Jessica Bibliowicz is a Wall Street banker and philanthropist who is the daughter of prominent financial executive Sanford Weill. Weill and his wife are prominent philanthropists, especially associated with Cornell University and its medical school. Bibliowicz carries on her parents’ philanthropic involvement with the school, and in 2022 was named a “successor” by Inside Philanthropy, meaning she is positioned to continue her parents’ giving. ^{1 2}

Career

Jessica Bibliowicz has worked for decades in various large financial firms and served on the board of directors of large nonprofits. After graduating college, she spent two years as a sales and marketing director at Prudential Mutual Fund, and then eight years in the asset management division of Shearson Lehman Brothers. She then became the executive vice president at Smith Barney, where her father, Sanford Weill, was chairman of the firm’s parent company. ³

While at Smith Barney, Bibliowicz reportedly clashed with then-chairman Jamie Dimon, with accusations that he believed that she was using her family connections to make an end-run around him regarding certain policies and promotions. There are differing accounts as to the exact nature of the dispute, but in June 1997, Bibliowicz announced she was departing to become the president and CEO of the New York firm John A. Levin & Co. ⁴

In 1999, Bibliowicz left her position at John A. Levin & Co. to become the CEO of a new investment firm called National Financial Partners. ⁵ She left this position in May 2013. ⁶

Philanthropy

Since Bibliowicz left her position at National Financial Partners, she has focused on philanthropic work, often in conjunction with her family. Inside Philanthropy listed her as a 2022 “Successor” who was positioned to take over the task of carrying out her parents’ Giving Pledge to distribute most of their wealth to charity. The report notes that she has sat on the boards of some large nonprofit organizations in New York. ⁷

Bibliowicz is chairman of the board of fellows at Weill Cornell Medical College, which was endowed by her father Sanford Weill. Both Bibliowicz and her father graduated from Cornell University, and in addition to being on the board of fellows of the medical college since the mid-2000s, she is also a member of the univeristy’s board of trustees. She is also a member of the board of trustees of New York Presbyterian Hospital, and the board of directors of Jazz at Lincoln Center. ⁸

Bibliowicz and her husband sponsor the Jessica M. and Natan Bibliowicz Award for Excellence in Mentoring Women Faculty, which awards a $5,000 prize to a faculty member at the Weill Cornell Medical College who has advanced the academic careers of women. The prize is awarded during “diversity week” under the auspices of the office of diversity and inclusion. ⁹

Political Contributions

Bibliowicz has made a variety of political contributions to both Democratic and Republican candidates. Republican candidates and PACs she has given to include former Reps. Bob Franks (R-NJ) and Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). Democratic candidates include then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) and Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Max Baucus (D-MT), and Ben Nelson (D-NE) and the 2008 Obama presidential campaign. She has also contributed to the Securities Industry Association Political Action Committee. According to the Federal Elections Commission, Bibliowicz has not made any reportable political contributions since 2011. ¹⁰

1. Angela Chan. “Women Who Board: Jessica Bibliowicz, Chairman Of The Board Of Fellows Of Weill Cornell Medicine.” Forbes. July 6, 2021. Accessed March 26, 2022. https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelachan/2021/07/06/women-who-board-jessica-bibliowicz-chairman-of-the-board-of-fellows-of-weill-cornell-medicine-speaks-about-the-15-billion-were-changing-medicine-campaign-and-her-leadership-advice-to-female-executives/.
2. David Callahan. “The Most Powerful Heirs in Philanthropy.” Inside Philanthropy. January 19, 2022. Accessed March 26, 2022. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022/1/19/the-most-powerful-heirs-in-philanthropy.
3. “40 Under 40 – Jessica Bibliowicz.” Crain’s New York Business. July 31, 2018. Accessed March 24, 2022. https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/jessica-bibliowicz.
4.  Michael Siconolfi, Leslie Scism, and Anita Raghaven. “Dimon Asked If Bibliowicz Went Around Him to Her Father.” Wall Street Journal. July 3, 1997. Accessed March 24, 2002. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB867880872648281500.
5. Beth Piskora. “Bibliowicz Takes Money, Runs Nat’l Financial.” New York Post. April 9, 1999. Accessed March 24, 2022. https://nypost.com/1999/04/09/bibliowicz-takes-money-runs-natl-financial//
6. Darla Mercado. “Bibliowicz to Step down as CEO of National Financial Partners.” Investment News. May 21, 2013. https://www.investmentnews.com/bibliowicz-to-step-down-as-ceo-of-national-financial-partners-49140.
7.  David Callahan. “The Most Powerful Heirs in Philanthropy.” Inside Philanthropy. January 19, 2022. Accessed March 26, 2022. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022/1/19/the-most-powerful-heirs-in-philanthropy
8. Angela Chan. “Women Who Board: Jessica Bibliowicz, Chairman Of The Board Of Fellows Of Weill Cornell Medicine.” Forbes. July 6, 2021. Accessed March 26, 2022. https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelachan/2021/07/06/women-who-board-jessica-bibliowicz-chairman-of-the-board-of-fellows-of-weill-cornell-medicine-speaks-about-the-15-billion-were-changing-medicine-campaign-and-her-leadership-advice-to-female-executives
9. “The Jessica M. and Natan Bibliowicz Award for Excellence in Mentoring Women Faculty | Office of Diversity and Inclusion.” Weill Cornell Medicine. accessed March 26, 2022, https://diversity.weill.cornell.edu/about-us/honors-and-awards/jessica-m-and-natan-bibliowicz-award-excellence-mentoring-women-faculty.
10. “Browse Individual Contributions Maria Bibliowicz.” FEC.gov. Accessed March 24, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Jessica+Bibliowicz&min_date=01%2F01%2F2000&max_date=12%2F31%2F2022