On Women’s History Month 2025, we congratulate Domitília dos Santos for her achievements and leadership, as an Executive Director, Senior Portfolio Management Director, and International Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley.
Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm operating in over 40 countries with over 1,300 offices. Headquartered in New York, it employs around 65,000 people worldwide.
Women’s History Month 2025 seeks to recognize and celebrate the profound impact of women educators and leaders in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future. The International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated worldwide on March 8.
Born in Faro, Portugal, dos Santos moved to the United States, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Drew University in 1976. She later obtained a Juris Doctor from Rutgers School of Law in 1979. She also attended the London School of Economics where she studied European Union Law and Economics.
After law school, dos Santos began her career as an Associate Legal Officer at the United Nations Secretariat. In 1983, she transitioned into the financial sector with Merrill Lynch and joined Smith Barney as a Financial Consultant Associate.
When Morgan Stanley acquired Smith Barney in 2009, she continued her career with Morgan Stanley. Throughout her tenure, she has specialized in asset management, focusing on strategic planning, asset allocation, and estate planning.
Beyond her role at Morgan Stanley, she leads the dos Santos Group, a team dedicated to providing personalized wealth management services to high-net-worth individuals and small institutional investors.
Domitilia dos Santos has contributed to academia as a visiting lecturer at institutions such as New York University, The New School for Social Research, and the City University of New York. She has also served as an arbitrator and hearing officer with the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and a member of the Foreign Policy Association and The Economic Club of New York.
She has been actively involved in the Portuguese American community, serving as the president of the Portugal-U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a director of the Portuguese American Society, and as a member of the Portuguese Diaspora Council since 2013.
She is actively involved with Universidade Católica Portuguesa Lisbon School of Business and Economics as a visiting lecturer, teaching courses in their Master of Finance Program. Since December 2024, she has served on the Advisory Board of Universidade Católica.
In November 2024, Domitilia dos Santos dos Santos was honored as the “Best Wealth Manager New York” at the International Wealth Management Awards, highlighting her exceptional performance and dedication in wealth management. In recognition of her professional achievements and contributions, dos Santos received the Medal of Merit from the Portuguese government in 2004.
The theme for Women’s History Month 2025 is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” This theme, established by the National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA), celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership, shaping the minds and futures of all generations.
Carolina Matos/Editor
