By Jeanette Rojas, Staff Reporter, FWSF MarCom Committee
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The energy in the Hyatt Regency lobby set the tone long before the ballroom doors opened. Guests greeted familiar faces, met new ones, and chatted over drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Some paused at the FWSF Social Cam corner to share their excitement on camera before heading in for lunch.
Inside the ballroom, the room filled quickly with Financial Women of San Francisco members, sponsors, past honorees, scholarship recipients, and friends, all gathered to honor this year’s Financial Woman of the Year, Kirsten Rhodes, Vice Chair and Client Relationship Development Leader at Deloitte.
As the program began, FWSF President Mona Ahmadi welcomed the audience with heartfelt remarks that set an emotional tone for the afternoon. Mona first joined FWSF in 2014 as a scholarship recipient while pursuing her MBA. Standing at the podium as president a decade later, she reflected on how that scholarship opened doors and shaped her path in ways she could not have imagined at the time. Her words carried a quiet emotion that filled the room, a reminder of how opportunity grows when women support one another.
That theme continued with one of the afternoon’s most moving moments: the video presentations featuring the 2025 scholarship recipients. Each story reflected determination and purpose, from those pursuing corporate finance and fintech to others focused on community development and education. One aspiring CPA spoke about bringing integrity and accessibility to the field of accounting. The honesty of their reflections reminded the audience that a single scholarship can ripple outward for years, changing lives and careers. That spirit of gratitude lingered as the program shifted to celebrate Kirsten Rhodes, whose own leadership journey has been shaped by the belief that success means lifting others along the way.
A tribute video introduced Kirsten through the words of her colleagues: a leader known for her integrity, warmth, and drive. Set to upbeat music, it brought a few smiles before settling into heartfelt reflections about her impact. When Kirsten took the stage, she made an immediate impression, poised, genuine, and radiant in vibrant pink that matched the energy of the afternoon. In conversation with Jessica Ross, SVP and CFO at Frontdoor and a two-time FWSF scholarship recipient, Kirsten shared her story in a dialogue that was both candid and inspiring.
Kirsten spoke about the lessons that shaped her career, from early opportunities that stretched her skills to moments that tested her confidence. She recalled taking on an unexpected finance role and learning by doing, discovering how fluency in the language of numbers could build credibility and trust. She emphasized the importance of relationships over transactions, describing how genuine understanding transforms client connections into long-term partnerships.
Her honesty deepened as she recounted a moment when she moved from an office into a cubicle and saw her title change. It was a defining experience that reminded her leadership is about impact. Later, she laughed about the corduroy outfit she wore as a kid, sharing how she had worked hard to buy it and how that experience shaped her work ethic.
Kirsten also spoke about what leadership means to her after 35 years in an industry that did not always make space for women. Beginning her career in semiconductors as one of the only women in the room, she shared why building diverse teams has become such a personal mission. “We all learn from each other,” she said, “and we produce a better outcome as a result of not being homogeneous.” She also spoke candidly about bias, how we all carry it, and how acknowledging her own has made her a more intentional leader.
As the conversation moved towards a close, Kirsten grew reflective, echoing the emotion that Mona Ahmadi had set at the start of the afternoon. “Believe in yourself,” she said to the audience. “You can do it and don’t ever give up. There are people that will support you and sponsor you and mentor you and you’ve got it in you to be incredibly successful.”
Proceeds from the luncheon benefit the FWSF Scholarship Fund, which provides undergraduate and graduate scholarships to Bay Area women pursuing careers in finance and financial services. To date, FWSF has awarded over $3 million to more than 334 women, investing in the next generation of leaders who will shape the industry with intelligence, ethics, and purpose.
Special thanks to all who made this event possible, including our sponsors, the Event Co-Chairs, Ruoyi Fang and Denise Rigli, the Event Volunteers, the Nominating Committee, and the Fundraising Committee.
Nominating Committee: Mona Amadi, Ami Arroyo, Tom Byrne, Ruoyi Fang, Kathleen Nielsen, Shay Phillips, Denise Rigli, Sue Schaeffer
Fundraising Team Members
Scholarship Fundraising Committee: Ami Arroyo, Karen Crowley, Kathleen Nielsen, Sue Schaeffer, Sidnie Semich, Tracy Teale, Sandra Wasicek
Sponsorship: Tom Byrne
Event Co-Chairs: Ruoyi Fang, Denise Rigli
Individual Fundraising Chair: Tracy Teale
Event Volunteers
Lead Volunteer: Shay Phillips
Rebecca Akinwale, Vira Aleksandrova, Erika Bermudez, Ayesha Boulware, Sophie Datuashvili, Betty Lee, Kristin Mauer, Nina Maystrovich, Gayatri Natrajan, Mauri Schwartz, CJ Weng
From Connections Newsletter (Past Event Highlights): November 2025
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