Title: Vice President, Municipal Underwriting
Firm: Fidelity Capital Markets
Age: 31
Katherine Estes joined Fidelity right out of college in the personal investing division on the customer service side. It took about a year for Estes to move over to capital markets and get hooked on municipal finance. Since 2018, Estes has been actively bidding and helping price new issue deals for the firm.
"This work is like a puzzle with lots of moving pieces. It's fun to problem solve. I also love that it sits in the intersection of finance and public impact," said Estes. "Our work has a tangible impact on communities. One of my favorite things to do is look at the projects and see how the proceeds are being used. It's incredible when you realize how much new essential equipment costs and what municipalities have to do to finance things."
Dan Noonan, Estes' mentor and boss, played an instrumental role in moving Estes' career forward. "Dan is incredibility supportive and helps all of us network in his network, which has been so incredibly important to my career growth," she said. "It can be a really fast-paced environment but having a group of colleagues that are there to help you succeed makes a huge difference and that's what I have at Fidelity."
Estes is doing her part to pay it forward. She is a member of the Women in Public Finance Boston Chapter and committee chair on the Fidelity Capital Markets Women's Leadership group since 2020. "These groups are important because they help people network, which is especially important for women so they can feel comfortable in a male-dominated industry," Estes said.
"Estes is the consummate teammate and always is willing to lend a hand whether it's assisting the banking group or providing mentorship for young members of the organization," Noonan said. "Kat is an exceptional team member."
