Nasdaq President & CEO and Roland Park Alumna Adena Friedman Speaks to Students

5/10/21—Nasdaq President & CEO and Roland Park Country School (RPCS) alumna Adena Friedman ‘87 spoke with Lower and Upper School students about leadership, finance, and investment. The students asked Friedman questions about her time at RPCS and her career. Friedman is the first woman to lead a global exchange company and was named by Forbes in 2017 as the third most powerful woman in finance.

Friedman’s conversation with RPCS students was a highlight of the school’s newly formed Power Lunch, a pilot initiative of The Gore Leadership Institute, launched in early 2021 to teach RPCS Upper School students about networking and investing. Students completed an application to join the Power Lunch series, which includes a simulated investment game, conversations on wealth management and social responsibility, presentations on financial markets, and analysis of global financial news through the Financial Times.

The Lower School students who joined the conversation are currently participating in The Stock Market Game through Towson University.

“For over 120 years, RPCS has prepared graduates to bring complex problem-solving and leadership skills to whatever paths they choose in life,” shared Caroline Blatti, RPCS Head of School. “I am proud of our students and faculty advisors for piloting Power Lunch, participating in The Stock Market Game, serving on our student-led Philanthropic Literacy Board, and continuing to develop leadership opportunities at every grade level and across a wide range of interests and activities such as ethics, entrepreneurship, social innovation, inclusion, financial literacy, global learning, internships, and capstone fellowships. We are honored to host Adena Friedman as she inspires our students by sharing her leadership journey at RPCS and beyond.”

At the conclusion of the conversation, 5th grader Alexis L. shared, “Today, I learned it can take a while for your dreams to come true, but if you really work hard at it, you can make them happen!”