How Nasdaq Launched Futures During National Mentoring Month

How does it feel to ring the bell at Nasdaq?

“Surreal.” “Crazy exciting.” “Powerful.” “Like I could do anything.”

These are words I heard girls around me say last Thursday as Être rang the Closing Bell at Nasdaq in honor of National Mentoring Month.

Why is ringing the bell so important?

For companies, the iconic bell ringing ceremony at Nasdaq MarketSite signifies a pivotal moment in an organization’s history, like going public or marking a milestone.

For CEOs, the moment offers a singular and indelible opportunity to celebrate your company, your team, and the future.

For girls invited onto the podium, it is all about their futures.

When girls first glimpse themselves – seven stories high and being broadcast across the world – they feel seen. When they assemble in a Nasdaq board room at a long honey-colored table and raise their hands to ask smart questions, they feel heard. And when they stand on Nasdaq’s podium and close global markets for the day, they feel invincible.

Empowered. And that is what Nasdaq is all about.

Launching companies fueled by innovation into the future.

But last week they launched so much more. When Karen Snow, Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Listings and Revenue at Nasdaq, and her team welcomed Être girls from all around NYC to visit and tour Nasdaq MarketSite, they came armed with questions.

How do companies get listed on Nasdaq?

What does it mean to be publicly traded?

What kinds of companies are part of Nasdaq?

How did you get your job, and do you love it so much?

And epic mentor Kristina Ayanian, Client Experience Lead and Chief of Staff to Chief Client Officer at Nasdaq, answered each one.

Describing her career path, her role, her colleagues and her goals, Ayanian leveled with today’s girls and treated them like she would any other client in the room – like future leaders.

But there was more.

Invited back for a second day to ring the celebratory Closing Bell, more Être girls bounded up the Nasdaq podium stairs. Hearing their cheers as the bell rang and virtual confetti fell behind us is something I will never forget.

For me, the chance to speak to a global audience about a mentorship organization I formed six years ago, our research and our growing global clubs was, as the girls described, surreal. Rewarding. And it whets my excitement for all that will come next.

But, what thrilled me the most, was watching girls spin and scream as they saw themselves atop the Nasdaq MarketSite Tower in Times Square – beaming for the world to see and reveling in what lies ahead.

For, as Ayanian said in her remarks, it is their futures, their startups and their visions that will launch next at Nasdaq.

And if we’re taking stock, that’s what really matters.

Looking ever forward,

Illana

ÊXTRA: Three additional remarks from girls overheard at Nasdaq you won't want to miss: "Look at all the companies on the wall - I recognize tons of them!" "She has the coolest job, getting to see CEOs at their biggest moments." "You guys...we're going to ring the bell someday ourselves. We've got plans."