Women’s Stories – with Livnat Mizrahi Rinsky

In our Women Stories interview series, we have the privilege of meeting inspiring women. This time, we are stepping slightly outside the worlds of design and craft to host a fascinating woman from the arena of finance and numbers – Livnat Mizrahi Rinsky.

Tal Zur met Livnat during their shared studies in the "Menomadin-Peres Program for Executives – Business Leadership for Social Change." They realized that even in fields that seem worlds apart— industrial textile design and capital market trading—the driving values remain the same: the necessity of a human-centric approach, the ability to create something from nothing, and the deep-rooted desire to drive social change.

Livnat, currently the only female CEO of a stock exchange member firm in Israel (CEO of IBI Stock Exchange Member), navigates a highly rational and precise world every single day, yet she does so with immense empathy, intuition, and inner strength. We spoke with her about blending numbers with emotion, female leadership in a male-dominated environment, and choosing optimism and social action during these complex times. 

Could you introduce yourself?
My name is Livnat Mizrahi Rinsky, 54 years old, married, and a mother to three daughters. I currently live in Modi'in and will soon be moving to Ramat Gan. My academic and professional journey is divided into two parts: the world of psychotechnics-psychological evaluation, which I first experienced during my IDF service, and the world of money and numbers, which I met through my academic studies and professional career. I completed two degrees in Business Administration with a focus on mathematics, statistics, and finance. Alongside these, I took numerous courses in sociology, emotional intelligence, adaptive management, negotiation, and transformative leadership. The combination of these two halves is highly evident in my personality; on one hand, I am deeply rational, but on the other, I operate from an optimistic, empowering perspective that encourages mutual growth and enrichment.

Tell us about your work. What field do you come from?
I have been involved in the world of financial content for about thirty years, with an emphasis on the field of investments, trading rooms, stock exchanges - in general, the world of money. I started my career as a banker in the field of investments, and grew to manage trading rooms. Today, I am the CEO of the stock exchange member of the IBI Investment House, which is the largest non-bank broker in Israel. As part of my work, I am responsible for about 150 employees, trading, execution and services employees for various types of clients - institutional, private and business. In recent years, we established a technology company through which we developed an in-house trading application for the stock exchange in Israel and the US, IBI SMART, which contains advanced AI solutions and applications. SMART later became the investment house's super-app, which provides access to diverse solutions for all of the group's activities.

The execution and trading services area, which I manage, is mostly staffed by men. Unfortunately, today I am the sole CEO of the stock exchange members, including the banks. In the past, the situation was different, and in this sense, we went back in time. I believe that women bring to the world of management an important combination of systemic vision, listening, and the ability to lead long-term processes.

Where do you draw inspiration? 
I draw inspiration from my family, my partner, my wonderful daughters—each of whom is a whole world unto themselves—my friends, the people around me, and a general love for humanity. I am highly curious and, above all, love to observe, listen, absorb, and then pass it forward. There is not a single day where I don't learn something new or gather insights, and that is where I grow and create from.

How do you start the creative process of a new project?
Every process begins with an idea, a fantasy, a desire to create something out of nothing, guided by a lot of intuition. From there, I take it to a small, specialized group that I form based on the specific topic, never compromising on professional standards. They are the ones who will lead the project alongside me. We start with brainstorming, move on to a deeper analysis of the concept, gather data, examine what exists in the market, look at alternatives, ROI, and any other parameter required to make an informed decision before launching. I try to create as much certainty as possible during the initial testing phase yet still operate within short timeframes, so we don't lose momentum, building the project from there in structured stages.

In a world based on data and numbers, are there moments where you feel a feminine perspective brings something different to the table? How does it manifest in your daily work?
The feminine perspective is an integral part of who I am and manifests in almost every area of my life. The combination of rationalism and empathy, sharpness and flexibility, quick response and deep observation—these are the elements that allow me to be a better person and help me build a better, more successful company. Ultimately, these feminine qualities are what generate long-term stability and resilience, encourage motivation and creativity, and form the infrastructure for growth.

What is your favorite part of your work process or your workday?
My work is divided between routine operational tasks, strategic thinking, and adaptive management. My favorite part is the creative process that begins with client meetings, brainstorming business ideas, exploring new ventures, and forming collaborations—everything that fosters growth. It’s the space where I contribute and feel enriched at the same time, engaging in business development and implementing challenging goals to create a competitive edge in a world where everything has become generic. I deeply enjoy the learning process and, above all, the execution.

How has the past year and the current situation in Israel affected your work?
Like many Israelis, I can divide my life into two parts: before and after October 7th. Before, and despite experiencing Covid (which was a defining event in itself), I was mainly focused on running the business, driving the company toward growth, building strategy, and on a personal note, engaging in financial education for various age groups. After October 7th, everything changed—both macro and micro. I changed deeply; I look at life differently, appreciate it differently, and gained perspective on what truly matters. During this period, amidst the war, I made several decisions: I volunteered at Hostages Square, I enrolled in the "Menomadin-Peres Program for Executives – Business Leadership for Social Change," and upon graduating, I began building an educational initiative with a small group. Additionally, I started volunteering with the 8200 Alumni Association to support businesses in the North. I try with all my might to lead a unifying and bridging discourse within a fractured, hurt, and polarized society, choosing time and again to play the role of the optimist—though not a hopelessly naive one. I use social media sparingly, and only to spread goodness forward. On the business side, it is a known fact that wars can drive financial activity. So, amidst these complex times, with a high percentage of our team drafted into the reserves, affected by the war, or working from home—we reached an all-time high, seeing growth across all sectors and implementing a highly challenging strategic plan.

What are you working on these days?
I am working on quite a few things simultaneously: Building and implementing a strategic plan across the group of companies I manage to ensure continued accelerated growth. Establishing a social initiative in education called "Path to Life" (Nativ L'Chaim) alongside two close friends. We share a clear agenda of introducing content centered around acknowledging the "other," culture, and early childhood education to bridge gaps and address societal fractures early on. Volunteering with the 8200 Alumni Association to support small businesses in the North—having just finished a cohort as a head mentor, I am now preparing to mentor in the "From Warrior to Dreamer" program. Managing my home and family with all that it entails, supporting my daughters and their evolving needs at their various stages of life (including during their military service throughout the war).

What else do you dream of achieving?
Whenever I am asked about dreams and achievements, I say that what truly matters to me is making a difference—ensuring that my actions leave a lasting, positive impact long after I am gone. I aspire to contribute to making our society better, to help reduce polarization and inequality, and to encourage tolerance and connecting dialogue. Even within the company I manage, I strive to instill more tolerance, collaborative work, synergy, and new creation. And on a personal note—every single morning, I deeply appreciate the privilege to do, to influence, and to create.

A life recommendation / exhibition / album / motto?
I have quite a few mottos that also serve as my life recommendations. I’ll share a few: "In a place where there are no men, strive to be a man", "Live and let live," and "Each person shall live by their own faith." I try to implement each of these in my daily life, passing these messages on to everyone I cross paths with—my daughters, my friends, and my colleagues.

Tell us about something you learned from your grandmother. Preferably something concrete :)
My paternal grandmother, Rachel, passed away many years ago, before her time. I have few memories of her, but they all point to one belief I hold onto—that she was one of the strongest women I have ever known. She was a woman who carried herself without fear, managed everyone with just a look, and was sharp as a razor. We all wanted more time with her, yet at the same time, we were a little afraid of her. I believe that I took my inner resilience, strength, and ability to face difficulties and challenges (among other things) from her.