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Linda Descano, CFA

Chief Administrative Officer, Marketing and Global Affairs & President, Women & Co.

As President, Linda Descano oversees management of Women & Co., a division of Citi that provides women with educational resources for navigating life transitions and planning their financial future. Linda joined Women & Co. in 2003. Prior to joining Women & Co., from 1999 through 2002, Linda was a Director and Portfolio Manager in Citi’s Private Portfolio Group, where she co-managed customized investment portfolios for individuals and institutions and oversaw the firm’s socially responsible investment program. Before that, Linda served as Senior Vice President and Director of Environmental Affairs for Citi predecessor company, Salomon Inc., which she joined in 1994.An accomplished speaker, over the course of her career, Linda has spoken at hundreds of major conferences around the world on an array of personal finance, investment and leadership topics. She is a member of several professional associations, including the CFA® Institute, New York Society of Security Analysts, Financial Communications Society, and Women In Communications. Linda also serves on the New York Board of Step Up Women’s Network, co-chairs Dress for Success’ Financial Literacy Committee, and is a member of the National Organization of Italian American Women. From 1997 through 1999, Linda chaired the steering committee of the United Nationals Financial Institutions Initiative on the Environment. Linda also has served on the Environmental Financial Advisory Board of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as the boards of the René Dubos Center for Human Health and the Environment and Recycled Paper Coalition, among others.Passionate about education and science, Linda endowed the Nina Anna Scholarship, in honor of her grandmothers, Nina Gaspari Pennachietti and Anna Fortunato Descano. She also supports the Prudy Astrella Legacy Scholarship in honor of her inspirational 5th grade teacher, Ms. Astrella; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian; and the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.Among her many accomplishments, Linda was the New York recipient of the 2009 Corporate w2wlink Ascendancy Award for her career achievements and her dedication to mentoring women. She was recognized as a Wise Woman by the National Organization of Italian American Women in 2008. She received a Human Rights Leadership Award from Church Women United in 1999 and an Environmental Leadership Award from the United Nations Environment Programme – North America in 1997.A native of Philadelphia, Linda attended Temple University and graduated with a bachelor of arts in geology. She holds a Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.