International Women’s Day 2023 focuses on embracing equality by not only celebrating the achievements of women, but also raising awareness about discrimination and highlighting where progress still needs to be made.
Last year a report from ‘The Pipeline’ found that of all the CEOs of businesses in the FTSE 350 only 4% are women. Not only that, but when looking at the FTSE 250 there are more CEOs named John than there are CEOs who are women.
At Currencies Direct we understand that being a fintech business means we operate in sectors that are traditionally male-dominated and that provides us with an opportunity to lead change. We’re passionate about both ensuring women hold senior leadership positions within the Currencies Direct Group and investing in the next generation.
Ahead of International Women’s Day, we spoke to three women within our business about their experience in the Fintech industry, what Currencies Direct are doing as a business to embrace equality, and what IWD means to them.
Leeann Nash, B2B Head of Sales
“There has been a great deal of change within the industry as a whole since I started many years ago, but sadly the number of women has not evolved with that change. In fact, of the top 1000 leading fintechs, only 68 have a female CEO and only 11% of all board members are women. However, given that fintech combines 2 traditionally male industries it's not altogether surprising that diversity has been slow to materialise.
At Currencies Direct we are one of a few currency and payments specialists bucking the trend for male-dominated environments, even within sales which has long been renowned for its failure to entice female talent. We recognise that diversity is a fundamental factor for fintech and the development of new solutions, and our team has a number of women in senior positions ranging from our Indian MD Ruchi Arora, our MLRO Kam Biring, as well as myself as our Head of Corporate Sales.
The best way to draw women into the industry is to see other women who are supporting each other and working together to achieve the same goals. Moreover, Currencies Direct focuses on expanding peoples’ skillsets which, along with having a female mentor within the organisation, can really help foster success.
International Women's Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of women and bring aspects such as gender equality and women’s rights to the fore. To me it is a bastion of hope for the future: I have 6 children and 3 of them are girls, and I never want them to feel in any way less because of their sex. I want them to enjoy the same opportunities, education and prospects and to be addressed on their merits and skills. When I first started in the workplace there was undeniable gender bias, less consideration of maternity rights and less assistance regarding returning to the workplace and I want these factors to no longer be a hindrance to success and for all people to be treated equally in every environment. Days like IWD that celebrate the success of women are vital.
Katie Keith, B2B Partnerships
As a senior member of my business community and someone who works in Financial Services, I feel a deep level of responsibility to create and foster a working environment where everyone is accepted and provided equal opportunities to flourish in the workplace. By providing mentorship and demonstrating best practices, I hope to influence others to embrace equity with a goal that all people are treated as equals, receiving the dignity and respect they deserve, and to foster a community where differences are celebrated.
Throughout my career in finance, I have championed several Lean In Circles to educate and inform those in my direct and wider teams. Lean In has been an integral tool of mine personally over the years and is designed to connect and support women across all sectors. I also connect with like-minded women through various networks such as Women in Banking and Finance which is a community where we can learn more and develop our skills to create a better, more inclusive future.
For companies looking to apply a more inclusive community at work, The 'Women in Finance Charter' developed by the Government asks financial services firms to commit to implementing four key industry actions focused on managing talent pipelines and setting KPIs to create a more inclusive business model.
Having worked in financial services for the best part of 25 years, I have experienced and observed unprecedented levels of inequality in the workplace. I have observed how this restricts growth in business and impacts individuals' health and happiness. IWD brings to the forefront conversations in the workplace that are designed to squish inequality not only against women but people who bring something different to the table. IWD is a movement towards a more inclusive future and is a celebration of what we have changed, and what is to come.
Ashleigh Muhunsu, Corporate Business Development Manager
The Currencies Direct team are all genuinely so lovely, everyone is so welcoming and friendly and make it so easy to settle in. Usually, when starting a new job, it can be quite intimidating, but everyone made me feel at home in my first week and it's clear everyone genuinely cares about each other – nothing is surface level. My favourite part is how diverse the office is. I can look around and see successful people from all backgrounds and there’s a real gender balance as well as a flat hierarchy as everyone, no matter which department, makes you feel valued.
I studied Economics at university and pursued a role in fintech as it's such a fast-paced and rapidly changing industry where you are learning something new every day. The products we offer really do make a difference, especially to those clients who haven’t hedged before, so it is rewarding to genuinely help businesses.
International Women's Day to me is about celebrating our power as women and celebrating our achievements. Especially in a male-dominated industry like ours, International Women's Day is great to highlight our strength, resilience, and greatness, proving that gender is never a barrier and women can achieve anything they put their minds to.
The Currencies Direct Group will continue to embrace equality as part of our culture globally and strive to lead the way when it comes to opportunities for women in the fintech industry.
If you would like to find out more about working with Currencies Direct you can do so by visiting our careers page .
