WOMEN'S MONTH
31 August 2019
Championing the gender agenda
Christine Lagarde, former Managing Director, IMF
Culture can make to help other women achieve similar or break your career positions. Sponsorship is globally The most common contributing factor cited as the most important factor in t RMI Investment Managers, to the success of these women is a bringing about meaningful change we are passionate about company culture supportive of their through becoming personally invested playing a meaningful part careers as women in financial services. in another woman’s career path by in cultivating a savings culture in These corporate cultures tend to opening doors, introducing them to South Africa and transforming the be inclusive, offer flexible working relevant and influential people, raising investment management industry arrangements and discourage the their profile and trying to connect to better reflect the society we view that women face a binary choice them to growth opportunities that will serve. In addition, we view the between career and motherhood. develop their careers. promotion of gender diversity and Another way these cultures the empowerment of women in encourage women to stay the Bravery rather than perfection financial services as a key part of this course is to provide them with the Studies show that women are more transformation agenda. opportunity to reduce responsibility likely to strive to perfectionism than In our quest to improve our or change roles for a period of time. men, particularly in a work context. understanding of the gender This non-linear career Speaking up does not challenges within the investment progression or ‘jungle always come naturally to WOMEN management industry, we invited gym’ career path is most women, whether REPRESENT 12 female Chief Investment Officers not viewed as taking a it is to make their voices from South Africa’s prominent multistep back but rather as heard or to admit when 49% OF managers, and our female portfolio an alternative path to they are struggling. Firms THE TOTAL managers within our affiliate stable, to reaching your ambition today should mindfully INDUSTRY, share their experiences and and full potential. encourage all employees what they believed were to participate and freely YET ONLY the major catalysts in Role models, express their views in front 18% ARE their own careers that mentors and of other people. You do paved the way to their sponsors not need to have 100% of PORTFOLIO current roles. A further contributing the knowledge to make an MANAGERS factor for many women insightful or meaningful in deciding to opt out of a decisioncontribution, you just need to have the making role, is the lack of visibility confidence that what you say matters. of women who have successfully achieved these positions. According to Changing the narrative 27four’s 2018 BEEconomics Report, There is no doubt that women have women represent 49% of the total many strengths that make them industry, yet only 18% are portfolio valuable investment decision-makers; managers. While it was pleasing to the question is how do we encourage see a 21% increase in female portfolio more of them into these roles? We managers between 2010 and 2018, need to alter the narrative around there are still almost five times as women in leadership positions but, many men in this role as women. importantly, we need men to help Acting as a role model, mentor drive this agenda. Through concrete, and sponsor is probably the most relatable and impactful action, we important responsibility women in are determined to shift this dial for investment executive roles can take women in investment management. Final print artwork.pdf 1 2019/03/11 14:18 ALIDA DE SWARDT CEO, RMI Investment Managers
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Two women nominated for top EU positions Two women have been nominated to take top positions in the European Union. President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said in a statement last month, “We have proposed Germany's Ursula von der Leyen as the next President of the European Commission and nominated France's Christine Lagarde as the candidate for President of the European Central Bank.” He added, “It will now be for the European Parliament to consider Ursula von der Leyen for Commission President. If elected, she will be the first woman to lead the European Commission.” He described Lagarde, with her international background and standing as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, as “a perfect President of the European Central Bank”. Lagarde has now resigned from her post as Managing Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following this nomination. “I am honoured to have been nominated for the Presidency of the European Central Bank,” she said in a statement. “In light of this, and in consultation with the Ethics Committee of the IMF Executive Board, I have decided to temporarily relinquish my responsibilities as Managing Director of the IMF during the nomination period.”
There was a time when investment management was about more than just business.
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