Women finance leaders must ‘leave the ladder down’

Female financial services leaders must “leave the ladder down” for other women in order to increase much-needed representation in the still male-dominated industry, an executive of an independent financial advisory organisation has said.

The statement from Beverley Yeomans, chief operating and diversity officer at deVere Group, came as concerns grow on the back of new research about the lack of female representation at the top of the financial services sector.

“There has been some progress in recent times but, there can be no doubt, that the world of finance is still hugely male-dominated, especially in senior positions,” Yeomans said.

“The status quo is maintained by structural inequalities, social norms, and economic disparities. But this needs to change for many reasons.”

According to Yeomans, studies show that financial services organisations with women in C-suite roles are more stable, more future-proofed, have better risk management, and have higher capital buffers.

Read more: Who are the women trailblazers in mortgage?

In addition, she said, top-level female representation helps companies build long-term client relationships, become more socially conscious and be more diverse which leads to happier and more productive employees.

“It also makes a firm more relevant. Globally, women’s wealth has shown unprecedented growth over the last decade. Women now control 32% of the world’s wealth, according to Boston Consulting Group. This will rise at a compound annual growth rate of 5.7% to US$97 trillion by 2024,” Yeomans pointed out.

She believes that one of the key reasons that so few women make it to senior roles is the stark lack of female role models and mentors, compared to other sectors.

“Without more women trailblazing, those coming into the world of finance will inevitably find the path more of an uphill challenge or, perhaps, may not even know there is a path. This is why it is essential that those of us in C-suite positions, leave the ladder down for other women,” she said.

“It’s often the case that women put themselves forward less due to social biases so they might not perceive themselves as suitable or ‘enough’. As such, women need an advocate; to be empowered and given the opportunity to nurture their potential.”

“If change is to happen, female leaders have to do something about it themselves,” Yeomans stressed.

Read more: We need more women in mortgages – how do we do it?

The deVere Group appointed Yeomans as its inaugural chief diversity officer in September 2021. Based in Malta, Yeomans, who is also the chief operating officer of the group, reports directly to the founder and CEO, Nigel Green.

At the time of her appointment as chief diversity officer, Nigel Green said Yeomans has been at the top of her game in a senior executive role and on the board, for some 22 years in a highly male-dominated sector.

“Due to traditional industry biases, it’s a depressing reality that very few women have ever achieved this level, so young, and for this long in international financial services. But Beverley tore-up that ‘rule book’, breaking down barriers and leading by example. She was the ideal person to become our first-ever chief diversity officer,” Green remarked.