Trailblazer Charlotte Apel

Charlotte Apel sits within LCH Ltd’s Customer Success Management team, part of LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group). She manages relationships with member banks, serving as their primary contact across all LCH services and driving initiatives that enhance customer engagement and operational transparency. Charlotte has led multiple initiatives, contributing to improved customer experience and internal efficiency.

Prior to her current role, Charlotte held positions as a PMO & Project Analyst and Scrum Master within LCH’s SwapClear service, where she played a pivotal role in major projects including a large-scale LIBOR conversion and the launch of new external-facing platforms.

Charlotte holds a BSc (Hons) in Finance & Economics from Lancaster University Management School. She is a certified Professional Scrum Master and Product Owner, has completed PRINCE2 Project Management training and recently passed her CFA Level 1 examination.

Outside of work, Charlotte is actively involved in mentorship and community initiatives, with a strong focus on female allyship and coaching. She is also an Apprentice at the Merchant Taylors’ Company, where she is involved in philanthropic and community outreach.

How did you get involved with WIBF?

I initially got involved with WIBF in 2023 through LSEG’s Women INspired (WIN) network, who run an internal application process to obtain company-sponsored memberships. Having moved to London in 2021 from Liverpool, I was keen to jump at the opportunity to build relationships with other like-minded women.

All of the in-person and virtual events I attended during that first  year as a member were so valuable to me that I am now a self-funded member.

WIBF, for me, is a safe space to connect and be transparent with other women in the industry. I’ve been able to build friendships, grow my confidence and expand my view of the opportunities available within our industry.

What action have you taken in your career to help you find opportunities to develop and continue your growth?

Saying “yes” as much as I can.

Whilst it is of course important to manage your capacity and ensure you are steering well-clear of the infamous impending doom that is “burnout”, I try to say yes to opportunities whenever possible. These might be directly related to my role (taking the lead on new projects), helping me grow my network (joining committees or boards) or enhancing my personal brand (speaking on panels).

You never know what you’re capable of until you give it a try. I also find that having the willingness to step out of your comfort zone is appreciated by colleagues and management.

Saying “yes” could lead you to the next exciting step in your career. In contrast, it can sometimes be a sure-fire route to “Well.. thank goodness that’s over. I’m never doing that again!” Either of these outcomes is positive, because they help you make better informed decisions moving forward.

Do you have any helpful tools, methods or resources you could recommend to our members in progressing in their career?

Now I’m sure I won’t be the first person to tell you that staying up to date with the news and general affairs is beneficial. But I’ll admit I don’t often find the time to sit down with a coffee and tackle an entire broadsheet. Instead, I opt for small doses of news throughout my day via the following channels:

• Financial Times App – constant news cycle that’s searchable and can be tailored to your interests.
• LinkedIn – follow individuals, companies or news outlets you have an interest in.
• BBC Newscast podcast covers the big events of each day in one round-up episode.

A scroll during your commute can help you prepare for the day ahead, understand the day you’ve had, or at the very least give you an entry-point for some interesting coffee-station chats with colleagues.

I feel very strongly about this next piece of advice: find yourself a mentor that you trust. Whether you’ve met your mentor through a structured scheme, or organically built up a rapport, trust is the first thing you should establish. You want to feel that you can be open about your fears, struggles and worries just as much as you discuss your strengths, motivations and ambitions. Without touching on these topics, your catch-ups will quickly fizzle out in the absence of meaningful conversations. Don’t just limit yourself to one mentor either – I personally have a few. Learn from their diverse experience, knowledge and expertise whilst sculpting your own bespoke path. I’ve heard this referred to as having your own board of directors, as you sit as CEO of your own career.

What advice would you give to yourself at the outset of your career?

Just ask the question!

I’m embarrassed to admit the number of times I sat in meetings as a graduate keeping silent when a question was burning inside, only for a far more senior colleague to ask and relieve me of my imposter syndrome.

Nobody is a mind reader. Nobody is an SME straight away. Nobody can possibly know each and every company-specific acronym from day one. You have to ask questions to establish this knowledge. You have to then ask even more questions to challenge the status quo and bring about meaningful change!