One Thing Leads to Another
Steve Wilson, Director of Investment Management Initiative
Having had my opinion piece published in Pensions and Investments about moving the needle in gender parity within the investment management industry, the publisher, Nikki Pirrello, was kind enough to invite me and two of my students, Isabella and Morgan, to a special event in their offices last week. P&I was partnering with the Top 100 Women in Finance, a fantastic UK based organization, to have a networking gathering on Wednesday, August 21st. It was a great chance to share the story of the Opportunity Fund Project with forty well-established female investment professionals. We were able to highlight the strides our program is making to bring more women into the industry. It was also a terrific chance to showcase two of my very impressive students who shared what the program has meant to them. As an added bonus, it also allowed both of them to hone in on their networking skills, a vital capability that, frankly, is not taught on most campuses. Here is what Morgan had to say:
This experience was inspirational. Having the opportunity to speak with successful women in the finance industry was very eye-opening. This event was also my first experience with real networking. I went into the event nervous since I was unsure what to say or how to approach new people in this setting. With Professor Wilson’s guidance I was able to learn and successfully network with women there. I now feel more prepared and confident going forward with networking events such as this one.
This was such an impressive gathering. Any trip into the city is a big deal for my students, but to attend a function like this has left them still buzzing about it. They had a number of engaging conversations, and one of the things I have learned is that at their age, everything I may take for granted is a very big deal for them. To be networking amongst such accomplished women put them out of their comfort zone, which is exactly what they needed. Here is something Isabella recognized and appreciated:
“The P&I Women in Finance conference was a wonderful experience. It was so helpful to be able to connect and speak with successful women of all ages in the industry, who were more than happy to speak with Morgan and I to offer advice. It was a great way to begin establishing a helpful network of women in finance as well as motivating to see the success of women in a challenging industry up close and personal. It was a wonderful environment to be a part of and I look forward to attending more conferences similar to that in the future. The women at P&I did an incredible job setting it up and I would go again in a heartbeat!”
What a great evening!
