A Conversation With Alum Kristina Schwartz, General Counsel at Women's World Banking

It wasn’t always obvious along her career trajectory that Kristina Schwartz would land in the field of law, but in retrospect, the building blocks toward success as a lawyer were evident.

From the start, she sought a path that would keep her rooted in human rights and social justice. After earning a comparative literature degree from Princeton University, Schwartz taught English in Malaysia and later accepted a fellowship with a Chicago-based social services nonprofit while applying to law school.

A self-described curious and strategic thinker, Schwartz began studying organizations doing admirable work internationally, analyzing the roles of the people behind that work to map out a career that challenged her intellectually and buttressed her values.

She recalls making a deliberate decision to pursue law. “Some people go to law school because they don’t know what else to do. For me, being so intentional and following this North Star has helped me stay confident in this path and committed to the human rights and social justice motivations that brought me where I am today.”

That guiding vision ultimately led her to Women’s World Banking (WWB), a global nonprofit that partners with financial institutions and policymakers to design and develop gender intentional solutions and programs that facilitate systemic change for women. A Sidley pro bono client, WWB is dedicated to serving the more than 700 million women excluded from the formal financial system.

Schwartz joined WWB as general counsel in 2024 as their only in-house lawyer, bringing legal leadership to an organization with nearly a 50-year history. She oversees legal and governance matters across WWB’s global operations, supporting teams in Africa, Southeast Asia, and India, as well as an asset management team spanning multiple regions. Her work ranges from advising on corporate governance and compliance to supporting partnerships with governments and financial institutions on innovative products and policy initiatives.

The role affords her the unique opportunity to shape both the function and the future of the mission-driven organization.

“The most rewarding part for me is being involved in strategic conversations and developing creative solutions to deepen and grow our impact. As lawyers, we’re often battling this perception that we’re only focused on risk management. That is absolutely a critical element — you have to do things in the right way — but being at the table within the organization also allows me to contribute as a problem solver and thought partner, not just a gatekeeper.”

Schwartz stepped into her role at a pivotal moment for WWB, which had set an ambitious goal of reaching 100 million women between 2018 and 2027. It wound up surpassing that milestone early, in 2025, reaching 118 million women and 76 million men in just eight years. She is quick to credit the team that drove that success and is energized by what the future holds for WWB.

“It was an incredible achievement to celebrate, but what also stood out to me was how quickly the focus shifted to what’s next. Being part of shaping that next strategy is incredibly meaningful to me.”

Before joining WWB, she served as assistant general counsel at Kiva, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding financial access to underserved communities. Prior to that, she spent years in private practice, including as a partner, building experience across a range of sectors and geographies.

“What I always enjoyed most was really learning and understanding clients’ businesses,” she says “Moving in-house allowed me to do that more deeply, while also engaging with different cultures and teams around the world. What prepared me were the invaluable skills and expertise I gained from working in private practice, including at Sidley.”

Schwartz first connected with Sidley as a summer associate in 2007. She recalls being drawn not only to the firm’s reputation and breadth of practice, but also to its people. “Everyone was incredibly smart and driven, but also collaborative and kind. I found myself thinking, ‘I’d like to be that kind of lawyer.’”

A year later, she joined the firm’s Investment Funds practice in New York as an associate, focusing on private funds and regulatory matters. Eager to broaden her experience, she later pursued a secondment in Sydney, a new office at the time, where she worked on capital markets matters. The experience also reinforced the importance of developing not just technical expertise, but a thoughtful, practical approach to lawyering.

“It wasn’t easy, as I probably worked more that year than any other at Sidley,” she says. “I had to get up to speed quickly, and the partners in Sydney gave me meaningful client exposure early on, which is not always the case when you are a third-year associate at a big law firm. It was a transformative experience. I returned to New York a better and more confident lawyer.”

Schwartz credits the firm’s commitment to pro bono work with supporting her longstanding interest in social justice. It is serendipitous that WWB had long been a Sidley pro bono client prior to her joining the organization.

“Sidley has been one of WWB’s strongest pro bono supporters,” she says. “The willingness of lawyers to give their time and expertise is incredibly valuable to us.”

Today, based in North Carolina, Schwartz maintains a rigorous professional schedule while carving out time to spend outdoors and stay active. She finds that her work continues to provide a sense of purpose and grounding.

“This is a challenging time in the world,” she says. “Knowing that my work is helping advance women and families in a positive way is deeply meaningful.”

Published April 2026

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