Why You Should Bet on Women CEOs w/Patricia Lizarraga

by Kerry Siggins | Apr 1, 2025 | Podcast

Should you bet on women CEOs? In this episode of Reflect Forward, I sit down with Patricia Lizarraga, Managing Partner of Hypatia Capital and the driving force behind the WCEO ETF, the first exchange-traded fund dedicated to investing in publicly traded U.S. companies led by female CEOs.

We explore a fascinating question: Do companies led by women perform better? Patricia shares compelling data that suggests they do—and explains why. With decades of experience in finance and investment banking, she witnessed firsthand how women in leadership positions frequently faced greater obstacles in their ascent to the top. The result? Many of them are extraordinarily resilient and effective leaders.

This episode isn’t just about investing; it’s about shifting the narrative around leadership, success, and financial empowerment. If you’re interested in supporting diversity in corporate leadership while making smart investment decisions, this conversation is for you.

What You’ll Learn

Why companies led by female CEOs often outperform and what the data says
How investing in women-led businesses can create long-term impact
The ripple effect of leadership diversity and why it benefits everyone—not just women
How the WCEO ETF makes it easy to invest in companies with female CEOs
Patricia’s personal journey and what she’s learned about taking ownership of her career

Why Betting on Women CEOs Matters

Despite the progress made, women still hold only a small percentage of CEO positions in major corporations. Yet research consistently shows that diversity in leadership leads to better financial performance, stronger company culture, and greater innovation. Patricia’s work is not just about creating investment opportunities; it’s about normalizing female leadership and giving more women a seat at the table.

Episode Quote

“If you want your daughter to enter the workforce without her hands tied behind her back after you just spent half a million dollars to send her to college, it behooves you for there to be more women CEOs.” – Patricia Lizarraga

How to Learn More and Invest

To learn more about Patricia and the WCEO ETF, visit wceoetf.com. You can also follow Patricia on LinkedIn, where she shares insights on women in leadership and the financial markets.

If you’re interested in investing, the WCEO ETF is available through major brokerage platforms like Schwab, E-Trade, Robinhood, and SoFi under the ticker WCEO.