The ABGSC Women in Finance Foundation is proud to have begun supporting the Female Network, part of LINC (the Lund University Finance Society), as of Q1 2023. The organisation’s mandate is to enable women to pursue and develop their interest in finance through a variety of events and initiatives that they produce throughout the year. The Female Network aims to increase the number of female students who are interested in finance.
In an interview, we caught up with the Female Network’s new head, Emilia Jensen, who will lead the group for the 2023 – 2024 academic year.
Could you start by giving us a short summary of the activities that the Female Network has organised so far this year?
This year the Female Network introduced a new programme, aimed at female students looking for a deeper insight into the world of finance, called the Female Finance Programme (FFP). The program will enable selected students to receive lessons, outside of what the Female Network usually provides, to deepen their knowledge and prepare them for a possible career within finance. The Female Network hosted a kick-off event for the new program, together with two other participating LINC committees (the Research & Analysis committee and the Education & Career Preparation committee), and it turned out to be the most popular small-scale event we have ever held. It inspired everyone participating – not least the Female Network – to continue with our work to support women entering the finance industry.
Additionally, we continuously work on our two biggest annual events: the Female Banking tour in Stockholm (held in February), and the Women’s Business Conference, which will take place in Lund during the upcoming semester. We also regularly update our social media pages to deliver relevant tools to anyone who is interested in learning more about finance.
Can you tell us how the Foundation’s support will contribute to the group achieving its ambitions and goals?
The goal of the Female Network is to reach all female students at Lund University who are interested in finance. This year we hope to broaden our reach and connect with female students who have no previous knowledge of the LINC Finance Society or the Female Network, but have a sincere interest or curiosity about finance. With the Foundation’s support, we hope to become even more inclusive and encourage all interested female students to apply to our bigger events. This will be done by paying for all transport fees for our events outside of Lund (mainly our banking tour in Stockholm). The Foundation’s support will also enable us to order a new banner and put up posters all over the city; this might seem like a small thing, but we hope it will yield positive results. The support of the Foundation will also be highly appreciated and utilized in relation to our Female Finance Programme, which – as a completely new program – will require significant investments of time and money.
…change is happening. We want to speed up that change by helping women explore their interests within finance and give them the tools to continue down that path.
Transitioning to talking about the finance industry: at present, women are underrepresented; what do you think the industry can do to attract more women?
There has always been a distinct lack of diversity within finance. Plus, many have preconceived ideas about the industry, which in itself creates a barrier to entry. However, change is happening. We want to speed up that change by helping women explore their interests within finance and give them the tools to continue down that path.
We have seen increased interest from firms, but when it comes to the issue of gender balance, those that truly take initiative are the ones we want to work with. I do not believe in hiring people in quotas, since simply helping people through the door will not necessarily guarantee their long-term success in a given firm. Instead, I believe that initiatives like mentorship programmes and finance education programmes, aimed at motivated individuals, are what create great value for everyone involved.
As a member of the Female Network, you undoubtedly meet lots of female students who are considering their academic and career options; what would you say to one of them, if they were curious about finance but weren’t sure if it was for them?
Finance is generally seen as being male-dominated, however, the industry needs all kinds of people and it’s not just men who can succeed. That is something I continuously try to highlight. I always try to make it clear that there are many different personality traits that suit different roles and opportunities within finance. The stereotypic image many have of someone working within the industry simply does not hold true. What unites people interested in finance is the desire to work in an ambitious and challenging environment in which one can achieve incredible personal growth. For those who want to learn more about finance to see if it could hold a future for them, I truly believe the Female Network is an amazing opportunity and a great starting point.
On a more personal note: You were recently elected head of the Female Network 2023-2024 committee, and before that you also served as a member of the committee. What made you want to pursue these roles alongside your studies?
I started out as the Relationship Coordinator for the Female Network, which meant that I had overall responsibility for all external relations. That gave me valuable insight into the finance industry and allowed me to meet so many inspiring people. I quickly realized the value of this real-life experience, outside of my studies. Working alongside the Female Network’s committee of five incredibly inspiring fellow students was also such a fantastic experience that I knew I wanted to continue working with the group. After applying, I was selected as Head of the Female Network, and thus had the opportunity to assemble my own committee; together, I believe we can create incredible value for our members, while having fun! My experience so far with the Female Network has been truly rewarding and I look forward to our activities over the coming year.
What do you find attractive about a potential career in finance?
A career in finance provides endless opportunities. You really get to create your own path, regardless of whether you are interested in numbers, working in teams, the current state of the world, or simply keeping up with politics. What I personally find attractive is the ambitious environment, as well as the diverse and inspiring people one has the chance to meet. Finance is well-known for being challenging, but that is accompanied by the opportunity for personal growth and a sense of fulfilment and achievement.
Looking ten years ahead, what is your ideal career?
In the future, I hope to continue working within the industry. I see myself as quite an adventurous person, and I would like to broaden my perspective by moving abroad, preferably to London, as it is still seen as the financial capital of Europe. At the moment, I see myself going into investment banking, but people change, so I try to keep an open mind regarding possibilities within other parts of the finance industry, especially as the industry continues to adapt and change. My main goal is to work in an environment in which I feel encouraged, excited and challenged, and I am certain that I can find that in the field of finance.
Managing Director, ABGSC Women in Finance Foundation
Marianne.Daae@abgsc.no +47 22 01 60 00
