Over 150 individuals attended the Fondsfrauen’s twice-yearly Luxembourg regional meeting last week.

Developing tomorrow’s female financial sector leaders was in the spotlight at a recent conference organised by the networking group Fondsfrauen.

The event, held on Tuesday 24 October, focused on the skill sets required to be a next generation leader within the financial industry, discussing the challenges and opportunities that come with this role, the group told Delano. The participants also explored strategies for team recruitment and addressed issues related to biases affecting younger generations, as well as the impacts of digitalisation and evolving work norms on female leadership.

Martina Fraschini, assistant professor of finance at the University of Luxembourg, delivered the first keynote presentation, outlining the expectations and priorities of current students regarding future employers.

The panel discussion, moderated by Martine Capus, deputy head of operations oversight at Amundi Luxembourg, and the of the ‘2023 role model of the year’ award, featured insights from Laura Zahren, senior manager at KPMG Luxembourg; Sandra Ehlers, senior manager at Universal Investment; Valerie Hesse, head of transfer agency at Northern Trust Corporation; and Corinne Lamesch, country head Luxembourg at Fidelity International. The panelists shared their personal experiences and emphasised the importance of authenticity, visibility within one’s company, and the cultivation of a robust professional network.

Agnieszka Zajac, managing partner at Odgers Berndtson concluded the series of presentations with a reflection on the current status of female leadership in Luxembourg’s financial industry, as well as the potential changes and opportunities that could arise.

Fondsfrauen said that the event closed with a networking apero, providing an opportunity for attendees to network.

Fondsfrauen focuses on connecting women in the asset management and investment funds industry, aiming to foster gender diversity and provide networking opportunities.