The 8th Annual WoMen in Finance Summit

Many of the WIBF team were out in force yesterday at the City & Financial 8th annual edition of the WoMen in Finance Summit, held in partnership with 20-First and chaired by Vivienne Artz OBE FCSI (Hon) CMgr CCMI AIGP, CEO of FTSE Women Leaders Review and former WIBF President and advisory Board member.

Fostering Gender Collaboration and Equality in the Workplace

The summit featured a panel discussing how to foster a culture that supports gender collaboration and equality in the workplace, highlighting the pivotal role of mentoring. The panel was moderated by Lucy Ellis-Keeler, Global Compliance Officer for Business Development and Innovation at Citi and Co-Chair of the WIBF Future Leaders Shadow Board. The panellists included:

• Jennie Koo, Head of Operational Risk, Paragon; Branch Chair Representative, Women in Banking & Finance
• Gwen Faure, Director of Talent and Retention, Women in Banking & Finance
• Neeta Mundra, Financial Services Advisor, Salesforce; Head of Senior Business Leaders’ Community, Women in Banking & Finance

Over 100 people attended this session and we are very proud that WIBF had such a strong representation at the summit.

ACT Research Programme

Jennie Koo discussed the ACT Research programme, a four-year initiative conducted in collaboration with the London School of Economics (LSE). The programme investigates women’s lived experiences in financial services (FS), focusing on cultural aspects and career progression. Jennie emphasised the need for actionable insights from this research to drive meaningful change.

Mentorship Programmes in Financial Services

The discussion explored the role of mentorship programmes in addressing challenges faced by women in FS, such as the lack of role models and professional advice. Neeta Mundra highlighted the significance of “micro mentoring” and the importance of finding sponsors. She also spoke of the value of reverse mentoring to enable cross pollination of ideas.

Gwen Faure spoke about the selfless nature of mentoring and its profound impact, sharing that the WIBF programme has had 349 participants this year, and that WIBF is always looking to sign up mentors.

Diversifying the Talent Pipeline

Jennie Koo addressed the steps the financial services industry can take to diversify its talent pool and foster a more inclusive workforce. She highlighted how mentoring can aid with social mobility within the industry and how mentoring can help understand how people’s backgrounds/ experiences with consumer finance growing up can change attitudes towards financial services as a potential career. Jennie spoke about the value of a mentor helping individuals to celebrate their differences rather than conform, and highlighted the advantages of location diversity in broadening the search for talent, looking at the entire ocean rather than just the pond.

Advice for New Mentors and Mentees

The panel concluded with advice for new mentors and mentees to maximise their mentoring experience. Key points included:

• Mentees should remain open-minded, research their mentors, and take responsibility for driving the conversation.
• Mentors should ensure they can genuinely assist their mentees, be transparent, and listen to their mentees’ lived experiences.

Exploring Different Stages in Women’s Careers

Avivah Wittenborg-Cox, CEO of 20-First, moderated a panel on succeeding in finance in the age of longevity. The discussion featured Annie Ren, Executive Board Member & Director of Governance, Women in Banking & Finance, who shared insights on unlocking the secret to a long and successful finance career. Key takeaways included:

• Avoiding the perfection trap and enjoying the process rather than just the outcome
• Leveraging the power of networking
• Celebrating small wins
• Managing one’s career before focusing on the job
• Following one’s passion

Annie Ren delivered an inspiring speech, sharing her career journey and the challenges she has faced. Nicky King, WIBF’s Head of corporate partnerships said, “I loved Annie’s call to actions: stop being perfect, follow your passion and enjoy your journey. Eat Marshmallows, celebrate success and be happy now!”

Thank you to everyone who attended and our amazing WIBF ambassadors for their insights and inspirational stories.