Viola M. Turner – Pioneer in Investing

Viola Mitchell Turner (1900-1988) was hired by North Carolina Mutual Insurance (NCMI) in 1920. Turner became the personal secretary to Charles C. Spalding, one of the North Carolina Mutual Insurance founders. Over 36 years Turner slowly rose through the ranks of NCMI, with her investment advice and portfolio management earned the company over $1 million. Although early on, her male colleagues patronizes her portfolio as her “little project,” her financial acumen made her one of the most sought-after investors in the U.S. In 1957, she was elected Treasurer and later Vice President of North Carolina Mutual, becoming its first woman executive, advocating for equal pay and treatment for female employees.