Networking key to success
Financial services needs to give women the opportunity to network with successful women to help close the gender gap in higher roles, according to a director for the Institute of Financial Advisers (IFA).
As the industry is very male dominated by virtue of coming from the background of accounting and insurance, IFA independent director, Julie Berry, believes women still have a long way to go in closing the gap.
"Traditionally because it was very male orientated the women that have been successful to date are the ones that have been confident and prepared to have a go," Berry said.
"More and more women are stepping up into financial services now and are doing a very good job."
Berry said women who want to get ahead in the finance industry need to put themselves out there.
"You have to network with people who are where you want to be. There are so many business networks now for women only and so there are a lot of opportunities to go out there and talk to already successful people," she said.
"It's about sharing. It's about saying if there is someone in a position, like a director, you aspire to be in you need to put yourself out there so you can go and spend time with them."
Berry noted although industry awards for women were great it would be more useful to let others have the chance to talk and network with the winners.
"It's something we don't do very well. Women are also sometime a bit boy in celebrating success," she said.
Berry will be addressing these issues as well as other women's equity topics at Money Management's Women's Wealth breakfast tomorrow.
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