WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY
Women As Role Models In The Wealth Management and Philanthropy Sector
Marissa Leffler
Program Director for Health and Education at the UBS Optimus Foundation
As partners and trusted guides to some of the world’s wealthiest individuals, today’s women in wealth management and philanthropy play a vital role in the industry. Their relationships with clients and partners go beyond financial advice and portfolio management —they engage in in-depth discussions about long-term goals, values, and the impact clients wish to achieve through their philanthropic initiatives. Their expertise and leadership are essential, benefiting all stakeholders in the philanthropic ecosystem.
In this edition of our Women’s History Month series, we connected with Marissa Leffler who serves as the Program Director for Health and Education at the UBS Optimus Foundation. Her story, like so many, is an inspiring behind-the-scenes look at the women leaders who are serving as role models every day.
How long have you worked in the wealth management sector? What drew you to it?
I joined UBS in 2018 after spending a decade in US government agencies, where I designed and led initiatives to source and scale global health innovations. What attracted me to UBS was the UBS Optimus Foundation, and the innovative ways in which it uses philanthropic funding to catalyze more private investment in impact. This was really exciting to me.
What does it mean to you to be a female in a leadership role?
For me, being a woman in a leadership role means setting an example for others – both in my professional life and in how I balance different aspects of life. Seeing my mom have a successful career showed me early that it’s possible to pursue your ambitions while staying true to your values, whether that’s family, or personal growth. I also believe that women in leadership can bring diverse perspectives, drive innovation, and help create more inclusive workplaces.
What’s the most meaningful experience you’ve had working with a nonprofit or donor?
Some of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had have come from seeing nonprofit programs in action and understanding the realities faced by the communities they serve. For example, accompanying community health workers as they visit families to screen for diseases like malaria has shown me firsthand how essential their work is – often providing the only access to healthcare in remote areas. Witnessing their impact has reinforced my commitment to strategically directing resources where they can achieve the greatest and most sustainable outcomes.
As more women are pursuing successful, lucrative careers and women of the Baby Boomer generation are living longer than men and inheriting vast family fortunes, how have you seen this impact your conversations around their philanthropy?
In the conversations we have with clients we have seen a growing interest in understanding how best to collaborate with other players to magnify the impact of their giving. In our recent UBS Trends in Philanthropy 2026 report we examined current developments and identified three main trends: We expect greater collaboration between private and public capital, as governments court family capital and families respond through their engagement in structured public-private partnerships. Second, philanthropy will become even more integrated into the overall asset structure of family offices – a shift described as moving from “silo to spectrum”. And third, leading families are challenging traditional philanthropy and will increasingly shape the broader impact space.
What advice would you give to the next generation of women in wealth management as they approach philanthropic conversations with their clients?
Don’t be afraid to broach the subject. If you’re unsure how to do it, find someone with the right expertise to support you. At UBS, we have an amazing team of family and philanthropy advisors who work with Financial Advisors and equip them with the tools they need to have meaningful conversations about clients’ philanthropic motivations and how to translate these into concrete actions.
How can women support other women in their organizations?
Let others do the talking whenever you have the opportunity. I think too often those in leadership roles are expected to have all the airtime, but it’s really important to ensure that others’ voices are heard and they are able to build their own credibility as leaders and subject matter experts in order to continue to grow.
What is your favorite book, podcast or product from women creators?
It’s so hard to choose! There’s so much great content out there. My favorite podcast and Substack is Africa Health Ventures by Rowena Luk. I think she is doing a phenomenal job of keeping tabs on the African health impact investing landscape and highlighting the meaningful trends that she’s seeing in a way that helps to build investor confidence in the African health ecosystem. She recently published an excellent retrospective on healthcare investments in Africa in 2025.
Have you had any female role models that have inspired you throughout your career?
Absolutely! I’ve had many along the way. One very early on in my career who taught me that you don’t need to be apologetic for having high standards; another who was extremely fair and pragmatic who helped me be confident in my judgement and decision making; another who was a visionary and taught me that ‘no’ just means you need to find another way; and another who leads with humility, clarity of purpose, and a commitment to learning that has become my model to emulate.
We would like to thank Marissa for sharing her journey with us! Inspired by this interview? Check out more of our Women In Philanthropy series.
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