For more than 100 years, countries across the world have celebrated International Women’s Day. It is a day that recognises the political, cultural, economic, and social achievements of women, and to honour the day, we want to shine a spotlight on two inspiring young women at FIIG pioneering the way for aspiring female professionals in finance, and hear from them, why they choose to work at FIIG, in fixed income, and what International Women’s Day means to them.
Working in fixed income and following your interests
Introducing Vanessa Deng:
Vanessa has worked at FIIG since 2022 and holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Monash University and a Master of Management (Accounting) from Melbourne University. Since joining FIIG, Vanessa has excelled as a Relationship Manager at the Melbourne office. In her day-to-day role, Vanessa keeps herself busy with morning meetings to keep an eye on the overnight bond markets and bond deals, talking to clients and updating their portfolios according to their investment needs, and liaising with trader to execute trades.
As a numbers-driven and methodical person, Vanessa’s transition into finance felt like a natural fit. Working as a Relationship Manager at FIIG, she was able to combine her passion for finance with her desire to help people in a meaningful way. “Seeing myself being part of my client’s financial success journey is very rewarding and is one of the key drivers for me in this role”, said Vanessa. Throughout her work experience as an Analyst and a Relationship Manager, Vanessa has learned about the industry and the importance of planning for financial security with strategic asset allocation based on different market conditions.
Following her passion for working in fixed income, Vanessa urges fellow young women to explore their interests without limitations. “I think women are naturally seeking some degree of certainties, which is where bonds come into play. However, the more I learn about it, the more I feel like there is more that I need to learn. Fixed income, particularly bonds, is an amazing asset class that is often overlooked by many investors. I thought I might be able to help bridge that gap, which is in line with FIIG’s strategy and vision.”
Introducing Sierra Conklin:
Sierra, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) from Macquarie University, started at FIIG in 2023. She has spent her professional career working in wealth management and securities and now, working as a Relationship Manager, she is entrusted with overseeing and creating investment portfolio accounts for her clients, aligning the client’s investments with their individual investment goals.
Her desire to work in finance stemmed from her observation that there were very few women in the industry, yet a considerable number of women in the market needing assistance in managing their financial affairs. Sierra’s goal is to be a presence in the market that can, not only, meet the current demand, but potentially be a more familiar face for women who may feel intimidated by the current realm of finance. What piqued her interest in particularly bond investing was the multifaceted nature of fixed income and the opportunities it provides to grow.
Inspiring inclusion, breaking down barriers, and challenging stereotypes
Each year, the United Nations announces a theme for International Women’s Day. This year’s theme, ‘Inspire Inclusion’, describes the importance of diversity and empowerment via breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes, and creating environments where all women are valued and respected.
This year’s theme resonates deeply with Vanessa. “I think women are living in the best century, where society is moving forward to embrace diversity and more women are taking leadership roles, which further helps more women to learn and thrive. I think it’s important to work in an organisation that has the culture to acknowledge the gender difference, respect the difference, and even embrace it.” Vanessa adds that being open-minded and learning about each other’s differences helps to inspire inclusion across teams, organisations, and industries, and she remains confident that this positive momentum will attract more female talents to join the community.
For Sierra, this year’s theme serves as a reminder to appreciate the contributions and achievements of women throughout history and highlights the importance of inclusivity and equality, allowing for reflection on what has been achieved and what we are doing today to uplift women in society.
Reflecting on the advancements women have achieved in Australia over the years, Vanessa is encouraged by the industry’s increasing support for women. “The industry environment is becoming more encouraging, and there are more celebrations and networking opportunities for women.” Vanessa expresses gratitude for being part of an organisation that encourages women to learn, expand their networks and further contribute to the organisation’s cultural diversity through the support of different initiatives.
Furthermore, Sierra has seen a conscious effort made to encourage women to apply for management and executive management roles, providing the opportunity for mentorship and encouraging personal and career development. “As more women enter a career in finance, we will be another step closer to bridging a gap in the market and enriching the industry with different perspectives.” She believes that by encouraging more women to enter the industry and actively working towards destigmatising the inherent belief, especially for the younger generation that finance is a male-only occupation, we can hopefully attract more women to work in finance and other historically male-dominated industries.
To inspire inclusion in her personal life, Sierra has also been fortunate to have been given the opportunity to speak at a few Women in Finance events that were focused on encouraging newly graduated university students to continue to pursue a career in finance. She also helped coach young women just finishing their HSC on how to prepare and present themselves for future job interviews and hoped that the women left the events with greater confidence in themselves and their own abilities.
Lastly, in tribute to the inspirational women shaping Australia and the world, we asked Vanessa and Sierra about inspirational women who inspire them in their everyday lives. For Vanessa, Michele Bullock stands out as the most inspirational woman, being the first female governor of the RBA, paving the way for women in finance and in leadership roles. For Sierra, she credits her previous managers, who have advocated for a safe space for open discussion, encouraged the hiring of a more culturally diverse team, and supported her in her career growth.