To all the women in banking
I have never been someone who has ever let being the only woman in the room let it get to her. I work in markets and on the floor there's only a handful women in senior positions and on the analyst level, none. I was shadowing my first virtual client meeting and taking notes. No one on my team introduced me. But this woman who is our client spoke to me and finally I had a chance to say something. If there is anything that I have realized, it is to NOT WAIT AROUND TO BE INTRODUCED. JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF. SIT ON THE FUCKING TABLE. I don't know why I thought I should just stay quiet until I am introduced because the truth no one will do it until you do. I want all you amazing women to share some of the tips that have helped you in your career and what you wish you could do differently!
Sorry - but men in junior position rarely get introduced as well in client calls, especially if with many people. I really don't think this has anything to do with your gender.
No shit you’re supposed to introduce yourself, lol. That should have started when you were ~10.
YASS QUEEN!!! 👏🏾
I also introduce myself and tell everyone on the call that i'm an incoming cfa lefel 1 charterholder of the cfa program of institute
Okay so maybe hijacking the thread here, but do any other girls in IB sometimes feel like everyone stares on them on the video call (when the rest of your team is all male and the client team is all guys too)? I’ve been on calls where like the client apologies specifically to me after swearing... it feels so uncomfortable that I just want to leave video off?
If you’re hot, they’re definitely staring at you.
TBH I love not being introduced on a call because then it means I don't have to answer questions and can take notes in peace
Here to offer my female perspective. I don't know enough about your firm to comment on whether the lack of introduction was due to you being an analyst or a female, and therefore whether your approach was appropriate. There were several client calls I didn't speak on when I was an analyst because I didn't have anything valuable to say. It's certainly an interesting time to be a woman in finance; a lot of firms are hyper-focused on increasing diversity, which can generate some great opportunities for you.
My approach to succeeding in the industry as a woman is driven by my personal beliefs. I'm a "feminist" by definition in that I believe in gender equality, but I don't really align with a lot of the hyper-sensitive, extremely polarized rhetoric that is present in today's environment. I see a lot of comments on here like "this is why finance girls suck!" and whether or not that comment is warranted my motto is to just be a normal person... I simply want to do my job well (i.e. prove that I deserve my role), positively contribute to my firm (i.e. don't feel the need to tear others down to succeed) and occasionally grab drinks or dinner with my colleagues that I've built a rapport with. Sure, walking into a board room of all men can be intimidating but I choose to view it in a "work" context instead of a "male v. female" context if that makes sense... it's not a "gender war" for lack of a better word. I'm nervous because I'm presenting an important deal to a bunch of people with several years of industry experience, not because I'm a woman and they're all men. As a disclaimer, the guys at my firm are generally cool people and I'm friends with most of them. I know there are some firms with truly toxic culture and obviously what I'm saying wouldn't apply there, but those firms have more systemic problems and simply introducing yourself on a call isn't going to fix anything. I've had a few blatantly inappropriate experiences during my career, but they were all at after-hour client events with alcohol involved and I don't think that is specific to the finance industry. Lastly, you can't waste your time over-analyzing every single comment and wondering if it's a "micro-aggression" - it's a waste of time and a "pls fix" email still makes my heart rate rise more than anything else