Marianne Markowitz

President & CEO, First Women’s Bank, a women founded, owned, and led bank and the only bank ever formed to strategically serve the women’s economy and close the gender lending gap nationally.

Previously, Markowitz served as the Acting Administrator and Regional Administrator for the Small Business Administration and as an interim member of President Obama’s Cabinet. Markowitz was appointed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to serve on the City of Chicago’s Small Business Advisory Council. Most recently, Marianne was Managing Director at CIBC, US where she successfully implemented a national SBA program.

Before her time at the SBA, Markowitz served as trustee on the Obama for America Board of Directors, CFO for the 2008 Obama for America Presidential Campaign, and for the 2007 launch of the Obama Exploratory Committee. For 17 years Markowitz held leadership roles in finance and treasury at leading global institutions in the U.S., UK, and Switzerland.

In 2023 Crain’s Chicago named her as a Women of Note, in 2024 she received the ATHENA Leadership Award. In 2025 Crain’s named Markowitz a Notable Leader in Finance and Chicago Innovation honored her at the Innovative Women Awards. Markowitz is a member of the Milken Institute Executive Circle, International Women’s Chicago Forum, The Chicago Network, Economic Club of Chicago’s membership committee, the Boards of World Business Chicago and Illinois Economic Development Corporation, the Fast Company Impact Counsel, Granite Creek Executive Council and Reclaim13 Advisory Council.

Markowitz received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and an MBA from DePaul University.