The BI Female Business Forum is an annual event that is held every spring. This year’s event will happen from 4-5 April. The ABG Sundal Collier Women in Finance Foundation is proud to serve as the event’s main sponsor, supporting it for the fourth consecutive year. In an interview, we caught up with Nora Waler Frøytlog, the event’s Project Manager, to talk about her ambitions for this year’s event as well as her thoughts on how to get more women to consider pursuing a career in finance.
Could you give us a short description of what the BI Female Business Forum is?
The Female Business Forum is a cornerstone event at BI, with a primary focus on the role of women in business. The initiative, lead by the Næringslivsutvalget at BI, aims to illuminate the ongoing challenge of gender inequality in the business world. Our objective is to demonstrate inclusivity by uplifting women and inspiring them to seize opportunities, challenge themselves and build confidence.
The event will be held 4-5 April, culminating in a banquet on the 5th. Despite the event’s primary focus on women in business, attendance is not limited to women. We aim to facilitate relationship-building and networking opportunities for all participating students, both during and after the event.
The Female Business Forum has been an annual event since 2014. This year’s board comprises five members: four females and one male.
You are the current project manager of the BI Female Business Forum: What inspired you to take on responsibility for this task?
I am deeply passionate about promoting gender equality and empowering women in the business world. The opportunity to lead an initiative focused on such a crucial theme aligns perfectly with my personal values and professional aspirations.
Working as a Credit Analyst in the finance industry, I’ve witnessed firsthand the need for greater female representation in business, particularly in the finance industry.
I believe in the transformative power of events like this to create meaningful change and foster a more inclusive environment. Being able to contribute to this goal by leading the planning and execution of this event is incredibly rewarding. Helping to organize one of BI’s most important events not only provides me with invaluable experience but also offers a platform for me to learn from insightful and motivating speakers.
Can you tell us about your ambitions and plans for the BI Female Business Forum in 2024?
This year, our goal is to expand participation in the Female Business Forum, anticipating a larger number of students than in previous years due to heightened demand. We aim to welcome around 115-125 attendees, compared to the previous average of around 100.
This year we have decided to incorporate a focus on macroeconomic market conditions, owing to the turbulence of the last couple years. We hope that this addition will provide students with a more comprehensive understanding of significant topics within business and economics.
We have also decided to focus more on the finance industry and plan to feature a wider array of speakers representing various parts of the industry. This approach will offer students a comprehensive understanding of the diverse range of career possibilities within the field.
Our primary objective is to enhance the forum’s interactivity and dynamism compared to previous years. We envision a platform where students can connect, exchange thoughts, and share experiences across gender, age, and discipline. We hope to host engaging workshops and interactive sessions where students can directly pose questions to experienced speakers. We plan to actively encourage dialogue among participants, recognizing that everyone attending the Female Business Forum shares a common purpose.
Ultimately, our aim is for the Female Business Forum to evolve into a nurturing environment, fostering relationships and delivering insights, experiences, and inspiration to all participating students.
How will the support from the ABG Sundal Collier Women in Finance Foundation help you reach your goals this year?
With the Foundation’s support, we have the opportunity to create an event that will attract ambitious and eager-to-learn students, while also supporting and motivating women in finance.
We are deeply grateful to the Foundation for its support. The Foundation’s dedication to promoting gender diversity and inclusion in the finance sector aligns perfectly with the mission and objectives of our event. Through our partnership, we are able to create a meaningful and impactful experience for our participants.
What do you hope participants will take away from this year’s Forum?
I hope participants will feel motivated to pursue their aspirations and seize opportunities they may have previously hesitated to pursue. Specifically, I hope attendees feel empowered to assert themselves and pursue careers in traditionally male-dominated industries, not only in finance but across various industries. Moreover, I hope students from diverse backgrounds and fields of study will gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities within finance and be inspired by our speakers.
I also hope that participants will gain actionable insights from the forum. By fostering connections and exchanging ideas, attendees will hopefully leave the event with renewed inspiration to effect meaningful impact within their organizations and communities. Overall, my goal is for participants to leave the forum feeling empowered, energized, and equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to make significant contributions to their studies and future career paths.
Moving on to a more general topic: what’s your sense of what the popular career path choices are among female students at the BI Norwegian Business School?
My sense is that among female student’s popular career path choices often revolve around fields such as HR & Management, marketing, law, etc. However, it’s important to recognize that there are still significant numbers of women pursuing studies in finance, albeit not at the same level as men. However, I am optimistic that increasingly more female students will opt for finance as their career patch choice in the future.
Do you think there is anything that might encourage more female students to consider finance as a possible career path?
Events such as the Female Business Forum provide opportunities for students interested in finance, among other fields, to gain insights into speakers’ career paths and experiences. These events offer a glimpse into the realities of working in finance and the diverse career opportunities available within the industry. Additionally, increasing the visibility of role models, both male and female, can serve as inspiration for aspiring female professionals. I also think that implementing supportive policies and initiatives within educational institutions and finance organizations, such as scholarships, internships, and leadership development programs specifically for women, can encourage more female students to pursue careers in finance.
Organizations like the ABG Sundal Collier Women in Finance Foundation play a crucial role in providing support for women in finance, thereby encouraging more women to explore finance as a career option. When companies actively recruit and showcase their commitment to gender diversity, it helps reduce barriers and fosters a more inclusive environment for women in finance. As a result, we can perhaps expect to see a greater representation of women pursuing careers in finance as these initiatives gain traction and visibility.
What do you think the finance industry could be doing to attract more women?
I think it’s crucial to debunk the stereotype that a career in finance necessitates sacrificing (for example) family or social life due to long working hours. Women need to see the full range of opportunities available and understand that pursuing finance doesn’t mean sacrificing other aspects of life.
I think key steps for the financial industry to attract more women could include: promoting diversity and inclusion, implementing tailored mentoring programs, hosting open days for women in business with a focus recruitment, providing flexible working arrangements, showcasing female role models, and lastly, fostering a supportive workplace culture that promotes collaboration, teamwork and mutual respect, ensuring all employees feel valued and empowered to succeed.
By encouraging and showing women that the finance industry works for and wants more women to apply, we can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for women, ultimately attracting and retaining top talent.
Do you think there is anything that might encourage more female students to consider finance as a possible career path?
I believe there are numerous factors that could encourage more female students to consider finance as a career path. Events such as Female Business Forum provide invaluable opportunities for students interested in finance, among other fields, to gain insights into speakers’ career paths and experiences. These events offer a glimpse into the realities of working in finance and the diverse career opportunities available within the industry. Additionally, increasing the visibility of role models, both male and female, can serve as inspiration for aspiring female professionals. I further believe that implementing supportive policies and initiatives within educational institutions and finance organizations, such as scholarships, internships, and leadership development programs specifically for women, can encourage more female students to pursue careers in finance.
Foundations like ABG Women in Finance plays a crucial role in demonstrating tangible support for women in business, thereby encouraging more women to explore finance as a career option. When companies actively recruit and showcase their commitment to gender diversity, it helps reduce barriers and fosters a more inclusive environment for women in finance. As a result, we can perhaps expect to see a greater representation of women pursuing careers in finance as these initiatives gain traction and visibility.
What do you think the finance industry could be doing to attract more women?
To attract more women to the financial industry, it’s crucial to debunk the stereotype that a career in finance necessitates sacrificing family or social life due to long working hours for example. Women need to see the full range of opportunities available and understand that pursuing finance doesn’t mean sacrificing other aspects of life.
I think key steps for the financial industry to attract more women include; promoting diversity and inclusion, implementing tailored mentoring programs, hosting open days for women in business with a focus recruitment, providing flexible working arrangements, showcasing female role models, and lastly, fostering a supportive workplace culture that promotes collaboration, teamwork, and mutual respect, ensuring all employees feel valued and empowered to succeed.
By encouraging and showing women that the finance industry works for and wants more women to apply, we can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for women, ultimately attracting and retaining top talent.
“By encouraging and showing women that the finance industry works for and wants more women to apply, we can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for women, ultimately attracting and retaining top talent”.
And finally, can you tell us what you would find interesting about a possible career in finance?
What I find interesting about a potential career in finance is the multitude of opportunities it presents across diverse sectors. This diversity allows me to explore different areas of interest and tailor my career path to align with my strengths and passions. Finance also offers a dynamic and ever-evolving environment, marked by fast-paced weekdays. The dynamic of the financial industry and the constant evolution keeps the work environment exciting and presents opportunities for continuous learning and growth, which I find stimulating and motivating.
Furthermore, I am intrigued by the profound impact finance has on our society. Understanding the underlying reasons behind financial phenomena is fascinating, as finance plays an important role in driving economic growth and shaping the future of businesses and industries. The possibilities of being part of this transformative process are deeply rewarding. Additionally, I am drawn to the analytical challenges inherent in finance, where each scenario presents a new puzzle to solve, further enriching the experience.
Nora Waler Frøytlog is in her third year of a Siviløkonom degree at BI Norwegian Business School.
Managing Director, ABGSC Women in Finance Foundation
Marianne.Daae@abgsc.no +47 22 01 60 00