ABGSC Women in Finance Foundation supports Female Business Forum at BI Norwegian Business School

Above: Julie Elisabeth Lafjell (left) of ABGSC’s Fixed Income Sales team, and Marianne Daae (right) of the ABG Sundal Collier Women in Finance Foundation, deliver a presentation about the finance sector during the BI Female Business Forum.

On 23-24 March 2023, the ABG Sundal Collier Women in Finance Foundation, together with ABGSC, attended the BI Norwegian Business School Female Business Forum, held at the Clarion Hotel – The Hub in Oslo. The Foundation was once again the event’s main sponsor, having contributed to the event for the third consecutive year. The purpose of the event was to inspire and motivate the 100 participating students to consider pursuing careers across a range of ambitious – and perhaps less well-known – sectors, such as finance.
Representatives from both the Foundation and ABGSC held a presentation about the finance sector, with the aim of de-mystifying it. Among the participating students, many had not yet chosen potential post-graduate studies. By providing insight into the finance industry, both the Foundation and ABGSC hoped to demonstrate the range of possible roles available within it, and encourage the participating students to consider it as a possible career path. The Foundation’s Marianne Daae talked about the measures that have been undertaken in recent years to address the gender imbalance within the sector, and explained where the opportunities are for future progress. Julie Elisabeth Lafjell, of ABGSC’s Fixed Income Sales team (and a former BI student), described the path that lead her to pursue a career in “front-office” finance; she also shared some insight into her day-to-day work within bonds brokerage – a profession that still has very low levels of female participation.
The event also featured speakers from a variety of other firms, in addition to special guest speaker Siv Jensen, former Norwegian Minister of Finance. Additionally, well-known Norwegian journalist Ole Torp lead a debate on the gender imbalance in top management roles in business; he was joined by panellists from both academia and the business world.
The event concluded with a banquet, during which students had the opportunity to mingle with and ask follow-up questions of ABGSC representatives Julie Elisabeth Lafjell and credit analyst Benedicte Aass, who was also in attendance.
The Foundation’s Marianne Daae shared that, “We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important forum, and pleased to see the increase in the number of students attending. We want to congratulate the students at BI for hosting a successful event”.
 
About the Female Business Forum at BI Norwegian Business School
The Female Business Forum is one of BI’s most important annual student events and has been held since 2014. The event stretches over two days each spring and includes lectures, panel discussions, debates, networking opportunities, workshops, and a banquet. By providing a forum that highlights the role of women in business, the goal of the event is to inspire female students to consider pursuing careers across a range of ambitious, and perhaps less well-known, sectors. To attend the event, interested students must apply by writing a motivation letter; the top 100 applicants are granted a place.

Above, from left: Students listen to a presentation during the Female Business Forum; the student board responsible for organising the event addresses the gathered participants, from left: Birgitte Myrvang, Josefine Dreier Johnsen, Anine Stordahl Haugan, Lena Holmestad Rømo and Martine Ulvik.

Above, from left: event organisers Anine Stordahl Haugan, Josefine Dreier Johnsen and Birgitte Myrvang; ABGSC’s Julie Elisabeth Lafjell and the Foundation’s Marianne Daae.