Jacki Zehner
Jacki Zehner | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 8, 1964 Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, philanthropist, angel investor, author, speaker, film producer |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Youngest woman and first female trader partner at Goldman Sachs; founding president of Women Moving Millions; trustee of Sundance Institute |
Jacki Zehner (born October 8, 1964, née Hoffman) is a Canadian financier, philanthropist, angel investor, author, speaker, and film producer. In 1996, she distinguished herself as the youngest woman and the first female trader to achieve partnership at Goldman Sachs. After departing Goldman Sachs in 2002, she co-established Circle Financial Group. Zehner became involved with Women Moving Millions in 2009 and later assumed the role of its founding president. In 2012, she was appointed to the board of trustees at the Sundance Institute. Since 1998, she has served as the leader of the Jacquelyn and Gregory Zehner Foundation.
Career
Zehner launched her professional journey at Goldman Sachs in 1988 as an analyst before shifting into trading mortgage-backed securities. By 1996, she had become both the youngest woman and the first female trader to be admitted into Goldman’s partnership. Transitioning into executive leadership by 2000, she managed career development for managing directors before leaving Goldman Sachs in 2002.
Following her departure, Zehner co-founded Circle Financial Group, a private wealth advisory firm dedicated to supporting women in managing family wealth and philanthropic efforts. She joined Women Moving Millions in 2009, took on the founding president position in 2012, and was recognized as co-founder alongside Helen LaKelly Hunt in 2017. Between 2012 and 2016, she also fulfilled the role of chief engagement officer.
As an angel investor, Zehner actively supports women-led enterprises such as LearnVest, Seed & Spark, Mogul, Apolitical, Wait, What?, Your Tango, and Circular Board.
Since 2012, her investments have extended to socially conscious documentaries where she has served as executive producer on films including Ready to Fly, The Hunting Ground, Hot Girls Wanted, and 50/50.
She remains at the helm of the Jacquelyn and Gregory Zehner Foundation as its president since its inception in 1998.
Professional affiliations
Zehner is a trustee on the board of the Sundance Institute and has held governance roles with organizations such as the Women's Funding Network, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, The National Council for Research on Women, the University of British Columbia, The Center for Talent Innovation, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, The Indiana University Women's Philanthropy Institute Council, and Sundance Institute's Women at Sundance program.
Writing and speaking
As an author and consultant, Zehner focuses on advancing women's career development, wealth management strategies, investment approaches, and impactful philanthropy. She has maintained a blog since 2008.
Her keynote presentations have been featured at corporate gatherings for Google, Goldman Sachs, UBS, and JP Morgan, alongside nonprofit organizations including the Sundance Institute and YWCA.
In 2012, she delivered a TED Talk titled "Strap In: Closing the Gender Gap." Additionally, she was highlighted on MAKERS in 2016.
Awards
Throughout her career, Zehner has earned numerous accolades. Among them is her designation as a Distinguished Fellow by Barnard College’s Athena Center for Leadership Studies in 2016.