INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2024 - JANE ADAMSON OF AVIVA INVESTORS
Jane Adamson
What inspired you to pursue a career in Finance, and how did you navigate your way to becoming a Finance Director/leader?
Initially, I trained with a Big 4 audit firm only looking as far as becoming qualified. After moving to a role in the Financial Services industry I realised the options available as a Finance professional. There are so many different disciplines and I have made sure to gain experience across the range – from financial control, financial reporting & technical accounting to managing finance systems and delivering transformation programmes.
In male-dominated industries like Finance, what challenges have you faced as a woman, and how did you overcome them?
Earlier in my career, I came up against the misconception that leaders must work full time to be effective, and therefore quite soon after starting a family I felt forced to make a choice between career progression and spending more time with my children. I made the choice that felt right at the time, but I have never asked the same of anyone else and of course you can be a great leader and work part time!
What advice would you give to other women aspiring to leadership roles in Finance or similar fields?
Firstly, it may sound simple but make sure your peers and leaders know your aspirations, don’t assume the leadership team know you want to progress within the organisation. Secondly, I have found sponsorship to be extremely important. I have been lucky enough to have a sponsor for a number of years. She has been a continued support, giving me a kick when I have needed it and helped find the next opportunity.
How do you balance the demands of your professional career with personal commitments and wellbeing?
I haven’t always got this right but have learnt from my mistakes! I prioritise time for exercise and I make sure I’m fully present when spending time with my family. Organisation is key, I never miss a parents evening or school play and most of my weekends are spent watching my three children take part in various sporting activities. However, I’m realistic and do accept I can’t be present for every school event during the week – the key is not to feel guilty about that!
In your opinion, what are the key factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in senior finance positions, and how can organisations address this issue?
In my view there are two main reasons for this:
- 1) Self belief: I think women still lack the self belief in their capability to deliver in more senior roles. Its vital that women who wish to progress are given the right support such as sponsorship and the right development plans and opportunities.
- 2) Flexible working: Whilst organisations may have flexible working policies in place, I’m not convinced we see enough role modelling of these at more senior levels to prove they are effective but I think this is key.
As a leader, what initiatives or policies do you advocate for to create a more equitable and inclusive workplace for women in Finance?
Womens’ networks are really important, as well as creating a safe environment to discuss issues openly they are a great catalyst for ideas for change. Male allyship is also fundamental to creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace.
Looking ahead, what changes or advancements do you hope to see for women in Finance in the future?
I’m extremely proud to work for an organisation led by a female CEO and CFOs to see more of this we must acknowledge that not everybody’s path is the same and be flexible.