Muriel “Mickie” Siebert: The First Woman on Wall Street
Once upon a time, in a world where men wore suits and made the rules of money, a bold woman stepped into the room and didn’t ask for permission. Her name was Muriel F. Siebert—friends called her “Mickie.” And she would go on to change the face of finance forever.
Mickie wasn’t born into wealth or privilege. She was born in 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio, in a middle-class home with big dreams and limited means. From a young age, she was sharp, curious, and confident. She loved numbers, logic, and asking questions that made adults pause. Her mind wasn’t drawn to dolls or dresses—she was far more fascinated by ledgers and the way money moved the world.
Her father ran a small business, and when he fell ill with cancer, Mickie watched how her family struggled. She saw how medical bills piled up, how tough decisions were made at the dinner table. That pain left a mark on her heart, but also planted a powerful seed: she would never depend on anyone else for financial security. And maybe one day, she could help others feel the same freedom.
After high school, she started college at Western Reserve University, but her father’s illness forced her to drop out before graduation. That would be the last time she let a lack of a diploma slow her down. With courage and a little fire in her eyes, she packed a bag and moved to New York City with just a few hundred dollars and a mission.
The Only Woman in the Room
In the 1950s, Wall Street was not a place where women belonged—at least, not according to the men who ran it. The trading floor was loud, aggressive, and filled with men shouting over each other to make deals. But Mickie had no interest in staying on the sidelines. She started out typing research reports, but she paid close attention. She read everything. She asked questions. She studied harder than anyone. And before long, she wasn’t just typing the reports—she was writing them, analyzing numbers, and predicting market trends with sharp instincts.
When people saw her work, they didn’t see a woman—they saw brilliance. And brilliance couldn’t be ignored forever.
She rose through the ranks of finance firms, bouncing from job to job—not because she wasn’t good, but because she was too good. Her bosses didn’t always like being shown up by a woman. So she kept moving, learning, and growing stronger with every step.
But Mickie didn’t just want to work in finance—she wanted a seat at the highest table.
In 1967, she made her most daring move yet: she applied to buy a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.
No woman had ever done it before. Out of 1,365 members, every single one was a man. When the Exchange received her application, the room went silent.
Breaking the Wall
Buying a seat on the NYSE wasn’t just about money—it was about respect. It cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and you needed a sponsor. Eleven men had to approve you. When Mickie applied, some of them refused to even meet with her. One said, “If a woman’s on the floor, she might cry.” Another joked, “What will she do when she breaks a nail?”
But Mickie didn’t flinch.
She fought back with intelligence, patience, and persistence. She had the financial skills, the work history, and the courage to stare down a wall that had existed for over 175 years. After months of obstacles, she finally found a firm to sponsor her. She secured a bank loan—only after agreeing to a special condition: her seat had to be approved first, before they’d release the money.
She was trapped in a chicken-and-egg game. The bank wouldn’t give the loan without NYSE approval. And the NYSE wouldn’t approve her without proof of financing.
It took her nearly two years to break that circle. She stayed strong. She kept pushing.
And finally, in December 1967, Muriel Siebert became the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.
She didn’t just walk through the door. She kicked it open.
Building Her Empire
Once inside, Mickie didn’t wait to be welcomed. She got to work.
She founded her own firm, Muriel Siebert & Co., making her one of the very few women to ever run a brokerage business in that era. She served everyday investors and fought for fairness in how Wall Street operated. She wasn’t interested in just helping the rich get richer. She wanted ordinary people—teachers, nurses, single mothers—to have access to smart financial tools too.
She also became known for her honesty. In a world that was often driven by whispers and secrets, Mickie told it like it was. If something smelled bad in the system, she called it out. If someone tried to push her around, she pushed back—harder.
She wasn’t perfect, and she didn’t pretend to be. But she was always real, and her clients loved her for that.
From Wall Street to Public Service
In 1977, Mickie made another bold leap. She became the first woman appointed Superintendent of Banks for the state of New York.
This job wasn’t about making money—it was about protecting it. She oversaw every bank in the state, a system that held over $500 billion in assets. People doubted her, as usual. They said a businesswoman couldn’t survive in government. They said the job was too political.
But within months, Mickie proved them all wrong. Under her leadership, not a single bank failed—not one. Even during tough economic times, she kept the system steady and strong. She worked long hours. She demanded transparency. And she made sure the public always came first.
Her time in public office taught her that finance isn’t just about markets. It’s about people. Families. Futures. Dreams.
Fighting for Women
While she built her empire and shaped financial policy, Mickie never forgot the barriers she had to climb. She didn’t want future women to face the same struggle.
So she became a fierce advocate for women in finance, education, and leadership. She created programs to teach girls about investing. She spoke at schools and colleges. She told young women, “Don’t wait for someone to hand you a seat at the table. Bring your own chair.”
She funded scholarships. She pushed for gender balance in boardrooms. She spoke with presidents, governors, and global leaders. But she also listened—to interns, assistants, and students. Because she believed every voice mattered.
For Mickie, success wasn’t just about breaking records—it was about lifting others as you rise.
Her Legacy Lives On
Muriel Siebert passed away in 2013, but her spirit still walks the halls of Wall Street.
She’s remembered not just as the “First Woman of Finance,” but as a fearless fighter who dared to dream in a man’s world—and didn’t stop until the dream became real.
There are now hundreds of women in powerful financial positions—on trading floors, in boardrooms, at the head of billion-dollar firms. And every one of them stands a little taller because Mickie stood there first.
She opened the door—and kept it open.
Her firm, Muriel Siebert & Co., continues to serve investors. Her name appears in finance museums and halls of fame. But her greatest achievement? The courage she passed on to the next generation.
A Few Timeless Lessons from Mickie’s Story:
- Believe in yourself, even when no one else does.
- Don’t let a missing diploma or a closed door define your future.
- Challenge the rules—but be ready to work twice as hard.
- Use your success to make space for others.
- Never wait for permission to lead.
Muriel Siebert didn’t ask, “Can I?” She asked, “Why not?”—and then she went ahead and proved the world wrong.
That’s the power of a woman with a vision.
That’s the story of Mickie Siebert.
