Investment Firm

Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network

Our mission is to inspire, develop and recruit undergraduate students who are underrepresented in the investment management industry by providing mentorship, internship experience, professional development and technical skills needed to succeed in the industry.

About the Program.

The Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network (UWIN) program provides mentorship and internship opportunities during the school year where participants will gain professional development and technical skills needed to succeed in the investment management industry. Each participant is matched with a Loomis Sayles mentor, and select students participate in the internship program. The program targets students in their sophomore and junior years but welcomes students in any undergraduate year. We seek students studying at colleges and universities in New England with an interest in investing, business, finance, accounting, data science, mathematics or economics.

Prerequisites.

The UWIN program seeks undergraduate students who are underrepresented in the investment management industry.

  • Targeted at rising sophomores, juniors and seniors
  • Undergraduate students at New England area colleges and universities
  • Interests in investing, business, finance, accounting, data science, mathematics or economics

What You’ll Gain From This Program.

Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm

Direct Experience

Interns get direct experience by spending 10-week rotations learning meaningful, practical and project based work in an investment or client facing group.

Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm

Ongoing Development

Students receive industry-specific and professional development with knowledge and tools to advance in the investment management industry.

Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm

Mentorship

Students are matched with a Loomis Sayles mentor to help connect the educational experience to a potential career in investment management by sharing knowledge, experience and career advice.

UWIN is truly a priceless learning experience and opportunity for young women to develop a fuller understanding of what it means to have a career in the investment management industry.

UWIN Mentee Bentley University
Investment Firm

Mentorship Program.

The UWIN mentorship program matches selected undergraduate students with a Loomis Sayles mentor to help connect the educational experience to a potential career in investment management by sharing knowledge, experience and career advice. The mentorship program requires a school year commitment of 1-2 hours per month to connect with the mentor, in addition to participation in professional development, networking and educational workshops.

  • Introduction to Investment Management
  • Equity and Fixed Income 101
  • Effective Communication Skills
  • Marketing Yourself: Cover letters, resumes and interviews
  • Bloomberg Terminal training
  • Advanced Excel Skills
  • Day in the Life of a Trader
  • Personal Finance 101

Mentorship Program Prerequisites:

  • Requires a school year commitment of 1-2 hours per month to connect with the mentor. It also includes two full-day workshops and four professional development and educational training sessions.
  • Working toward a bachelor’s degree with coursework in finance, business, economics or mathematics, including completion of one accounting course
  • Interest in financial markets
  • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • Attendance at a New England area university or college during the school year
  • Targets undergraduate students in their sophomore and junior years but welcomes students in any undergraduate year

Internship Program.

The UWIN internship program is rotational during the school year. Undergraduate students experience two investment or client-facing functions (one per semester) in areas such as fixed income research, portfolio management, equity research, product marketing and client relationship management. The internship program requires a school year commitment of between 10-16 hours per week over two 10-week rotations. Each intern will also be matched with a Loomis Sayles mentor as part of the mentorship program described above. 

Sample projects include:

  • Performing fundamental industry, market, company and valuation analysis
  • Building and updating financial statement models and comparable company spreadsheets
  • Summarizing valuation metrics across industries and holdings of investment teams
  • Generating portfolio optimization recommendations based on in-house fundamental analysts’ and macro team forecasts
  • Performing peer performance analysis
  • Monitoring changes to exchange rate, global bond yields, inflation and growth forecasts

Internship Program Prerequisites:

  • Requires 10-16 hours per week over two 10-week rotations, one in each semester (or just one semester if studying abroad)
  • Basic understanding of financial statements and Microsoft Excel
  • Quick learner with attention to detail
  • Authorized to work in the US without visa sponsorship from Loomis Sayles

History of the Program.

The Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network (UWIN) was founded in 2015, after a review of job applicants revealed that female candidates for junior level research positions at Loomis Sayles comprised only 18% of the applications received in 2014 and 2015.

The meager results inspired an innovative program and step towards progress. Shannon O’Mara, UWIN founder and Co-Director of Credit Research, designed a comprehensive mentorship and internship program at Loomis Sayles that has successfully partnered with 247 students from 22 colleges and universities throughout New England over the last nine years. We will welcome another 57 students into the 2024-2025 program.

Program Leadership.

Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Shannon O’Mara, CFA Credit Research Co-Director – Founder of UWIN
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Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Shannon O’Mara, CFA Credit Research Co-Director – Founder of UWIN

Shannon O’Mara is the co-director of credit research at Loomis, Sayles & Company, where she is also the senior analyst on the home construction and building materials industries. Additionally, in 2015, she founded the Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network (“UWIN”), a mentorship and internship program whose mission is to inspire, develop and recruit undergraduate students who are underrepresented in the investment management industry. Shannon was recognized for her leadership, contributions and impact in the industry by Pensions & Investments as one of its 2024 Influential Women in Institutional Investing and by InvestmentNews as a Women to Watch honoree in 2019. She began her investment industry career in 1993 and joined Loomis Sayles in 1998. Prior to Loomis Sayles, Shannon was a credit risk manager and lending officer at JP Morgan. She earned a BA in economics from the University of Rochester and management certificates in finance and accounting from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. Shannon is a CFA® charterholder.

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by the CFA Institute.

Andrea DiCenso Portfolio Manager & Strategist – UWIN Advisor
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Andrea DiCenso Portfolio Manager & Strategist – UWIN Advisor

Andrea DiCenso is a co-portfolio manager at Loomis, Sayles & Company, where she co-manages the multi-asset credit and emerging markets debt blended total return strategies. She is also a senior strategist for the alpha strategies group and oversees all FX and commodity activity for the firm’s multi-asset product suite, and is primarily responsible for asset allocation, idea generation, portfolio construction and risk management. Since 2009, Andrea has been a strategist within the alpha strategies group, implementing emerging market and commodity related themes within the long-only and multi-asset products at the firm. She joined Loomis Sayles in 2006 as a junior analyst covering the investment grade and high yield commodity related sectors. She began her investment industry career in 2003 at Fidelity Investments as a financial analyst. Andrea earned a BS in finance from Bentley College and an MBA from Northeastern University.

Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Erika Fallon Administrative Manager & Executive Assistant – UWIN Events Coordinator
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Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Erika Fallon Administrative Manager & Executive Assistant – UWIN Events Coordinator

Erika Fallon is an administrative manager and executive assistant Loomis, Sayles & Company. In this role, she manages a team of administrative assistants and supports the trading group. Erika is also the event coordinator for the Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network (UWIN) program. She began her investment industry career when she joined Loomis Sayles in 2016. Erika completed the Women Unlimited IMpower Program in 2022. She earned a BA in mathematics from Castleton State College.

Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Catherine Ferri Senior Research Associate – UWIN Mentee Advisor
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Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Catherine Ferri Senior Research Associate – UWIN Mentee Advisor

Catherine Ferri is a senior credit research associate at Loomis, Sayles & Company. In this role, she supports senior analysts covering utilities and power companies, as well as multi-sector leveraged loans. Catherine began her investment industry career when she joined Loomis Sayles in 2021 after participating in the Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network (UWIN) mentorship program. She earned a BSBA in finance from Babson College.

Steve Hoppe Senior Fixed Income Trader – UWIN Mentor Advisor
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Steve Hoppe Senior Fixed Income Trader – UWIN Mentor Advisor

Steven Hoppe is an emerging markets trader at Loomis, Sayles & Company, covering Central & Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He joined Loomis Sayles in 2004 as an operations analyst, and was later promoted to global settlements administrator, then junior global trader for the fixed income group. Prior to Loomis Sayles, Steven was a fund accountant at State Street Corporation. He earned a BA from St. Anselm College and an MBA from Suffolk University.

Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Tricia Keefe Head of Corporate Services – UWIN Mentorship Program Coordinator
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Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Tricia Keefe Head of Corporate Services – UWIN Mentorship Program Coordinator

Tricia Keefe is the head of corporate services at Loomis, Sayles & Company. She has global responsibility for the firm’s real estate and space planning. Tricia’s responsibilities include management consulting, working with HR and other departments on setting, maintaining and enhancing the firm’s policies and procedures for our hybrid and remote environments, and employee relations. She plays an integral part in talent management and career development of employees as the co-chair of the Learning and Development Council. Tricia is the executive sponsor of the Undergraduate Summer Internship Development Program focused on first-generation college students and mentorship coordinator for the Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network. She is a co-coordinator of the new Loomis Sayles Associate Development Program, which is designed to attract, retain and develop early career talent by leveraging the pipeline of the firm’s two internship programs. Tricia joined Loomis Sayles in 1993 as a portfolio assistant and spent 25 years as the HR Business Partner for the investment teams. She earned a BSBA from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a concentration in management. In addition, Tricia actively participates as a mentor for the Women Unlimited LEAD program.

Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Kristy Keenan Associate Investment Director – UWIN Internship Program Coordinator
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Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Kristy Keenan Associate Investment Director – UWIN Internship Program Coordinator

Kristy Keenan is an associate investment director for the relative return team at Loomis, Sayles & Company. In this role, she supports the growth and retention of relative return assets. Kristy joined Loomis Sayles in 2012 as a client portfolio analyst, acting as a key liaison between clients, their consultant and internal departments, working closely with the relative return team. She became the product management analyst for the relative return team in 2015 and was promoted to associate investment director in 2017. Kristy is also a committee member and an internship program coordinator for the Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network (UWIN). Prior to Loomis Sayles, she was an investment analyst at New England Private Wealth Advisors. Kristy earned a BS from Bentley University and an MBA/MSF from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.

Kristen Moldovan Senior Research Associate – UWIN Internship Program Coordinator
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Kristen Moldovan Senior Research Associate – UWIN Internship Program Coordinator

Kristen Moldovan is a senior credit research associate at Loomis, Sayles & Company. In this role, she supports senior analysts covering the chemicals, energy and media sectors. Kristen is also the intern coordinator for the Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network (UWIN) program. She began her investment industry career when she joined Loomis Sayles in 2020. Kristen participated in the UWIN internship program in 2017, completing rotations with the emerging markets and full discretion teams. She earned a BS and MS in finance from Bentley University.

Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Marissa Neill HR Business Partner – UWIN Marketing & Recruiting
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Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Marissa Neill HR Business Partner – UWIN Marketing & Recruiting

Marissa Neill is the human resources business partner in the investment business management group at Loomis, Sayles & Company. She plays an integral part in talent acquisition for the investment teams and co-manages onboarding for the firm globally.  Marissa is a founding member of both the Undergraduate Summer Internship Development Program (USID) focused on first-generation college students and the Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network (UWIN). She is the co-coordinator of the Loomis Sayles Associate Development Program, designed to attract, retain and develop early career talent by leveraging the pipeline of the firm’s two internship programs. Marissa also co-leads the firm’s Welcome Program for new employees. She has 19 years of investment industry experience and joined Loomis Sayles in 2011. Marissa earned a BA from Saint Michael’s College. She is an active participant in the Women United LEAD program.

Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Marianne Winkelman Director of Global Bond, EM & FX Trading – UWIN Advisor
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Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm
Marianne Winkelman Director of Global Bond, EM & FX Trading – UWIN Advisor

Marianne Winkelman is the director of global bond, emerging markets and foreign exchange trading at Loomis, Sayles & Company. She also actively trades global sovereign, supranational & agency bonds and all FX markets. Marianne has 31 years of investment industry experience and joined Loomis Sayles in 2005. She is an active member of sector teams within the firm, contributing trading strategies and market analysis. Previously, she was a vice president and international trader at Standish Mellon Asset Management. She began her investment industry career at Putnam Investments, Inc., where she was an assistant vice president and trader. Marianne earned a BA from Stonehill College.

Justine Gearin Senior Sustainability Associate – UWIN Intern Advisor
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Justine Gearin Senior Sustainability Associate – UWIN Intern Advisor

Justine Gearin is a senior sustainability associate at Loomis, Sayles & Company. In this role, she supports firmwide ESG integration through research in financial materiality and efforts in company engagement with a focus on fixed income. Justine is also an active participant in the firm’s sustainability subcommittees and a mentor and advisor for the Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network, which supports programming to recruit and retain underrepresented groups in the investment management industry. She began her investment industry career when she joined Loomis Sayles in 2021 after completing internship rotations in the credit research, relative return and sustainability teams. Justine earned a BS in Business Economics with a concentration in Management from Bentley University.

Lauren Murray ADP Associate – UWIN Intern Advisor
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Lauren Murray ADP Associate – UWIN Intern Advisor

Lauren Murray is an associate in the custom income strategies (CIS) group at Loomis, Sayles & Company. In this role, she supports analysts with day-to-day portfolio management, research and analysis, and data organization. Lauren is a participant in the Associate Development Program (ADP), a rotational program designed to attract, retain and develop early career talent by leveraging the pipeline of the firm’s internship programs. She joined Loomis Sayles in 2023 after participating in the Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network (UWIN) program, completing rotations with the credit research and alpha strategies teams. Lauren earned a BS in economics at Northeastern University.

In the News.

Mar 27, 2024

Babson Helps Bridge Gender Gap in Investment Management

Mar 06, 2024

Bentley University Partnership with UWIN a Win for Students

Mar 04, 2024

Bridging the Gender Gap in Finance

Feb 10, 2024

Finding Opportunity for Women in Investment Management through Loomis Sayles’ UWIN Program

Feb 07, 2024

Mentorship Program Inspires Women to Pursue Investment Management

Feb 05, 2021

Loomis Sayles’ Undergraduate Women’s Investment Network and Bentley University

May 07, 2019

Loomis Exec Tackles Gender Diversity Recruitment Challenge with College

Mar 05, 2019

UMass Boston Students Find UWIN Program Valuable

Jan 04, 2019

Diversity & Inclusion Become Business Imperatives for Managers

When you walk into a boardroom and you have women… at top executive roles, it gives you a vision of achievement and ambition.

Mambo Stephanie UWIN Intern, University of Massachusetts Boston
Mambo Stephanie

Explore More Internship Programs.

USID

Undergraduate Summer Internship Development Program

  • Location:

    One Financial Center, Boston, MA

  • Program Time:

    Summer 2025: 2 June – 8 August 2025

  • Program Length:

    10-weeks in a meaningful, project-based professional setting.

Loomis, Sayles Investment Firm

VALOR

  • Location:

    One Financial Center, Boston, MA

  • Program Time:

    Summer 2024: 3 June – 9 August

  • Program Length:

    10-weeks

FAQs

Is there a deadline?

Applications for the next UWIN program in 2025-2026 opens on 1 February 2025. The deadline to apply for the UWIN program is 7 March 2054.

How long is the program?

The current mentorship program began in September 2024 and concludes in April 2025.

The internship program is rotational during the school year with one 10-week investment or client facing internship per semester requiring 10-16 hours per week (or one semester if studying abroad).

Are the internships paid?

Yes, our internships are paid.

Can I receive course credit for the internship?

If the internship meets the requirements of your school’s course credit, we will provide the necessary documentation to support you.