As president of NYSE Group, which includes the New York Stock Exchange, industrial engineering alumna Stacey Cunningham '96 oversees an organization that is home to 2,200 of the world's most influential companies.
A few weeks into my first year at Lehigh," she recalls, "I was asked about the makeup of my class and looked around and realized I was the only woman in the class. I had not even noticed it until then. My decision to study engineering had nothing to do with my gender, it was because I liked math and science. Similarly, I chose to start my career on the NYSE trading floor because I loved the energy and frenzy of the place. While I didn't dwell on the male-dominated aspect, it was clear that I was in the minority on the floor. I took this as an opportunity to distinguish myself from the rest of the community and show my excitement to learn and grow in a new environment. Along with the other women on the floor during my time, I was proud to help change the perception of who belongs and can thrive at an institution like the NYSE."
Learn about Stacey Cunningham, her educational experience, and her advice for the next generation of women targeting careers in STEM fields in Lehigh's Resolve magazine, Volume 2, 2021.