Mind the Gap: Women in Financial Services Leadership

Discover insights and practical guidance from leading female executives in financial services

Discover insights and practical guidance from leading female executives in financial servi

Curious to learn how C-level female executives overcame career challenges and found balance to rise to the top of their industry? Our latest report, Mind the Gap features interviews with Laura Hay, Global Head of Insurance and women executives from the Global Financial Services industry. Laura and her guests discuss their career progression, professional challenges and successes as well as a variety of other topics.

Laura Hay has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and is dedicated to helping develop and promote women in leadership in financial services. Through this report, Laura hopes to share the stories and experience of the many inspiring female leaders she has met during her career, in the hopes that others can gain valuable insight and motivation from them.

Download our latest report to discover key topics uncovered through our Mind the Gap article series, alongside insights and practical guidance from leading female executives.

Mind the Gap: Women in Financial Services Leadership

Discover insights and practical guidance from leading female executives.

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Be true to yourself:

I believe women should be their authentic selves, however, sometimes you must play a different version of yourself for a specific purpose. I think women can relax a little and play the part, as long as you are true to yourself at the end of the day.

Dame Inga Beale

Former CEO of Lloyd’s of London

Positive self-talk:

Instead of listening to any self-doubts, you have to adopt a ‘you can do it’ attitude and be confident in yourself to take these risks.

Kris Isherwood

Non-executive Director and former Group CFO,
Fidelity International

Try to educate a colleague one-on-one:

If a person shows non-inclusive behaviour, I approach that individual afterwards. A lot of times, people don’t know they are doing it or they actually think they are being helpful. If so, I might enlist their help by saying, ‘This thing really makes me uncomfortable, so next time, could you please keep an eye out for it, and help me deal with it, by doing this or that?’

Tracey McDermott

Group Head of Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance,
Standard Chartered

Disclaimer: Names, roles and associated organisations of participants referenced throughout the report were accurate at the time of interview, and are subject to change.