About Women in Consumer Finance

Founded in 2018, Women in Consumer Finance (WCF) is an annual leadership summit and thriving community for high-achieving women at all stages of their careers in credit, lending, servicing, and collections. Through meticulously curated networking, of-the-moment workshops, and inspiring storytelling, WCF empowers women to create lasting connections, develop in-demand skills, and propel their personal and professional lives forward.

WCF is not about finance. It's about women, our common personal and professional challenges, how to craft our own career journey and reach our full potential. 

Our vibrant alumni network includes more than 1,660 women across more than 270 companies, fostering business collaboration, mentorship, and leadership opportunities. We keep the community active and connected year-round through digital workshops, regional meetups, a monthly newsletter, and an annual awards program that celebrates inspiring women in the industry.

Importantly, WCF provides companies with a unique opportunity to invest in their high-potential female talent and cultivate a strong leadership pipeline. 

Our Founder's Story 

By Stephanie Eidelman, WCF Founder & CEO

When I was 11 my father died suddenly. A year later, in the middle of 7th grade, my mom moved me and my brother from our house in a suburban neighborhood to an apartment in a new city. I've only recently recognized that in the decades since, I’ve been searching for the sense of belonging I lost as a child. 

Several careers into adulthood, I found myself in the consumer finance industry, where I noticed there were thousands of talented women, but few at the top. And I learned that so many of them struggle to find belonging in the same way that I do.

People who feel like they don't belong tend to make themselves smaller. People who feel like they do belong have the capacity to take up space and make their voice heard. Turns out, it’s hard to be the best possible leader and advance your career if you don’t feel like you belong. 

So I built Women in Consumer Finance, a unique leadership summit that puts belonging and connection at the center.

How do we do it? I designed the kind of event I, as an introvert, would want to attend.

We focus on dozens of details that make a difference, starting with putting small teams at the center of the event, holding team meetings even before women get on the plane, and providing lots of structure throughout the event so nobody feels like they’re back in middle school without a place to sit at lunch. 

It works. Now in our 8th year, women jockey within their companies to be selected to participate. I regularly hear from women who tell me “You don’t know this, but your event changed my life.”

We address the personal and the professional, using emotional experiences to help build genuine relationships, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging. As we all know, relationships – more than anything else – drive career success. Inspiring speeches are nice. But they don’t translate to results without knowing you have a tribe that has your back. 

And this translates to business results. Because these types of connections respond to your emails and phone calls when you need advice, a client, or a business partner. I hope you'll join us for our next event. There's truly nothing like it.