Community, careers and confidence: The Women in Finance Collective
Beyond the Capital Mini-Series E1
In this episode of Beyond the Capital, host Hilary Smith speaks with Tessa Lee, Managing Director at Moneyinfo, and Gemma Lounge, Director of Operations at Jigsaw Tree. Together they share the story of how the Women in Finance Collective was founded and why it has quickly become an important community for women working in finance and fintech across the Midlands.
The conversation explores the realities of being a woman in financial services, where even today many still find themselves as the only female in the room. Tessa and Gemma reflect on their own career journeys and the challenges they have faced, from a lack of female representation in leadership roles to the confidence gap and the persistence of imposter syndrome. They also highlight the positive changes they are seeing, with more women entering project management, client services and technology roles, and how building a strong local network can help accelerate progress.
The Women in Finance Collective was created to give women a safe and supportive environment to share experiences, learn from each other and develop the confidence to step into leadership positions. Tessa and Gemma explain how the group runs quarterly events in Birmingham where women can connect, hear from inspiring speakers, and walk away with practical advice to support their personal and professional development. They also look at the bigger picture, considering how financial services as an industry has been slow to change, and why education and awareness must start earlier to show young women the wide range of opportunities available beyond traditional administrative roles.
This is an honest and inspiring discussion about the need for greater diversity in leadership, the role of technology in opening up opportunities, and the importance of collective action to drive meaningful change. Tune in to hear how the Women in Finance Collective is helping women across the Midlands to build confidence, grow their networks, and shape the future of finance.
This series is brought to you by Moneyinfo, the client portal and app built for wealth managers, and Jigsaw Tree, specialists in helping firms streamline their systems and processes. In partnership with Supertech, powering the next generation of professional services.
Join our dynamic networking group for women in finance - right in the Midlands! This is your opportunity to connect, collaborate, and champion each other in a space designed to inspire and empower.