1/7/2026
From Stock Pitches to Wall Street: A New Pathway for Women and Finance
At Mayfield, we believe that education should “meet the wants of the age.”
Today, that means preparing young women not only for college–but for leadership in an increasingly complex financial world.
In the 2026-27 school year we are excited to launch the Women & Finance Pathway, an evolution of what started as a financial literacy course to now become a cornerstone of our broader signature Pathways Program. It is forward-thinking. It is interdisciplinary. And most importantly, it’s rooted in our Holy Child values.
The strong foundation for this program was laid long ago and recently demonstrated through the success of the Mayfield Investment Team’s (MINT) stock pitch that knocked financial experts’ socks off, and an impactful and informative visit to Capital Group.
Why Women & Finance as a Pathway–and Why Now?
The educational landscape is shifting.
Colleges are looking for students who demonstrate a clear through-line of interest and commitment. Employers are demanding analytical thinking, communication skills, adaptability, and ethical leadership. Meanwhile, conversations around AI, blockchain technology (crypto), and green technology and investment, are reshaping global markets.
The Women & Finance Pathway is Mayfield’s response.
Grounded in the skills valued by top business schools, and shaped by the Catholic Social Teachings of ethical design-making, our program builds financial analysis and strategic thinking, financial fluency, and an entrepreneurial mindset—equipping students with the knowledge and real-world experience to understand and lead.
“We need more women in finance,” Melissa Tighe, Mayfield’s AP Calculus teacher and Personal Finance Instructor who has taught at Mayfield for 31 years. notes. “And we need women of faith, value, and character—women who understand their influence.”
Beginning sophomore year, students take a sequence of courses that strengthen mathematical reasoning, financial analysis, and economic understanding. Beyond the classroom, students engage in hands-on seminars led by professionals in banking, investment management, fintech, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit finance, gaining exposure to diverse career pathways and women leaders shaping the field.
In their senior year, students complete a capstone experience—such as an internship, research project, or financial case study—guided by faculty and industry mentors. By program completion, students are prepared to pursue majors in finance, economics, business, or related fields, and to make informed, ethical decisions in an increasingly complex global economy.
While new and exciting, this program is not an “add-on”—it’s a clear pathway to a career in business or finance.
The Pitch That Sparked a Program
The momentum that led to the launch of the Women & Finance pathway started with our Mayfield Investeam Team (MINT), which had a notable win recently.
Earlier this school year, our MINT team participated in a stock pitch competition—modeled after competitions that occur at colleges and universities—during which teams are tasked to present a convincing investment thesis on a United States company.
What made Mayfield's presence even more remarkable: we were the only all-girls school in the lineup!
Standing alongside co-ed teams and seasoned competitors, our students delivered clear analysis, disciplined research, and confident responses under pressure. Their preparation reflected the same advice they would later hear echoed by industry leaders: know your thesis, anticipate the hard questions, and defend your thinking with data and conviction.
The stock pitch wasn’t just an academic exercise. It was proof that Mayfield girls belong in financial spaces—and can lead in them. Their performance demonstrated not only technical skill, but also poise and strategic thinking.
First-Place Finish!
Mayfield's Investment Team participates in an annual stock pitch competition during which teams are tasked to present a convincing investment thesis on a United States company and defend the thesis during a Q&A.
- 8+ teams compete
- 2 competition rounds
- The companies selected must have a $100 million minimum market capitalization and $100 billion maximum
- Teams have 8–9 minutes to present, and 4–5 minutes of Q&A; there is a hard stop at 13 minutes per team
- 2 investment professionals on the judges' panel, alongside 2 judges from the Student Investment Fund at Claremont McKenna College
• 1 winner … and in 2025, MINT came in first!
Learning from the Best: Inside a Visit to Capital Group
Mayfield’s vision for financial empowerment goes beyond academics. It’s about giving students the confidence to lead.
That confidence recently led our MINT students to Capital Group, one of the largest and most respected investment firms in the world–and the largest shareholder of the company that was the focus of MINT’s successful stock pitch: Ryanair.
During the visit, students met portfolio managers, traders, analysts, strategists and leaders whose paths into finance were anything but a straight line. Their backgrounds were diverse—hailing from Singapore, India, Toronto, Dallas, New York, and working across global emerging marketing, equities, bonds, and municipal portfolios. Some had studied finance. Others studied math, computer science, or economics—some were even teachers before entering the financial sector.
The course encourages girls to see money not as a taboo topic, but as a tool. A tool they can use with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
The Capital Group's message to the students was clear:
- Look for long-term value, not quick wins.
- Avoid the gamification of the market.
- Study trends—healthcare for aging populations, infrastructure powering AI, sustainable investments.
- Think macro. Think ahead. Think responsibly.
Students also heard about the reality of AI and how financial firms are using it in their daily activities–synthesizing meeting notes, evaluating performance, and managing data. They also recognized that while the impact on efficiencies is high, financial markets remain dynamic and require human oversight and judgement.
The visit transformed the idea of finance from an abstract concept into something tangible for the students.
Real-Life Impact
Mayfield’s Women & Finance Pathway, and the experiential learning opportunities like the stock pitch competition and Capital Group visit, are more than just preparation—it’s formation.
It reflects a belief that every act of becoming builds her confidence and purpose. By combining practical knowledge with deep values, Mayfield is launching a generation of young women who are not just college-ready, but world-ready.
“The more we empower young women with the tools to make wise choices, the more the world will be shaped by them.”Melissa Tighe Personal Finance Instructor