When Julia Di Natale ’22 first met Molly Stokes ’28, the Bryant alum and the Finance major immediately clicked.
“I just saw something in her. There was a spark; there was an excitement,” says Di Natale, a Finance alum who worked at Goldman Sachs after graduation and, more recently, became an assistant vice president at Marsh.
Invited on campus by Senior Lecturer in Finance Maura Dowling to participate in a pilot of the Women in Finance Leadership Mentorship Program, Di Natale discussed her career path with Stokes and offered advice on how Stokes could best achieve her own goals. Meetings took place over the course of five weeks, with each session pegged to achieving a specific milestone.
“We were able to go more in depth in areas where it felt natural and instantly connected about my interest in pursuing a global supply chain minor as that was one of her concentrations,” recalls Stokes. “We were also able to expand beyond what the program required by discussing what I could do over the summer to differentiate myself before returning to Bryant for my sophomore year.”
RELATED ARTICLE: 'Core four' bowlers lead Bryant women to first East Coast Conference championship
The mentorship program, which initially paired 10 students with an equal number of mentors, was developed by Finance Lecturer and Women in Finance Leadership Program Director Mara Derderian ’93 and Senior Assistant Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement Jessica Dang ’16 ’23MBA, Derderian says the intent is to build a community around women in finance, who remain underrepresented in the profession.
“That's not just professors and students and companies that come and talk on campus, but this enormous network of women who are out there willing to give their time and their support of a younger generation,” says Derderian, who in addition to continuing the Women in Finance Leadership Mentorship Program is working on bringing additional mentorship initiatives to life, such as connecting incoming first-year finance students with mentors who are in their graduating year.
Fostering connection
Once the program formally ended for Di Natale and Stokes in the spring of 2025, the two Bulldogs remained in touch. That summer, she reached out to Di Natale for a reference letter while applying to participate in Girls Who Invest, a national group working to improve the investment management industry by advancing women investors, change-makers, and leaders.
Stokes is currently completing coursework on asset management through Girls Who Invest’s Online Intensive Program. “They also set me up with a study group of women who attend Rhode Island schools, like Providence College and Brown University,” adds Stokes.
"I knew about the program because some of my colleagues at Goldman Sachs were it when they were students,” says Di Natale. “I really wanted it for her, and she sent me one of the sweetest emails expressing her gratitude for the recommendation letter and telling me that she had gotten into the program. I felt so proud that I was able to be one component of that result for her.”
RELATED ARTICLE: Arielle Feinstein ’27 forges a future guided by finance and faith
Emboldened by her mentoring relationship and participation in Girls Who Invest, Stokes recently attended Girls Into VC’s Women in Venture Capital Summit at Harvard University. She found inspiration through the conference even though venture capital isn't her primary career interest.
“Everyone was asking questions and trying to get to know other people. That can be so helpful in building confidence and realizing that you're not alone in doing this,” she says. “The version of me before Bryant would have shied away from an opportunity like this.”
Opening new doors
Stokes continues to take advantage of opportunities at Bryant – whether it be signing up to attend a summit organized by the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island or applying for membership in the Forte Foundation, which supports women students in finance.
“At Bryant, there are so many ways to get involved; you can get so many unique perspectives just by going to speaker events,” she says, noting that on-campus women’s groups have allowed her to meet like-minded individuals with similar goals.
Reflecting on her Bryant experience, Di Natale says that the mentors she connected with as a student had a lasting impact, and she sees her mentoring role as a way to pay it forward.
“I met my mentor Danielle Nikosey ’20 at one of the admission events, and that was a defining moment because I realized that this was a university I could thrive at. It was because of her that I chose Bryant,” recalls Di Natale. “I know Molly values these initiatives, and she's going to want to give back one day. And then there will be the next girl after Molly.
RELATED ARTICLE: Bryant's Women in Finance get inside tours of Red Bull, Chicago Blackhawks, and more
Bryant’s women, Di Natale continues, help one another climb to the top.
“We are strong, we are powerful, and we are going to bring each other up,” she says.
As for Stokes, her biggest 2026 goals include getting involved on campus and expanding her professional network. And, of course, she’s continuing to stay in touch with Di Natale.
“I feel like I will stay connected with Julia for the rest of my life,” says Stokes. “I genuinely formed the type of connection with her where I feel comfortable asking her for anything.”