How Sophie Scherer is Blazing a Trail on Wall Street—and Why 2025 Will Be a Breakout Year for Female Finance Leaders
College senior Sophie Scherer rings Nasdaq’s closing bell, inspires women in finance, and sets sights on Wall Street’s future for 2025.
- $200,000—Undergrad investment portfolio managed by students at Bell Tower Capital Management
- 10th Anniversary—Girls Who Invest celebrates a decade of empowering women in finance
- 1st Quant Club—Scherer helped launch NC State’s first Quantitative Finance Club
- Citadel Securities—Scherer lands coveted quant trading internship for Summer 2025
In the heart of New York City, one college student stood eye-level with the titans of Wall Street. Rising NC State senior Sophie Scherer stole the spotlight as she rang the closing bell at the Nasdaq MarketSite — a moment signaling not just her own achievements but a rising tide of opportunity for women in finance.
Invited to mark the 10th anniversary of the renowned nonprofit Girls Who Invest, Scherer joined a powerhouse group of alumni to showcase how the next generation of women—and especially those from diverse backgrounds—are remaking the finance landscape for 2025 and beyond.
Q: What Inspired Scherer’s Journey from the Classroom to Wall Street?
Sophie’s interest in numbers and strategy ignited early. Encouraged by her father’s introduction to options trading, her ambitions crystalized after connecting with an NC State alum thriving in quantitative finance. She quickly realized that the world of quant trading—where computer science and finance collide—could become her perfect playground.
At NC State’s Poole College of Management, she flourished. Sophie became managing director of Bell Tower Capital Management, leading a team of student analysts overseeing a six-figure investment fund. She also co-founded the university’s first Quantitative Finance Club, helping fellow students explore high-tech investing through data and game theory.
Q: How Did Scherer Earn a Spot at Nasdaq?
Recognized for her relentless drive, Sophie was selected to ring the Nasdaq closing bell in honor of Girls Who Invest—a game-changing organization focused on preparing women for leadership in investment management. Surrounded by accomplished female trailblazers, she reflected on the industry’s rapid evolution and the untapped potential that remains for 2025.
Q: What’s Next for Sophie—and How Did She Prepare?
This summer, Sophie is taking her talent to the ultimate proving ground: a quant trading internship at Citadel Securities. There, she’ll tackle real-time data projects, compete in strategy contests, and pitch her ideas with one of the world’s top trading teams.
Her path was anything but accidental. Sophie credits hands-on projects, fierce networking, and constant self-education — citing books like “Heard on the Street” and “Thinking in Bets” as guideposts. She urges other students: start early, network boldly, and chase every learning opportunity, because one conversation truly can rewrite your career.
How Is Scherer Raising the Bar for Inclusion in Finance?
Sophie’s true passion is widening the doors for those following her. She encourages aspiring financiers not to limit themselves—reminding them that “target schools” or cookie-cutter résumés aren’t prerequisites for success. By serving as an ambassador for Girls Who Invest and launching campus clubs, Sophie is determined to help others break into finance, especially from underrepresented backgrounds.
Mentors, professors, and the Poole College community were instrumental to her rise. Sophie plans to pay it forward, helping the next wave walk through doors “they didn’t even know existed.”
How Can Students Crack Into Quant Finance in 2025?
- Build a strong foundation in computer science and finance
- Get hands-on with student investment groups or campus funds
- Seek out female-focused organizations like Girls Who Invest
- Network early and often with alumni and industry professionals
- Stay curious—read widely, code persistently, and enter strategy competitions
- Share your success and mentor others whenever you can
Ready to Break Into Wall Street? Start Now with These Must-Do Steps:
- Join a finance or investing club on campus
- Connect with at least two alumni in your dream field this month
- Apply for a specialized program like Girls Who Invest
- Read one key book on trading or data science in the next four weeks
- Help someone else get started—pay it forward!
Your future in finance starts today. Will you ring the closing bell next?
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