International Women's Month: Advancing Gender Equity in Finance

As International Women's Month draws to a close, it's a pertinent moment to reflect on the progress made by women in finance and the work that remains to be done to achieve true gender equity. This month, we have celebrated the achievements, resilience, and contributions of women across the globe while also acknowledging the barriers which remain to be overcome.

Reflecting on progress and looking ahead

International Women's Month provides an opportunity to acknowledge the strides women have made in the finance sector. From breaking traditional gender roles to ascending to leadership positions, women have reshaped the landscape of finance through determination and resilience. We’re proud to have played a part in changing the landscape, but there’s much more to be done. As we celebrate these achievements, we’re also looking at the journey ahead towards greater gender equity.

Last year, following the launch of our internal Women's Accelerator Program in 2022, we introduced our change-making external Women’s Accelerator Network in London and New York. The Women’s Accelerator Network has created a community through providing discussion forums for members to share experiences, discuss challenges and celebrate successes to nurture development and encourage peer-to-peer learning and mentorship.

Now, we're thrilled to extend our reach to include Singapore.

Supporting inclusion in sport

We've been partnered with SailGP for almost a year now and are delighted to be accelerating the development of their future female leaders with the introduction of our Women’s Accelerator Program; bringing the program into the world of sport for the first time.

Addressing persistent challenges

Despite the clear progress made, women in finance continue to face systemic challenges that hinder their advancement. International Women's Month serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing these challenges and creating inclusive environments where all individuals have equal opportunities to thrive.

We’re committed to amplifying the voices of women in finance and creating platforms for them to share their knowledge, experiences, and insights.

By elevating diverse perspectives and championing inclusivity, we can drive meaningful change and foster a culture of belonging within the industry. To that end, we’re proud to have become a 100 Women In Finance corporate partner. The project shares our commitment to addressing the under-representation of women in finance, fintech, and investment roles.

Taking action towards equity

International Women's Month is not only a time for reflection but also a call to action. Whether it's advocating for inclusive policies, promoting mentorship and sponsorship programs, or actively challenging biases, each of us has a role to play in creating a more equitable workplace.

With increased regulation and a spotlight on equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion, firms are picking up the pace to enhance employer brand and drive positive change for a more inclusive future. As corporate citizens and senior leaders, women and allies must pick up the baton and share their stories to accelerate change.

A perfect example of advocating for change is Christiane El Habre , Regional Managing Director for Apex Group Middle East. 25 years ago Christiane entered a male-dominated industry. As she climbed the ranks in financial services, she vowed to empower other women to break barriers. We heard from Christiane as she shared her views on women’s equity:

We’ll be sharing more inspiring stories from our colleagues so keep following our page or search for content using #NotJustADay.

Solving the DEI challenge

DEI reporting is fast becoming a regulatory requirement, but actually measuring the impact of your efforts and programmes can pose significant challenges. Our streamlined DEI solution help you overcome these obstacles:?

• Identify, understand, and engage with DEI performance across companies and portfolios
• Locate key DEI improvement gaps across different business levels
• Formulate action plans and next steps for real world impact
• Fully integrate in-depth DEI data and analysis

Empowering future generations

Education is key to creating genuine, lasting change. As part of our ongoing mission to create a more equitable society, women from across our business have been sharing what they wished they knew about finance as they were starting out in their careers.

Because teaching young women to be financially independent and secure is a major step towards the boardroom.

Follow us today!

Join the movement

This month has been an opportunity to focus on reaffirming our commitment to advancing gender equity in finance. But equity in financial services isn’t just a cause for one day or one month. It’s something we all need to commit to 365 days of the year. Together, we can drive positive change and create a future where women have equal opportunities for success and fulfilment in their careers, both within financial services and throughout the wider business world.

We invite you to join us to inspire inclusion for women every day. Whether it's through mentorship, advocacy, or fostering a supportive culture, your actions make a difference! Our movement for change is a long-term commitment, and we’re just getting started. Because real progress has no end date.