Awards Alumni – Abisola Barber

Abisola Barber won the WIBF Rising Star award in 2018 and has since been a member of the WIBF Alumni Network.

Abisola is a Director at Citi, within the Institutional Clients Group’s Compliance function. Leveraging her background as a former Trading Business Manager/Chief Operating Officer within Global Markets at Barclays, Abisola drives cross-departmental collaboration as she leads on transformational and product risk management to enhance operational effectiveness, whilst championing strong conduct, culture, and colleague development.

At only 30 years old and a multi-award winning Professional recognised by the likes of the Financial Times, Yahoo Finance and The Black British Business Awards for her trailblazing career and pioneering work in Diversity and Inclusion, Abisola is an Independent Board Member for the University of York’s governing council, and Advisory Board Member for the School for Business and Society at the University of York.

Abisola holds a BA (Hons) Philosophy, Politics & Economics from University of York; and MSc International Public Policy from University College London.

We caught up with Abisola to find out what she has been up to since, the impact of winning a WIBF award as well as finding out her top tips on networking, personal brand and

You won the WIBF Rising Star Award in 2018, can you update us on your career since then?

It’s been five years, wow! Well aside from the lost years of the pandemic, I’ve been promoted twice, changed company and changed roles. A lot of change really! I’ve also expanded my external engagements in the networks, organisations and social causes I champion and have built some really special partnerships along the way whilst meeting some unforgettable people who are now so integral to my professional development.

What other projects/initiatives are you currently working on?

Aside from my busy day job, I’ve been so pleased to add two non-commercial NED roles to my portfolio, serving on the governing Council for the University of York, and the Advisory Board for the School of Business and Society at York. I have deep connections with my alma mater, and it’s fantastic to be able to give back in a way that is progressing York in many aspects to achieve its mission to be a University for public good. Every day is a school day, and my development has soared exponentially since joining back in 2020 – and I’m so excited for the journeys ahead for both the School and the University as a whole.

What impact did winning the Rising Star award have on your career?

Winning WIBF’s Rising Star award really catapulted my career. It was the first big industry award I won, and really the start of a trajectory I would never have comprehended. But most importantly, the confidence it gave me was unparalleled! I’ve always been a quietly confident person, but oftentimes dulled my shine because I did not think I was *truly* good enough. The Rising Star award changed that, and WIBF as an organisation continues to encourage me to take up space and step into my natural confident self.

You ran a workshop for WIBF on personal branding and networking – can you give us your top 3 tips?

(1) Give yourself a Google. (Other search engines are available!). I cannot emphasise this enough. With the increasing influence of social media on hiring, firing (!), and really all elements of our life, is your online profile truly reflective of the person you are and who companies would want to hire? Is your online profile vastly different to that offline?

(2) Be comfortable in your own skin. Everyone is different, and truly that is a glorious thing. Whilst you can learn a thing or two from others, outright copying something that works for someone else may not work well for you – and it’s very easy to spot when a quality or style isn’t in keeping with your natural approach. Stay true to your authentic self.

(3) Check your circles. They say you can judge a person by the company they keep – but the same can be said for your personal brand and your networks. Assess who is influential around you, who can (and does) provide mentorship and/or guidance to your career. Who is your champion, coach, sponsor? If there are gaps, identify them and look to fill them to help boost your career progression and professional development. Network proactively, with a set goal to achieve – even if that is just making a new connection, or pursuing an opportunity.

Can you give an example of when networking has helped you achieve a goal?

Networking has actually helped me secure a number of my former roles – but one in particular, I had previously taken on a stretch assignment in a rotation to support another business area. I got on well with the team lead and we had partnered well together on the projects I supported. I made a conscious effort to stay in touch with her even after my stretch assignment had concluded. Fast forward a few years, and I was interested in an opportunity in a new business area she was leading. I was able to leverage my connection and known working output to secure myself a role working in the new team! Had I not maintained that relationship and been able to demonstrate my capabilities, I would not have been offered the role.

You have achieved a lot in your career so far- what’s next for you, what ambitions do you have?

Oh goodness, so many! I still very much feel like I am at the early infancy of my career, which both excites and scares me in equal measure!! But fundamentally, I want to keep learning, growing, gaining new experiences and refining my skillset. If that takes me to another country, another product area, another team: I’m excited for the journey. But ultimately, I am really passionate about being a positive leader and supporting those on their leadership journey in their development – so any arena where I can further that cause is where I want to be.

You are a role model for many women, who are your role models and why?

There are so many women I admire and wish to build on my own characteristics to resonate with them – Nicola Kilner’s resilience, Indra Nooyi’s ‘compass’ and ‘communication’; but the older I get, the more I truly appreciate my mother in particular. As a young mother of four children each a year apart in age, she forged her career path in Property and as a leader, and instilled such formidable qualities in us that I will forever be grateful for. There were sacrifices along the way, of course, but I’ve learnt so much from her and her wisdom in those experiences. I would not be who I am or where I am if it wasn’t for her.

What advice would you give to young women starting out in financial services?

(1) Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The only way to learn is by trying, and not every attempt will be successful. A baby learns how to walk by falling over several times and getting back up. Those mistakes are the best lessons you will get. Embrace them with humility and grace: you will be grateful later in your career for those experiences.

(2) Start building your connections early. Network with your peers both internally and externally. Join societies, clubs, events. Speak to colleagues in other teams, in other areas of financial services. Solidify those relationships and try not to make them too transactional. Your connections can open so many doors, but they can also be the relatable friend you need to seek counsel or to debrief with after a stressful day and help you navigate challenges. I’m so thankful for my internship and graduate scheme friends that I still have to this day who have played all of these roles!

(3) Educate yourself and embrace technology. The world is changing yet again, and the ways of working are shifting in tandem. Continue to upskill wherever you can – take some online courses, read articles that you find interested & align to your field – and utilise new technologies to give you that competitive edge.

And finally, tell us something about yourself people would find surprising!

I have an awfully hectic work-life and lots of external and personal commitments to juggle, but I’ve never had a cup of coffee (or anything caffeinated) in my life! I somehow have boundless natural energy that gets me through every day, even on minimal sleep!