This International Women’s Day, the theme is ‘Inspire Inclusion’. And who better to talk to us about what this means in business and finance than our Managing Partner, Fiona Oliver.
In this article, Fiona shares her thoughts and insights on what inclusivity means to her, how to foster a culture of respect and diversity, and the progress that has been made in promoting inclusivity in the finance sector during her illustrious career.
“To me, inclusivity means making every voice heard, fostering respect, and valuing individuals for their unique perspective,” Fiona says. “Inclusivity means actively recruiting and promoting individuals from a variety of backgrounds, to foster a diverse workforce and leadership team. It also means cultivating a workplace environment where individual differences are respected and celebrated and where inclusivity is actively promoted through policies and practices such as flexible working arrangements, bias training and supportive networks for underrepresented employees.”
Fiona’s career path has been diverse; she studied Japanese at the University of Cambridge and worked within the international sales sector before having children. She then retrained as a Chartered Financial Planner, built up a successful client book and made a name for herself in the male-dominated financial advice industry.
“Because of the barriers I myself have experienced and my own efforts to prioritise a positive work/life balance when bringing up my family, I have now made it my mission to ensure that other women can do the same,” says Fiona.
Fiona was also recently interviewed by Insignis Cash where she said, “I feel a responsibility to support other women climbing the career ladder, which includes helping to reduce the limiting beliefs we have about ourselves, and asking ‘What is it you really want to do, and how can you work to achieve it’.” Fiona works with her team to address any lack of confidence and removing limiting beliefs.
According to Fiona, it is vital that women understand that they have the right to advocate their own rights and needs. “But it is also essential to recognise that although much progress has been made, we are just at the beginning and that support is still needed to help our female colleagues reach their full potential. It’s about providing a safe space for upskilling, discussing confidence, motherhood, and stepping outside comfort zones.”
At Partners Wealth Management, we understand that women often encounter more challenges when it comes to balancing their home and family commitments with their careers. “It has always been very important to me to create a flexible working culture where women do not feel penalised for their caring responsibilities,” Fiona states. “An inflexible working environment can really dampen a woman’s ability to seize opportunities to shine in the workplace, to step up and be visible, and advocate their career advancement, however well-deserved it may be.”
“There is no doubt that we have seen huge strides towards gender parity in the financial services industry over the past few decades. However, it is also important to be realistic and the fact is that there is still much work to be done,” Fiona says. “Whilst there are more women in finance than ever before, they are still significantly underrepresented in senior and executive roles. It is my hope that, with many organisations like Partners Wealth Management who are so committed to diversity and inclusion initiatives, we will begin to close these gaps so that women can reach their full potential in this industry.”
Fiona is often asked to give advice to young women entering the modern world of finance. In her interview with Insignis Cash, she suggests to women starting their careers “Use your empathy to your advantage, it’s a powerful tool that helps you understand people’s thoughts and appreciate their value.” Her general advice continues “Take full advantage of your network. Connect with senior colleagues and peers across the industry to benefit from the full diversity of their opinions, insights and knowledge. It’s about progress, not perfection, so put in the effort and the patience and you’ll reap the rewards.”
We were delighted to hear Fiona’s thoughts on this topic, as were Insignis Cash. We look forward to hearing much more from Fiona as she continues her journey in the world of finance.