In reality, I always thought of it as an advantage, in that I would probably be easier to remember, so I used the opportunity to be unique and stand out in a crowd.

In the culture of the finance industry, you have the banker stereotype, who is perceived as domination and aggressive — traits which are traditionally characterised as masculine. As a result, women in finance may feel the need to adjust to compete in a male environment to prove themselves, which can put undue pressure on their mental health. Consequently, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult at times to achieve a healthy work-life balance.

The percentage of female industry leaders in high profile jobs remains low and there is still a lot more work to be done to increase their recognition for their work in the sector. It’s positive that gender diversity seems to be a hot topic, but we are still nowhere near equal yet.

•   'Hold your head high, force yourself out of your comfort zone, and it will get easier each time'
•   The gender gap is being tackled, but the glass ceiling will take longer to crack

For me personally, it has definitely been a challenging journey and it’s taken a lot hard work, dedication and a strong attitude to get to reach this point in my career. However, I have found that as long as your good at your job, you are approachable and you work well in a team, you should be able to work well with both men and women. 

Navigating challenges in any working environment comes down to self-belief and confidence in oneself, while exercising persistence and determination. I am of the firm mindset that it’s not always what you know, but who you know: relationships are key. 

I believe the industry needs sponsors who can help younger women prepare for their next roles and career in finance. Women need to be able to build their own brand and be visible. It is our duty, as women in senior positions, to support the younger generation — this will help reduce gender discrimination in the sector, and it will help women overcome the reluctance of putting themselves forward.

One of the biggest challenges facing women in finance is us — we tend to second guess ourselves and allow fear to hold us back from applying for jobs we feel we are not good enough for. The main thing that I’ve found challenging has been the ability to put myself forward. Having the right drive, determination to succeed and the confidence to put yourself forward is what matters most. 

This is where role models and sponsors come in. I wouldn’t say I had many female role models in the finance industry when I was starting out, but I have certainly accumulated many strong female friends, mentors and supporters along the way! 

My advice would be to work really hard, become excellent at what you do, build a strong network and relationships and champion other women.