E. Shepard Farrar, CFA, CAIA, NACD.DC, PMP, is a dynamic coach and guide with reacHIRE, focusing on mentoring mid-career women, helping them enhance their skills and navigate professional transitions. Ms. Farrar’s extensive background in investment management uniquely qualifies her for the mission of advancing women in the workforce. Although her primary expertise is finance, her career has evolved to emphasize leadership, mentoring, and strategic development.
Ms. Farrar holds a Master of Business Administration in global economic development from Eastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Princeton University. She also has earned prestigious certifications, reflecting her knowledge of investment management and leadership, as a chartered financial analyst, chartered alternative investment analyst, and project management professional. Further, Ms. Farrar possesses directorship certification from the National Association of Corporate Directors.
Before joining reacHIRE, Ms. Farrar had a long and successful tenure in the finance and investment management industry. She spent 17 years with the Inter-American Development Bank, as head of investments and managing a portfolio that grew from $4 billion to $8 billion. She ensured the retirement security of approximately 5,000 individuals and their families, a responsibility she handled with great care and expertise. Ms. Farrar managed a $14.5 billion U.S. equity portfolio at the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust. She also managed an $8 billion portfolio for the United Mine Workers of America Health and Retirement Funds, focusing on U.S. and private equity.
Ms. Farrar started in finance, working with high-net-worth trusts and employee benefit plans at CoreStates Bank and Riggs National Corporation, which have since merged with larger financial institutions. In each role, she managed large, complex portfolios that provided financial security for retirees and ensured the long-term sustainability of their assets. Today at reacHIRE, Ms. Farrar has shifted from the technical side of finance to leadership development and mentoring. This transition allows her to apply her wealth of experience to help others grow professionally. She takes great satisfaction in guiding women through challenges, assisting them with building influential networks, and preparing them for managerial positions. By combining her technical skills with a passion for mentoring, Ms. Farrar finds fulfillment in helping others reach their potential.
Beyond her professional work, Ms. Farrar has been a longtime civic leader, serving as vice president, past president, and a board member of the Memton Fund for more than 30 years. She also serves on the board of trustees for Eastern University and the Women’s Opportunity Resource Center. Her community service includes volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, where she participates in team-building projects, and contributing her expertise as a board member of the CFA Society of Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
In 2024, Institutional Investor honored Ms. Farrar as one of the Most Influential Women in Investment Management. This award, given to 14 women from a variety of candidates, highlights innovation and leadership in the field. While reviewing her online presence, Ms. Farrar learned of her nomination and later discovered that the nominations were submitted through LinkedIn posts by industry members. Ms. Farrar’s commitment to the investment management field was key to her selection for this prestigious award.
Ms. Farrar has attributed her success to her faith and drive to do the right thing through her calling to help people achieve their goals and uplift others around her. Her faith, which she embraced during college, remains a guiding force in her decisions and actions. Ms. Farrar’s goals include becoming even more effective in her coaching at reacHIRE, completing the process of joining two nonprofit boards, and starting her involvement on corporate boards, especially those of Fortune 500 companies. She remains committed to strategic governance, aiming to contribute her expertise to organizations in meaningful ways.
Throughout her storied career, Ms. Farrar has made significant contributions to investment management, leadership development, and community service. In addition to these accomplishments, her philanthropic efforts have included her work in West Africa, where she has made positive impacts by providing technical advice to local, non-governmental organizations in Liberia and Mali. Through her position at reacHIRE, Ms. Farrar inspires the next generation of women leaders, helping them build the skills and confidence needed to thrive. Her collective dedication to excellence, leadership, mentoring, and community service sets her apart in her field.