Rebecca Wooff
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
To me, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate and honour girls and women globally. It’s a day to highlight how far we have come in the fight towards gender equality but also to recognise how far we still have to go. It is a chance to reflect on what we do, individually and as a society, to stand up against gender stereotypes and to educate others on the disparity women and girls have to battle against in day-to-day life. Ultimately, it is a day to empower women and girls in all aspects of life.
What comes to mind when you think of this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #InspireInclusion?
No matter the race, age, ability, faith we all come up against the same hurdles. There is no way for women to identify themselves outside of the patriarchal structures that hold up the world, but as women, we can come together to push ourselves and each other forward.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
This is a hard one! In an ideal world I’d be running a cat shelter out of my giant house; but realistically speaking, I’d just like to be a master of my skillset (and perhaps some skillsets that I don’t know I have yet). I’d like to know that I have achieved all that was possible for me to have achieved in that time and that I am happy, healthy and respected.
Are there any women in particular that have positively impacted you in your career? If so, what’s one lesson they have taught you?
Throughout my entire career, every single one of my managers has been female; Haley, Laura, Rachael, Suzanne, Gill and Bev. They have taught me everything I know. My first manager, Haley, set the groundwork for me to be unapologetically me in my career and not to minimise myself when I feel uncomfortable but to express my thoughts and opinions respectfully. I have never forgotten this lesson and each of my managers since then has encouraged me to thrive with this mindset.
What advice do you have for women starting out in their careers?
I would share the same advice that was given to me; be yourself, be confident (if you don’t feel it, fake it and you soon will) and don’t minimise yourself. I also recommend that women read “Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men” by Caroline Criado Perez because it provides deep insight into how much women have overcome to get where they are without even knowing it!
Tell us about a stereotype you’ve had to overcome.
The biggest stereotype I am often faced with is that I am bossy because I am confident in what I say, and I am keen to share my thoughts. I wouldn’t say this is something I have overcome as I am sure some people still think of me as bossy, but over time I have learnt that this word is often used for women where ‘assertive’ is used for men. Today, if someone considers me to be bossy, I no longer see it as a bad thing.
What’s the best thing about being a woman?
I think that the best thing about being a woman is being part of a community; women share a lived experience that brings us together in a unique way.
What are the challenges facing women in business today?
We have come a long way over the past few decades but there is still room for improvement. One of the biggest challenges facing women in business is finding an employer that supports and empowers them in the same way as their male counterparts. I also believe that women will always come across casual sexism and misogyny and that the biggest challenge is calling this out.
What can women / businesses / the industry at large do to overcome these challenges?
Being aware of the challenges, educating the industry about these and having procedures in place to stamp out discrimination go a long way to helping women in the industry.
What are three key things you think are important to succeed as a woman in business?
Being confident, staying true to yourself and knowing your worth.
India Johnston
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Celebrating women from all over the world and all that they have achieved. It’s also a time to reflect on the progress that has been made, but also the challenges we still face and where improvements can be made.
What comes to mind when you think of this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #InspireInclusion?
Including women from all walks of life, all abilities and disabilities and giving every woman their chance to shine.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
This year marks my 10th year in the industry, and when I reflect back to my first day, knowing nothing, I feel a real sense of achievement of how far I have come – not only in my career, but also my personal life. I hope in ten years’ time I can reflect back with the same sense of achievement; I am excited to see what is in store for me.
Are there any women in particular that have positively impacted you in your career? If so, what’s one lesson they have taught you?
Someone who stands out is Ruth Dolan, from Craven Street Wealth. She employed me into my first position in financial services and gave me the mentorship I needed to build the foundations of my role. She gave me the support I needed to complete my exams and gave me the opportunity to branch out and move up the career ladder, even if that meant I had to move on from her employment. She taught me that in a male-dominated industry, women can make a change and sit at the top of the career ladder with hard work and determination. We have kept in touch over the years, I was very lucky to have her guidance when I needed it most.
Tell us about a stereotype you’ve had to overcome.
That young women cannot be taken seriously in this industry. I have had to overcome my fair share of ageism and sexism, but standing up for your own abilities is key, and for me, that came with time and confidence.
What’s the best thing about being a woman?
Women are incredible, we really can do anything we put our minds to. Not just in financial services, but in any role, and across all parts of our lives. With each new thing we add to the list, we somehow are able to manage it all!
Do you have one highlight of your career?
Yes, passing my Diploma! I put hours and hours and a lot of tears into achieving that milestone and it gave me such a sense of achievement once I finally did it. My friend, Lauren Barton, from SJP, and I passed at the same time, it was great sharing that experience with her and celebrating together.
What are the challenges facing women in business today?
One key challenge is flexibility and feeling like you have to pick between being a mother and having a career. I have been extremely lucky in my role here at Kingswood, where I have been given the flexibility I need to give as much as I can to both. I saw something once that said, ‘hyping yourself up to try and work like you don’t have children and parent like you don’t have a job’ and that couldn’t be more relatable!
What can women / businesses / the industry at large do to overcome these challenges?
Be open to offering flexible working, so women don’t have to make an impossible choice, and employers can also get the most out of their employees. Kingswood and I are proof that it can work really well for both parties.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to a female looking to get into financial services?
When you first start out it in financial services, it can feel like you need a lifetime’s worth of knowledge to even get started, but throwing yourself into learning the industry and completing exams will help broaden your knowledge and it all just clicks into place with time. My advice would be to make sure you have support around you, especially in the workplace, people who are in your corner and want you to succeed.
Rebecca Odlin
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
As a passionate sports fan, I can think of some amazing sportswomen who have shown resilience in the face of adversity. Tracey Edwards and her successful all female crew, being told multiple times women couldn’t sail (I highly recommend watching Maiden), or the Williams sisters who faced prejudice throughout their tennis careers (another great film: King Richard). But other than being a film critic I can also think closer to home and am lucky to be around some incredibly resilient women. My friend who lost her baby son, my auntie who nursed her husband with dementia and my sister who supports her daughter with autism. These women don’t get praise or expect accolades, but on International Women’s Day I will be quietly thanking them for being in my life, showing me what resilience means, and that I don’t need a movie for that!
What comes to mind when you think of this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #InspireInclusion?
I think of all women no matter what their background, experiencing equality.
Are there any women in particular that have positively impacted you in your career? If so, what’s one lesson they have taught you?
Being confident in execution with humility in evaluation.
What advice do you have for women starting out in their careers?
Be brave, no question is a silly question!
What are the challenges facing women in business today?
There remains some institutional bias across the industry against women and this needs to be tackled head-on.
What can women / businesses / the industry at large do to overcome these challenges?
I’m a big fan of Matthew Syed (sports psychologist/author) whose book, Rebel ideas, talks about the power of cognitive diversity.
Maria McLeod
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It is a celebration of all the great achievements by women throughout history and a reminder of what can be achieved today.
What comes to mind when you think of this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #InspireInclusion?
The need to include women of all nationalities, race and age in all aspects of public and business life, for us all to benefit from their experience and perspective.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Hopefully recently retired and on a nice holiday in one of my favourite places!
What advice do you have for women starting out in their careers?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, it’s not a weakness. If you don’t know the answer to something, it’s okay to say that you don’t know, but then go and find out what it is. Make your CV as interesting as possible and ‘sell yourself’, (but never lie!) and be yourself in interviews. If the employer doesn’t like ‘you’ then it’s not the job for you.
Tell us about a stereotype you’ve had to overcome.
Being a “young blonde” and not being taken seriously.
What’s the best thing about being a woman?
Being a great role model to my daughter (so she keeps telling me) and watching her become a strong independent young woman.
Do you have one highlight of your career?
I always wished I’d gone into higher education, so at 32 I went part time and completed a university degree whilst also looking after my child and my dog.
What are three key things you think are important to succeed as a woman in business?
- Preparation is key, 2. Don’t be afraid to admit that you don’t know something, 3. You don’t need to be ‘tough’, you can get just as far by being nice.
What made you want to get into Financial Services?
I started off working in general insurance for a few years for a firm that was also involved in financial services. I thought that sounded more exciting and asked to make the switch to that part of the business – I’ve worked in financial services ever since!
What’s one piece of advice you would give to a female looking to get into financial services?
Think about what you enjoy doing, as that will influence which path you will want to take. Would you enjoy being on the road and talking to clients all the time, or would you be happier with more of a background and/or desk-based role? Once you have figured that out, you can look into the different pathways that lead to that end goal.
Stephanie Vassallo
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to honour and reflect on the changes and milestones we have reached and continue to reach, both personally and on a wider scale. It’s also a reminder to always strive for further progress.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Since making a significant career move into Investment Management, I have found an industry I’d not only like to stick with but also exceed in! I plan to further my knowledge and confidence both in this profession and in my personal life. I am always trying to better myself as an individual. I’d like to say I will have fine-tuned my character to where I would like to be, but there is always room for improvement!
What advice do you have for women starting out in their careers?
Create goals and don’t stop until you reach them. Like anything in life, persistence is key. So keep going, take all the advice you can along the way and be confident throughout. You will likely hit hurdles but it’s how you deal with them that matters most and defines you.
What’s the best thing about being a woman?
For me, it’s the ability to juggle a multitude of aspects of life and be unfazed (most of the time!) whilst doing so. And if you can be a part of a support system of amazing women to go on what can sometimes be a tough journey with you then you are winning.
Do you have one highlight of your career?
I’d have to say my latest move to Kingswood Institutional has not only been a highlight and allowed me to reach my full potential but also a huge change for the better in all aspects of my life.
What are three key things you think are important to succeed as a woman in business?
- Persistence – Quite literally never giving up, especially when you are faced with challenges.
- Confidence – I’ve always been a believer that confidence gets you very far. And on the days when you feel as though you don’t have it in you – fake it ‘til you do.
- Being consistently yourself.
What made you want to get into Financial Services?
I have to admit that I worked in Financial Services before I hit my 20’s and absolutely hated it! I vowed never to get back into the industry – but here I am a fair few years later and loving a job I fell into. I think there is a lot to be said about the company you work for and more importantly the team & management you are surrounded by and work with day to day.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to a female looking to get into financial services?
Find an area that you are not only good at but genuinely enjoy. I believe that when you enjoy your work, you put so much more into it and in turn excel and reap the benefits.
Lisa McCaw
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
The recognition and celebration of women’s achievements, not only in the workplace but in social, political, and economic situations. For me, it feels good for my efforts to be appreciated and recognised, particularly, given the very male-dominated industry that I work in. I feel valued in the role that I play, both with my clients and my employer, as I am acknowledged for my efforts as a person, and not as a gender type.
What comes to mind when you think of this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #InspireInclusion?
I feel that inclusion is very important to change the future of stereotypical work roles for women and to inspire women to see their worth and change any limiting beliefs.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I see myself continuing my journey in my existing role and since I enjoy being client facing and am a relationship builder, I would like to strengthen the relationships further with my clients and support them on their journeys.
Are there any women in particular that have positively impacted you in your career?
If so, what’s one lesson they have taught you?
When I started my career, my boss at Halifax Bank believed in me and gave me the confidence to follow my dreams. She inspired me with how successful she was as a woman in the workplace, gave me recognition for my abilities, and helped me build the confidence and belief in myself to strive high.
What advice do you have for women starting out in their careers?
Finding something that you enjoy and that you are passionate about is the first step to success in what you do, so, believe in yourself and have no limits to what you want to achieve.
Tell us about a stereotype you’ve had to overcome.
The stereotypical financial advisor is male, and the industry is very male dominated so being successful as a woman in this industry has helped me break this stereotype and I hope more women will consider this career route and change the dynamics so that there is more diversity in this industry.
What’s the best thing about being a woman?
I think we have great communication skills, a softer approach, and are very considerate when needed. As a woman in this role, I can show great care and empathy towards clients and really consider their feelings, while displaying high levels of skill and effort, be very personable as well as professional when providing advice. I know that a lot of clients can open up more with this approach and feel less intimidated.
Do you have one highlight of your career?
In my very first year as a financial advisor at Halifax bank as part of my achievement, I was highly recognised and won a national competition and was rewarded with a trip to Lapland.
What are the challenges facing women in business today?
I see fewer challenges as there has been so much emphasis on gender equality although occasionally, I feel that I may not be the ‘stereotypical’ financial advisor, considering the majority of advisors are male. While some people may initially underestimate my abilities, eventually, I feel that I am very well accepted.
What can women / businesses / the industry at large do to overcome these challenges? Just be ourselves and work to the best of our abilities with confidence. I would like to see more women joining the industry and raise more awareness of the qualities that the role offers to women and of the qualities that women bring to the role, in turn.
What are three key things you think are important to succeed as a woman in business? Credibility, fair treatment and confidence and self-worth, along with the necessary skills!
What made you want to get into Financial Services?
Because I’m a people person and like forming relationships, I think that this profession complements my skill set well and is also a highly rewarding career.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to a female looking to get into financial services?
It is very much a woman’s role as well as a man’s. As women, we have a lot of qualities to offer when dealing with people and building relationships, which we can do very well, and this is a very rewarding career offering a lot of benefits – it’s not about gender!
Harriet Griffin
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day holds significance for me as a time for reflection and celebration. It’s a moment to recognise the achievements, struggles, and contributions of women throughout history and in our contemporary world. It’s not just about acknowledging the progress we’ve made but also about highlighting the ongoing work needed to achieve gender equality. It’s a reminder of the importance of empowering and supporting each other as we continue to break barriers and strive for a more equitable future.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I see myself doing something I really enjoy and that gives me a sense of purpose. One of my goals in life is to always keep challenging myself by trying new things and stepping out of my comfort zone. So, wherever I am in 10 years, I really hope to be challenging myself and doing something I might not feel 100% comfortable with.
What advice do you have for women starting out in their careers?
Make sure to do something that you enjoy first and foremost, and don’t worry about feeling like you’re set in stone with any career path you choose. I recently read a book called “The Hundred-Year Life,” and it made me realise that it’s okay to change or pivot within your career path. One of the key takeaways from the book is that you shouldn’t feel like you have to follow a straight line. Always be open to new opportunities and be willing to try different things – that would be my advice to all the women that are starting out in their careers – irrespective of industry.
Do you have one highlight of your career?
One of the best moments in my career was being interviewed for my role at Kingswood whilst I was eight months pregnant. It showed me that people should be recognised for their skills and abilities, no matter what stage of life they’re in.
What are three key things you think are important to succeed as a woman in business?
For me, to succeed in business as a woman, my top three takeaways would be:
- Keep learning new things
- Be flexible and able to adapt to changes as they’re presented to you
- Build a strong network of people who can support and guide you to make the best decisions
What made you want to get into Financial Services?
I started my career at the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments, where I was able to gain exposure to all aspects of the financial industry from retail to wholesale. By being exposed to so many areas of this industry early on, it really helped me figure out which part of financial services I enjoyed and thrived in the most. I then worked at Charles Stanley where I held various roles, before joining the Kingswood Group in 2020.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to a female looking to get into financial services?
If you’re thinking about a career in financial services, or know someone who is, I would encourage you to do your research. The industry is huge and has many different areas. Knowing about each and every team and their purpose will help you make smart choices about where you want to go with your career. Good luck to those starting out!