Melissa Witbeck is a VP at Charles Schwab, managing a multi-billion-dollar portfolio and working with many clients navigating the Great Wealth Transfer. Melissa is passionate about women’s financial literacy and the potential economic and philanthropic impact women can have as more wealth passes into their hands. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys outdoor activities and traveling with her family. Melissa has been a C200 Member since 2025.
Eva Glassman: As a VP of Charles Schwab, what are your responsibilities? What are things that you love about what you do, and what are some more challenging aspects?
Melissa Witbeck: I manage a $100 billion portfolio, so it’s very dynamic from day-to-day, from building strategy, leadership, focusing on meaningful impact, to making sure my team and our clients receive the best of Schwab. No two days are ever the same, which definitely keeps me on my feet.
When I wake up every day, I’m grateful to have the ability to shape our vision into reality and see ideas come to life. Watching our teams thrive is incredibly rewarding.
The most challenging part is keeping a fine balance between long-term strategic planning and the day-to-day operational needs of running this kind of portfolio.
EG: Did you always want to go into financial services? Take me through your career journey.
MW: When I was a kid, I actually wanted to be an orthodontist. I was the oldest child, raised by a single mom. When I was sixteen, my grandfather passed away and we received a reasonable inheritance. As the oldest child, my mom would bring me along to the financial advisor meetings for managing the inheritance.
None of the advisors asked us about our goals or what we wanted to accomplish; they just wanted to take this money and get it invested. Even then, I knew that wasn’t right. That was when I knew I had to go to college for finance. I needed to understand how this all works.
To this day, it’s personally important to me to make sure that women are comfortable and understand finances, so that when circumstances change—be it their husbands pass and they’re inheriting the money or unfortunately, they get divorced—they know how to manage the money so they can take care of themselves, their future potential, their children, and/or how they want to donate it.
All that being said, my career path has not been linear, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have taken on different roles within the same industry, because I was always curious and had a desire to solve problems. When I see a problem coming up, I have this strong sense of desire to understand. How did we get there and what can we do to solve it? How can we provide a better experience?
I didn’t imagine I’d be where I am today. It wasn’t something I sought out to do, but each chapter along my journey has prepared me for it. The biggest factor in my success has been a combination of being resilient, being open to change, and surrounding myself with people who challenge and inspire me.
EG: Who are some of those people who have inspired you over the years?
MW: I had no formal mentorships early in my career, but I sought out examples of leaders where I could find them. Over time, I’ve been fortunate to be mentored and supported by strong, thoughtful women who were willing to be authentic with me about their experiences, and in turn, I could share with them what I was experiencing in my career. They gave me the strength to keep pursuing my dreams and the opportunities that were given to me. These women embody courage, clarity, and compassion when they lead. Those are the types of people I’m drawn to and who I want to emulate.
EG: Speaking of seeking out women leaders, how did you discover C200? What made you want to join?
MW: I feel so lucky. I was introduced to C200 through a trusted colleague who knew that I was looking to engage more deeply with a community of senior women leaders. I’ve had the fortune of crossing paths with several C200 Members before joining myself. There are all sorts of networking groups out there, but what stands out to me about C200 is the authenticity and generosity of the Members.
At C200, it’s not about titles or achievements. What’s profoundly different about C200 is the connections, wisdom, and desire to share and lift one another up. All of us are super busy, but all of us are builders and lifters, and will take the time to do so with each other.
EG: You are very involved at Charles Schwab in advancing the next generation of women leaders in the company, and I know that part of your work is in the Great Wealth Transfer. So, what does being a “woman in business” mean to you? How do you apply that thinking to what you do?
MW: A woman in business means embracing both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead with authenticity. It’s about creating an impact and space—not only for yourself, but for others who haven’t always been at the table. In every meeting that I hold, whether it’s hiring decisions or mentoring others, I try and bring in other perspectives or challenge norms that need to evolve.
The reason I’m so passionate about this is because the wealth space is changing. Traditionally, patriarchs have held the money, but in this very moment, the money is transferring to the matriarchs—the women. Men are passing away before their spouses, and the money gets transferred to the women, and then it will pass down to the children.
I’ve traveled across the country to speak with these wealthy families, and I ask the matriarchs, “What are you going to do with the money once it passes to you?” Time and time again, they talk about how they’re going to bring their children into the conversation, and as a family, they’re going to work together. This creates a much different experience than we have seen in the past.
I’m very excited about this shift, because we are already seeing what women do once they have money. They turn around and they help others—not just their own family, but they’re helping for the greater good. Melinda Gates is a clear example of this shift.
This gives me so much hope for the future. We need to be prepared and ready for a new type of client. Getting ready for the Great Wealth Transfer requires strategy, and I’m very optimistic about where we’re going in the future.
EG: When you are not working with clients and informing people about preparing for the Great Wealth Transfer, how do you spend your time? What do you like to do outside of work?
MW: I love spending time with my family. When we are together, we love to explore the outdoors, be it surfing or hiking or playing baseball.
I’m also very passionate about community initiatives, including youth development. I am part of a local miracle league here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that provides opportunities to children who are physically or mentally disabled to get to play baseball. We are able to provide an opportunity for them that they wouldn’t otherwise get to experience, and that brings a ton of joy to me. I’m also on the board for the American Heart.
Whenever I can, I love to travel and experience new cultures and perspectives. When we can step outside and look at how other cultures do things, I believe that truly makes us better leaders.
EG: Is there a recent trip that you’ve been on that was particularly insightful or inspiring?
MW: I went to Paris right before the 2024 Olympics. What intrigued me was their slower pace of life; over there, it’s totally normal for them to sit in a restaurant for two hours. I was really taken aback by that because, in American business culture, we are “Go, go, go” all the time. The culture in Paris reminded me that, in reality, it’s very important to slow down and build relationships; a two-hour business lunch could make a huge difference, versus cramming everything into an hour. Seeing that really shaped and defined what’s important to me as a leader—and it also reminded me how important it is to spend more time with the people around me.
EG: What is your advice to aspiring women business leaders to advance their careers? What would you say to those looking to join C200 one day?
MW: My advice is to be bold in your ambition but grounded in your values. As women leaders, we have to build real relationships. While we have to advocate for ourselves, we also have to find people who will advocate for us when we’re not in that room.
We have to stay curious; the learning never stops. I’m the first to jump at learning opportunities, because I want to hear other perspectives. It takes real confidence to be open to other perspectives. If a person’s viewpoint is different than mine and has expanded my own, I feel okay to change my answer. When we collectively share our ideas, we create something even better.
For those who are aspiring to join C200, focus on your impact. C200 is more than just success—it’s about how you use your success to elevate others.
EG: It’s just like our motto, Success Shared—people don’t achieve success by themselves. It has to involve a network or community in support of one another.
MW: C200 represents community, leadership, and legacy. It’s a place where extraordinary women come together—not just to network, but to genuinely support and grow one another. It’s a source of inspiration and a call to action to give back, to mentor, and to lead with intention.
As a newer Member, I am most excited about being with women who believe the same as me. It’s rare to be able to connect and engage with people who have similar values to me, and especially these values.
We may not all have similar personalities, but everyone I’ve spoken to is comfortable with hearing others’ perspectives and being confident and open enough to make the changes necessary for the greater good.
