In honor of International Women's Day on Sunday March 8, we asked industry professionals about lessons learnt from their careers and how they have experienced the workplace changing. We've already heard from Sophie Warrick at J.P. Morgan and Michelle Teitsch at Morgan Stanley. Tomorrow we will be posting our final leader from Citi.
What does meaningful progress for women in capital markets look like to you?
Meaningful progress will be achieved when women are visible across all tiers of our industry, especially in leadership roles making significant decisions and allocating capital, and this presence is no longer considered a headline, but simply business as usual. It’s about establishing an environment where different perspectives are genuinely valued, fueling innovation and making the entire industry stronger. True progress is about giving all great talent the opportunity to thrive.
What’s one skill young analysts underestimate?
Young research analysts often underestimate the sheer power of effective communication and storytelling. Strong technical skills are table stakes. The ability to translate complex financial analysis into a clear, compelling narrative for diverse audiences is paramount. It’s the difference between merely presenting data and truly influencing decision-making. This skill allows analysts to build trust, differentiate themselves, and ultimately ensure their brilliant work doesn't just sit in a report, but drives impact. Without it, even the most insightful analysis can go unrecognized.
What’s one leadership lesson that has most shaped your career in capital markets?
The most impactful leadership lesson for me has been around calculated risk-taking. Playing it safe rarely leads to significant advancement or innovation. So continually pushing beyond my comfort zone has been important in my career development. Sometimes that meant simply speaking up in a meeting to be heard. Other times, it involved taking on a new, challenging role or leading a project I initially felt unprepared for. Had I not embraced those challenges, I would have missed key moments to further my career. This approach –assessment of an opportunity, evaluation of risk, and then having the conviction to act – has been fundamental to both my personal growth and to driving new business initiatives.
What change in the industry over the past decade has had the biggest impact on your role?
The rapid evolution and integration of Artificial Intelligence that has profoundly impacted my role as COO for a Research division . My mandate now heavily involves accelerating AI adoption to benefit our analysts and processes. AI is helpful for so many parts of financial analysis and is providing meaningful productivity gains. This frees our analysts from routine and low value tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities: critical thinking, nuanced client engagement, and developing more innovative analyses. Embracing these technologies and understanding how best to leverage them to unlock new opportunities is so important for anyone in a research organization aiming to stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry.
