Being a British Caribbean woman with a degree in Law and South East Asian Law, I never thought I would end up in a Real Assets Product Specialist role. Firstly, because I did not know much about the investment industry and secondly because ‘people like me didn’t work in finance’, however here I am! My studies not only gave me practical skills for my role, but also gave me the opportunity to go to Singapore on secondment which was an invaluable learning experience; I furthered my knowledge about the investment industry and also had the opportunity to learn more about different cultures and perspectives.
Deepening my knowledge of different cultures and meeting people from all backgrounds is something I have always valued. I was born and raised in SE London in a culturally rich household and attended a state school in a multi-cultural area, which meant I was fortunate enough to interact and grow up with people from many walks of life. Upon attending university, and then moving into legal and finance roles, the diversity that I saw became less and less.
Understanding the value and need for diversity, as well as personally having first-hand experience of certain social struggles, has made me committed to ensuring that equality, diversity and inclusivity are embedded in all that we do at my firm and within the investment industry.