I was invited to take part in a secondment in finance, following which I was offered a permanent role and have continued to work in the sector since then.

From the outset, I was aware that I was in a very male-dominated industry and in the early days, I prided myself on being able to hold my own ‘among the boys’. I felt lucky that my male bosses were supportive of my career aspirations, and I set about working very hard to prove them right. It’s only now looking back that I realise I felt the need to work harder than everyone else and, in doing so, I had lost a bit of myself — the more intuitive, feminine side which is just as valuable at work as the hyper-productive, work hard/play hard environment I was lost in.

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•   'Collectively, we can all break the bias'
•   'Lean on your colleagues and mentors to help you challenge yourself'
•   'Women offer an alternative or, perhaps, additional perspective on building projects'

Taking my learnings and reflecting on my experience in the industry, my advice for women who are considering entering a similar career path is to be yourself at work. Only now am I starting to understand that I don’t need to have a ‘game face’; I can be open and vulnerable, too. This doesn’t mean I’m not tough when I need to be, it just means I don’t need to be tough all the time.

I’ve come to realise that having that balance and trust in oneself is important for us all to function as individuals and as part of a team; it’s our uniqueness that can make the magic really happen. It’s important to recognise and cultivate your sponsors as well — you might not know you have them, but they will be there.

Are you a woman in the financial services industry keen to get your voice heard? Contact [email protected] - we would love to chat!