing to release an IPO.[13][14] She is an advocate for the financial sector to take steps to increase diversity and inclusion.[9]

Simmons wrote the book Make Money Move about personal finance.[15]

References edit

  1. ^ Connley, Courtney (2018-11-15). "24-year-old NYSE equity trader Lauren Simmons' career inspired a film". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  2. ^ "Congratulations to our Women of Impact ..." Politico Live. 11 Dec 2018.
  3. ^ a b Fluker, Dominique. "How This 24-Year-Old Former NYSE Equity Trader Made History". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  4. ^ "Georgia native, KSU alum only full-time woman trader at New York Stock Exchange". ajc.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  5. ^ Cline-Thomas, Aundrea (August 30, 2018). "Lauren Simmons: Paving the way from Georgia to Wall Street". NBC News. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  6. ^ Rowley, Melissa Jun. "How The Youngest Woman Trader On Wall Street Is Helping Startups Go Public". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  7. ^ Cline-Thomas, Aundrea (2018-08-30). "Lauren Simmons: Paving the way from Georgia to Wall Street". NBC News. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  8. ^ Fluker, Dominique. "How This 24-Year-Old Former NYSE Equity Trader Made History". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  9. ^ a b Connley, Courtney (2020-06-24). "The NYSE's youngest female trader on diversity in finance: Employers need 'to stop making plans and just do it'". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  10. ^ Fleming, As told to Olivia (2019-11-06). "Lauren Simmons Is the Wolfette of Wall Street". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  11. ^ a b Simmons, Lauren. "At 22, I was the youngest-ever woman NYSE floor trader and making $12,000 a year. I walked away after 2 years and never looked back — here's what the experience taught me". Business Insider. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  12. ^ "A film is being made about the youngest female trader ever at the stock exchange". ABC News. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  13. ^ a b Peyser, Eve (2021-01-23). "Wall Street's Millennial Wonder Readies Her Next Act". Intelligencer. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  14. ^ Connley, Courtney (2021-03-24). "Former NYSE traders Lauren Simmons and Martina Edwards talk breaking barriers in finance". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  15. ^ Rhinehart, Charlene (2021-03-13). "Youngest Female Trader on Wall Street Reveals She Only Earned $12,000 Per Year". Black Enterprise.

External links edit