The Security Traders Association of New York (STANY) will host its 89th Markets Conference & Reception on April 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the NYSE. Attendees can expect fireside chats and panels on key subjects, including understanding AI, the rise of hosted pools, prediction markets, and trends in retail trading. This action-packed day will kick off with a breakfast hosted by STANY Women in Finance. Traders Magazine caught up with Kimberly Unger, the Executive Director and CEO to learn more.
Kimberly Unger
How has the STANY conference evolved over the years, and what makes this 89th Annual Conference unique?
Over the years, the STANY Conference has evolved significantly. When I first started out, it was primarily a social event—a large gathering centered around networking and celebration. However, as time went on, we began incorporating more substantive content, and today, the conference is heavily focused on providing valuable insights and discussions. This year, for our 89th Annual Conference, we have an impressive lineup of 16 to 17 panels throughout the day, making it a highly content-driven event.
What sets our conference apart is its unique format—it’s a one-day event, yet it delivers the depth and breadth of a multi-day conference. Another distinguishing factor is the strong sense of community among our attendees. We see a remarkable mix of returning participants and new faces each year, which has helped the event grow both in size and influence.
Additionally, while STANY remains a capital markets conference primarily designed for traders and professionals within the trading ecosystem, we have consistently introduced topics that go beyond traditional discussions. For example, we have hosted a dedicated crypto-focused panel since 2012—long before digital assets became a mainstream topic in financial markets. More recently, we introduced discussions on predictive markets two years ago, and AI has been a recurring theme for the past four years.
Our goal is to stay ahead of industry trends and offer our attendees insights into emerging topics that might not yet be widely covered at other capital markets conferences. This forward-thinking approach ensures that our members and guests are always prepared for what’s next in the financial landscape.
What are the main criteria for selecting speakers and panel topics?
Our conference is planned by a dedicated committee, which operates as part of our board. This committee ensures that each event strikes a balance between traditional panels and those covering emerging, cutting-edge topics. Their goal is to identify and address the most relevant issues for our community.
Because the committee members are actively involved in the trading industry, they have firsthand insight into the topics that matter most to their peers and colleagues. This enables them to curate a program that is both timely and valuable. Speaker selection is also a collaborative process. While certain sponsorships include speaking opportunities, our approach is not solely “pay-to-play.” The committee carefully evaluates and selects thought leaders and subject matter experts who can provide meaningful insights on each topic, ensuring a high-quality experience for attendees.
Would you like to highlight any speakers or discussions?
We are thrilled to welcome Mark Uyeda, Acting Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to this year’s conference, where he will be speaking with Brett Redfearn, Founder, Panorama Financial Markets, a former SEC official. This discussion promises to be both insightful and timely, and we’re very excited about it.
In addition, I’m particularly looking forward to two other standout panels. One is our Predictive Markets Panel, featuring Tarek Mansour, Co-founder and CEO, Kalshi. Given the significant attention Kalshi has been receiving in the news, this discussion will be especially relevant and engaging. Another highlight is a fireside chat with Edward Woodford, Founder and CEO, Zero Hash, where he will delve into stablecoins. While we’ve covered digital assets extensively in the past, this will be our first dedicated conversation on stablecoins, making it a must-attend session.
Another major event at the conference is the Women of Finance Breakfast, which is set to be exceptional this year. We are honored to have Nancy Lazar, one of the most respected economists in the industry, discussing key economic issues, including tariffs and the potential market impact of the new administration. Additionally, Sharon Bowen, Chairwoman of the New York Stock Exchange, will provide valuable insights on leadership and the evolving role of women in finance.
With such a strong lineup of speakers and topics, this year’s conference is shaping up to be one of our most dynamic and thought-provoking events yet.
What inspired the creation of the WIF Breakfast? What initiatives have been most effective in increasing female representation in leadership and trading roles, and what more can be done?
Around 12 years ago, both STA and STANY recognized the importance of fostering greater membership and engagement among women in finance. We saw a need to support women in areas that had traditionally been more accessible to men, such as networking and professional development. Over the years, we’ve introduced various initiatives—including some focused on activities like golf—to help bridge that gap.
One of the most exciting outcomes of this effort is the significant increase in female participation at our events, particularly those geared toward junior professionals. Today, these events regularly see 50% female attendance, which was unheard of when we first started this initiative.
Our goal has always been twofold: to support and empower the women already in the industry and to encourage more women to enter the field. In addition to our focus on gender diversity, we have also been actively working with emerging leaders for the past six or seven years, specifically engaging professionals aged 30 and under. It has been incredibly rewarding to see so many of them get involved with the organization, and we’re looking forward to welcoming a strong representation of emerging leaders at this year’s conference.
Are there any emerging trends or issues in trading and market structure that this conference aims to address?
This year’s conference will focus on some of the most pressing topics in the industry, including 24-hour trading, the rise of alternative liquidity pools, and the evolving landscape of liquidity sourcing and management. These discussions will be especially timely given the changes in market structure and regulatory oversight.
A key theme throughout the conference will be the potential impact of a new SEC Chair and the broader direction of the new administration. While the appointment process is still unfolding, these leadership changes will undoubtedly influence market regulations, and we expect this to be a major point of discussion.
The crypto and stablecoin communities are already reacting to the shifting regulatory landscape, but the implications for traditional market structure remain uncertain. We anticipate significant changes to existing rules, and our panels will explore what those changes might look like.
In addition to in-depth discussions on digital assets, STANY’s Annual Conference will feature timely conversations on key developments across asset classes, including Options and ETFs.
Overall, expect to hear a lot of discussion about 24-hour trading and new approaches to liquidity management, with insights that will resonate throughout the conference.
How does STANY plan to foster ongoing collaboration and discussions beyond the conference?
Our primary focus is on growing and engaging our membership, as we believe the true value of STANY lies in its strong sense of community. This year, we’re not only continuing the initiatives we introduced last year but also expanding our efforts—particularly through partnerships with our sponsors—to create more opportunities for meaningful engagement.
STANY is far more than just an annual conference; we are committed to fostering connections year-round. Every month, we host events that bring together members, non-members, and the broader trading and finance community.
Recently we hosted a Women in Finance event with Webull to celebrate Women’s History Month and an Emerging Leaders event with IEX to raise money for our EL Scholarship Fund, both of which were highly successful. Looking ahead, we are planning two golf outings, an EL symposium, multiple Women in Finance events, an Emerging Leaders Summer Party, and our Annual Meeting and Summer Party, among other networking and industry-focused gatherings.
While I’m currently focused on the logistics of our upcoming events in the next few weeks, our commitment remains the same: to provide consistent opportunities for education, networking, and professional growth throughout the year.
