Monica Gupta | Vice President, Fixed Income and Currencies Trader and Portfolio Manager | Goldman Sachs Asset Management
At school, I loved Mathematics.
I did not want to be deterred from studying a traditionally male stereotyped degree. And so, I decided to follow my passion of studying Maths. When it came to applying for jobs, I wanted a path that combined quantitative skills and interaction with people. Asset management seemed like a potentially good fit. I was lucky enough to intern in Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s (GSAM) Fixed Income department whilst at University. As a naturally introverted first generation immigrant from a state school, I wasn't sure if the general world of Finance was for me. But, I was pleasantly surprised at how all types of diversity, including personality diversity, were relished in the world of Finance. I have now worked in the same department for 5 years and loved every minute. I spent my first year supporting our multi-sector portfolios, followed by emerging market debt portfolios and now I am a trader and junior portfolio manager. Furthermore, I have helped drive a number of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives. I was also recently promoted to Vice President. I feel incredibly lucky to work with such inspiring and motivated people who I have learnt so much from, both personally and professionally.
In addition to my day job, I aim to promote gender, racial and class equality through multiple mentoring and volunteering opportunities. This includes volunteering with non-profit organisation Women in Banking and Finance (WIBF) and volunteering to support female state school students.
Rachel Malik | Investment Counsellor | Citi
In 2018 I joined Citi Private Bank's graduate program, where I did four six-month rotations around the business.
After completing the program I found a permanent role in the UK Investment Counsellor team. Within 5 months I began taking on my own book of clients and after just over 1 year I began to cover a second region, Israel. In my role, I advise across all asset classes in both public and private markets. Within two and a half years I have worked my way up from Analyst to Vice President .
Prior to joining Citi I attended the University of Birmingham for my undergraduate degree. As an undergraduate I was the recipient of four international scholarships, which enabled me to study in Singapore and China, as well as attend a Social Entrepreneurship and Social Change programme in India and present my independent research on Refugee Movement in times of Crisis, at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. After completing my undergraduate degree I received another scholarship to study a Masters in World Economics and Chinese Studies at Beijing University in China.
My first introduction to banking was at 17, when I was selected to participate in the Social Mobility Foundation's Aspiring Professional Programme that was ran in partnership with J.P. Morgan. To this day I am extremely grateful for this opportunity as it opened so many doors for me.
Saloni Chugh | Senior Business Analyst | Fidelity investments
I commenced my professional journey with Fidelity Investments (FIL) in the year 2011 as a Graduate programmer with their Gurgaon, India office.
I was a campus hire, an engineering graduate in Information technology from Amity University, Lucknow, India. I started in the trading support role and moved to development role whilst still being in support. In 2018, I started looking to move to Business Analyst role and was offered an internal move to FIL UK.
In my current role I am a project manager and product owner, managing a global team of developers, testers and stakeholders across UK, Dalian, Ireland and India.
I hold the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis that I pursued after moving to the UK. I was selected for a 13-month, Level 7 Imperial College and Corndel Executive Development Programme that I am currently enrolled in. The program focuses on developing strategic leadership capabilities, emotional intelligence and empathy and how to be a better leader.
Tahia Tahmin | Fund Analyst | FE Fundinfo
Tahia joined the Research Team at FE Fundinfo in March 2023 as a Fund Analyst, where she is responsible for covering Emerging Markets and Asia Pacific equity funds on the FE Invest Approved List.
She graduated from the University of Portsmouth, achieving upper second-class honours in BSc Economics and Distinction in MSc Finance, finishing top of her class. She started her career at atomos (re-branded from Sanlam) as a Fund Operations Associate and worked with the various investment teams in providing operational support. After 16 months with her team, the company recognised her strong analytical skills and her manager highly recommended her for an internal role as an Investment Support Analyst in the Wealth Multi Asset team, which she was accepted for. She worked alongside three experienced Portfolio Managers to support and assist with managing a range of risk-graded model portfolios for a variety of client types. She successfully identified where improvements could be made to the investment processes, many of which were widely acknowledged for by senior management in the business. After working in the role for 2 years and 10 months, she was promoted to Investment Analyst to co-manage the solutions with the Portfolio Managers and was responsible for idea generation and fund research.
She has completed the Investment Management Certificate, CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing, and studying towards the CFA Level I program. Tahia is enthusiastic and remains passionate about investing, she strives to work hard and build a successful career in the Investment Management Industry.
Gee Lewis | Adaptive Resourcing Manager | Simmons & Simmons
I am the Resourcing Manager for Simmons Adaptive, the flexible resourcing platform for Simmons & Simmons.
In this position I lead the recruitment function for the UK, focusing on the identification, management, and placement of consultant lawyers into interim assignments, both at Simmons and with clients of the Firm.
My legal recruitment career first began in 2015, where following graduation from University, I joined a boutique legal recruitment agency focusing on paralegal and document review recruitment for city practices. My remit grew in 2017, where I became the manager of that team expanding our reach to cover not only London but also the regional markets.
I went on to join Simmons Adaptive in 2019 as Resourcing Advisor and was promoted to Resourcing Manager in 2021. Now leading a team of three advisors to continue delivering our vision of providing market leading resourcing and people solutions for Simmons & Simmons’ clients most complex challenges.
I am truly passionate about continuing to grow the Adaptive platform and supporting our team through their own career development and futures.
Adaptive is unique in its offering, an early mover in the law firm alternative resourcing space and a champion for female career development, we are at present an all-female team.
At the heart of our approach is a diverse, inclusive, supportive and collaborative culture, a culture I am committed to maintaining in the years to come.
Jenna Atkinson | Associate Solicitor | Harrison Drury Solicitors
I qualified as a solicitor in June 2015 and trained at a local small practice.
I then moved to get some experience in private client work as I trained in this and family work but I soon realised that family work is my passion and wanted to pursue that. I have been at Harrison Drury now for four years and I am part of a great, caring team that is really passionate about making a difference to the lives of our clients and I do believe it is a special team to be a part of. Each year as I develop in my career I want to achieve more and make more of a difference to each individual client that comes in as it can often be one of the most difficult times of someone's life when they are sorting out arrangements for the children or going through a divorce.
Laura Gould | Counsel | Reed Smith LLP
I am a Counsel in the Tax team at law firm Reed Smith in London, having started my career at SJ Berwin (which went into administration in 2017).
I am a highly experienced Tax lawyer and advise on a wide range of domestic and international tax matters including M&A, real estate, private investment funds and tax disputes. As well as Corporate Tax, my practice also encompasses employee incentives, both in the UK and cross-border. I am the former Chair of the Foreign Lawyers Forum (FLF) Committee of the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation where I was responsible for the overseas (non-US) international tax programming during the ABA's twice yearly meetings in the US. I also sit on the firm’s Women’s Initiative Committee with a particular responsibility for ensuring that the firm's returners from parental leave have a positive experience and are fully supported. I originally studied History at the University of Cambridge and live in North London with my husband and two children.
Leah Adeniran | Associate | Latham & Watkins
I am a Corporate associate in Latham & Watkins’ Mergers & Acquisitions practice in London, regularly advising on complex and high-value cross-border transactions.
Before this I trained and qualified at a Magic Circle law firm. During my legal career, I have advised on over $33 billion worth of transactions. I have gained valuable in-house experience through client secondments, working in the M&A legal teams of two FTSE 100 companies.
In addition to my legal practice, I am focused on advancing the DE&I agenda of the firm and industry.
I serve as London Co-Chair of Latham’s Black Lawyers Group (BLG). I have established and led on several initiatives to help further the BLG’s mission to recruit, retain, and promote Black talent. This has included mentoring and training programmes, Pro Bono work, multiple events including internal social activities and external events with clients, and various public speaking opportunities.
I am also passionate about widening access to the legal industry. This is a key focus of my work as an interviewer for the firm’s graduate recruitment team and Corporate department. Further recognised by my appointment to the firm’s London Recruiting Committee.
Navigating the legal profession from a non-traditional background and as part of a disproportionately underrepresented group as a Black female, I have first-hand experience in the power of role models and how this can contribute to one’s success. Therefore, I am committed to paying it forward and supporting the next generation of diverse talent in my day job and beyond.
Anum Bandey | Controls Assurance Analyst | Aviva Investors
Anum Bandey is currently a Controls Assurance Analyst and is responsible for delivery of the internal controls report for institutional clients, as well as controls assurance for financial reporting purposes.
She is highly thought of in her role and delivers her work to an exceptional standard. She is agile and resilient and can pick up different types of work with ease.
In 2022 Anum was one of only two in the company to be selected to be a part of the new Diversity Project initiative, “Developing the Female Portfolio Managers of the Future Pathway Programme”, designed to create new pathways for women to enter investment roles and help grow female representation in investing.
Anum is an active Diversity & Inclusion champion within our company. She is part of the Gender Diversity workstream where she has internally published supported content and supported discussions, e.g. arranging and facilitating a panel discussing the menopause. She recently joined the Mental Health workstream as helping reduce the stigma around mental health resonates with her as an individual who suffers from anxiety. She is also part of our South Asian Professionals network, which encourages, supports and empowers individuals from a South Asian heritage.
Prior to joining the Asset Management industry, Anum was a professional swimmer who swam at the 2012 Olympic Games in London at the age of 15. Her experience as a professional swimmer helped her develop discipline, commitment, and the great work ethic she now brings to her role.
Chloe Barnard | Associate Director, Global Collaboration & International Connectivity | HSBC
Chloe is passionate about gender equality and plays a very active role in driving D&I.
She is the co-chair of HSBC Private Bank's UK Balance network, an employee network striving for gender equality. She also holds senior roles in HSBC's Global and EMEA D&I committees, driving all forms of diversity globally. Chloe has notably been responsible for leading multiple initiatives including an inaugural intersectionality event, co-running an annual mentoring programme, a coaching initiative with over 50 participants, and an inspirational speaker series profiling diverse career stories. Chloe also holds a lead role in HSBC's client gender strategy, supporting female entrepreneurs and women in wealth.
In her day job, Chloe works in a global strategic role focused on client collaboration between different parts of the bank and internationally. Prior to this, having originally joined on the graduate scheme she progressed rapidly to become the youngest Investment Counsellor in HSBC’s UK Private Bank, providing investment advice to wealthy individuals. During that time Chloe also became CFA qualified and completed her Wealth Management exams.
Chloe also mentors a number of junior women to support their development, and to encourage more women to consider a career in finance. She has been described as "having the natural strength of making a positive impact on people", "proactively inviting diverse perspectives and ways of contribution", and "empowering the team by giving everyone a chance to speak up."
Outside of work Chloe does a range of work in financial inclusion, supporting young people in building their financial wellbeing.