Denise Voss, chair at labelling association Luxflag, owes a debt of gratitude to her mother anthony Dehez

Denise Voss, chair at labelling association Luxflag, owes a debt of gratitude to her mother anthony Dehez

To mark international women’s day, Delano is asking Luxembourg residents and professionals about the women who have inspired them and why. Denise Voss, board chair of sustainable finance labelling agency Luxflag, member of the strategic advisory board and former chair of the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry and general Luxembourg finance industry behemoth, says that it all began with her mother.

“My mother was my inspiration,” says Voss. “She was a full-time working mom.” Voss, who grew up in the US but has lived in Luxembourg since 1990, recalls that her mother worked around the clock to give her the education and opportunities to succeed in her career.

Starting out at Coopers & Lybrand (which went on to become PriceWaterhouseCoopers) in Boston, US and Luxembourg, she then spent 25 years at Franklin Templeton before retiring but continuing to hold an active number of chair positions.

“My mom was a single mother, and she gave me the template that it was possible to work and raise a family. When it came to my own daughter I was open to the possibility that I could work and my husband could help out stay at home.”

Is her mother proud of everything she’s achieved? “Absolutely,” says Voss.