Now I’d be lying if I said I didn’t relish the extra day to lie in. But as I pulled the covers just a little bit closer this past Women’s Day, and silently thanked the thousands of women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to do their part in the fight for an equitable and just society, I felt more than a tinge of guilt at my decision to sleep in. After all, these women had put their very lives on the line in the fight for equality and justice. What was I doing to make a difference in society? Or even simply in our industry? After all, the work is not done. Women are still underrepresented in asset management. And women in the industry still have many obstacles to overcome and myths to debunk. What then is my role in making the industry more equitable, and more representative? How can I make it just a little bit easier for the next woman, and the next generation of female investment professionals, to thrive?


As I thought about the women I’ve met over my almost twenty years in the industry, and those who made the biggest impact in my life, it occurred to me that most of these women would never go down in history for being part of a revolution. For the most part, they were just going about their day, doing what they do, slaying dragons and making magic as required. But they played an important role in making the environment one in which women feel welcomed, nurtured and are given the space to excel. 


I’ve had teammates who’ve lunched with me, laughed with me, celebrated and cried with me, and walked with me both literally and figuratively. There are those parties and friends, and still are, years after we no longer work together, who’ve attended my kids’ birthday parties, and have become part of the family.
I’ve had female managers who took upon themselves the role of mother: the one who picked me up at the airport and welcomed me to a new city with open arms. I’ve had another who surprised me by offering to pay for my wedding invitations. There are the ones who gave me a second chance when I messed up the first time and a third chance when I messed up the second time.


I’ve had colleagues who’ve prayed with me and for me, challenged me, cheered me on, and supported me. There were those who motivated me to do better when I needed to step it up, and those who reminded me that I was good enough when I doubted myself. There’s the one who in my first job sat me down and gave me a scolding that my 20-something-year-old self was not prepared for, who told me to get my act together, and reminded me I’m not a kid anymore. She could have left me to my own devices and watched me drown, but she cared enough to step in and speak up. 


There are the girl’s girls, who advocated for me, the ones who spoke for me when I couldn’t speak for myself, who believed in my when I didn’t believe in myself, those who gently encouraged me when I needed gentle encouragement, and those who pulled me along, kicking and screaming, when the situation demanded it.

 
All of these women have played their part in making the industry more equitable and more representative. By being women who build others up, rather than break others down, they’ve raged against the cycle of female rivalry to create spaces where women can thrive. I’m probably never going to march to the Union Buildings, but I can, no, we can, do our part by being women, team-mates, colleagues, managers, and leaders who support, advocate for, and amplify other women whenever and however we can. 

 

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