Every year an elected group of female students at NHH (“Norges Handelshøyskole”, The Norwegian School of Economics) get together to plan the Women’s Finance Day (“WFD”) – a student driven event that has become an increasingly popular and important event in the academic calendar. Although the next WFD isn’t until March 2024, preparations are already well underway to deliver an engaging and inspiring event; ABGSC and the ABGSC Women in Finance Foundation will jointly serve as the event’s main partners.
In an interview, we caught up with the Head of the Women’s Finance Day, Johanne Welle Smogeli, to hear about the plans for this year’s event, plus her thoughts on the topic of women in finance.
Could you start by giving us a short summary of the activities that the Women’s Finance Day at NHH comprises? What are your main takeaways on the development of this initiative, given that it now has been organised at NHH for a number of years?
Women’s Finance Day at NHH is an event designed to inform and inspire female NHH students about potential career paths in finance. Our goal is to encourage more female students to major in Finance at NHH. Even though Finance is the most popular subject for a Master’s degree overall, it is not the first choice for women at NHH. WFD offers a diverse range of activities, including lectures, workshops, panel debates, and interactions with industry professionals. We believe the event has had a positive impact on students, broadening their perspectives regarding the sort of people who work in finance and what the day-to-day work is like. WFD also creates valuable networking opportunities for female students.
You were recently elected head of the committee that will be organising the Women’s Finance Day at NHH in 2024. What motivated you to pursue this role alongside your studies?
It was apparent to me that WFD was something I wanted to help arrange after participating during my first year at NHH. Attending the event exposed me to the diverse opportunities within the finance industry that were previously unclear to me. I wish to empower and inspire female students at NHH, just as I was inspired, while also supporting my desire to promote inclusivity and gain new knowledge in exciting fields.
Attending the [Women’s Finance Day] exposed me to the diverse opportunities within the finance industry that were previously unclear to me
The event isn’t happening until Q1 2024; can you tell us a bit about your activities between now and then? What will you be focusing on?
Our primary focus will be on meticulous planning and preparations. This involves close collaboration with our partners, securing engaging speakers, fine-tuning workshop topics to ensure the highest quality of learning experiences, and planning the best banquet of the year to celebrate at the end. Additionally, we will actively promote the event to maximise participation. We are also dedicated to enhancing inclusivity by encouraging active participation from both men and women in the panel debate and lectures, whilst workshops are reserved for women.
What are your ambitions for the 2024 Women’s Finance Day, and do you plan to make any adjustments to the event (compared to previous years)?
As always, we remain open to adjustments based on feedback from both participating students and companies, while maintaining our commitment to delivering the highest possible quality. We wish to keep WFD a finance day, not a career fair for women, meaning we aim for more exclusivity in which companies are being contacted to participate. Our ambition for the 2024 Women’s Finance Day is to enhance its impact by drawing a diverse pool of participants, hoping to engage students as early as their first year at NHH.
ABG Sundal Collier and the ABG Sundal Collier Women in Finance Foundation are together the event’s main partners. Can you tell us how this support will contribute to your group achieving its ambitions and goals for Women’s Finance Day 2024?
The support from ABG Sundal Collier and the Women in Finance Foundation is crucial to our success. Your invaluable support and extensive experience will enable us to secure high-caliber speakers, allocate resources for workshops, and host an exclusive banquet. This partnership significantly enhances our capacity to inspire and educate students, ultimately making the event more impactful and enriching for all participants.
We also heard that you visited Women’s Finance Day at the Stockholm School of Economics, which took place in September. Is there anything that you learned from visiting the event at SSE?
Visiting the event at SSE was a valuable experience. We learned about different approaches to promoting finance careers for women and gained insights into effective planning of lectures and general logistics. SSE, like Stockholm in general, is also more international than Bergen and NHH, so it was cool to hear some reflections about the day from big international players.
Transitioning to talking about the finance industry: at present, women are underrepresented; what do you think the industry can do to attract more women?
The fact that women are underrepresented is a significant concern. To address this, Women’s Finance Day 2024 will place a strong emphasis on knowledge enhancement. We believe that knowledge ignites interest, making it easier for women to explore finance careers. Our goal is to empower women to explore finance confidently, ultimately contributing to a more diverse and inclusive finance industry. That’s why, for this year’s event, we have chosen a particularly hot topic for our debate: AI and its impact on finance. By gathering knowledgeable experts and professionals in this field, we aim to inspire our students to gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of finance, where AI will likely play a pivotal role.
In essence, our strategy is centered on the idea that knowledge and interest are mutually reinforcing. By providing women with the knowledge and tools needed for finance careers, we aim to accelerate the transformation of the finance industry towards greater gender diversity and inclusion.
Is there anything that you think could improve female students’ awareness of finance as a possible career?
Increasing awareness among female students can be achieved through targeted outreach programs, informational sessions, and partnerships with educational institutions. It’s also essential to showcase success stories of women who have excelled in finance to inspire others and debunk stories about how impossible it is to achieve work-life balance. I would prefer a bigger focus on these themes as early as high school, but right now the board and I are working at improving awareness where we stand now.
What would you say to a female student who is curious about finance and considering career opportunities within the industry, but isn’t sure if it’s for them?
I would encourage her to explore the field of finance with an open mind, emphasising that finance isn’t just for one type of person. If you want to explore finance to see if it holds potential for you, I highly recommend getting involved with initiatives like Women’s Finance Day. It’s an excellent starting point to gain insights, connect with professionals, and discover your unique path within the finance industry. Diversity is valuable in finance, and your perspective and skills will be a valuable asset in shaping the future of the industry. I also believe that it’s crucial for women to start early in gaining technical skills and a solid understanding of financial concepts. The finance industry values individuals who can navigate complex financial models, data analysis, and technology-driven solutions. Starting to build this knowledge early on can set you on a path to excel in various finance roles.
Johanne Welle Smogeli is a third year Bachelor’s student at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), studying for a BSc in Economics and Business Administration.
Managing Director, ABGSC Women in Finance Foundation
Marianne.Daae@abgsc.no +47 22 01 60 00