Diversity Project Pathway Programme
Realise your true potential. The Pathway Programme is designed for ambitious women who aspire to become Portfolio Managers or Traders. Develop the technical expertise, leadership skills, and professional network to accelerate a career in the investment industry.
What is the Pathway Programme?
Through interactive sessions, hands-on projects, and mentorship, participants join a vibrant cohort of future women investment leaders, gaining the tools and community to accelerate one’s career.
Participants learn alongside a supportive cohort of peers and connect with the industry’s most respected portfolio managers, traders, and CIOs.
Benefits and Career Impact
Embrace your potential as a future investment leader. Here’s how the Pathway Programme can benefit participants and their firms.
Benefits for you
- Tailored curriculum covering technical investment topics and leadership development
- Invaluable access to senior leaders across the industry
- Supportive peer network and industry mentorship
- Career Development Plan with built-in sponsor support
- Real-world guidance on career transitions, front-office readiness, and managing visibility
Benefits for your firm
- Improved retention of high-potential female talent
- Strengthen your leadership pipeline by equipping women with critical skills
- Recognition as a leader in industry inclusion efforts
- Sponsor engagement and upskilling
- Cross-firm knowledge sharing and best practices
“Pathway has been incredibly empowering. The programme not only sharpened my technical skills but also helped me forge my own investment style. The access to industry leaders and the supportive cohort made it a transformative experience.”
– Pathway Participant
Pathway Director, Shyla Hönigschmid-DeVeaux gives an introduction to Pathway, watch below:
Programme Content
Curriculum
Combining technical depth, leadership development, and real-world application, participants gain the knowledge, mindset, and network across seven interwoven themes designed to accelerate readiness for a front-office role. Sessions are delivered by senior industry professionals at the forefront of their specialisations.
AI & Technology
- Apply Python-powered tools for portfolio management.
- Leverage AI, LLMs, and alternative data for investing.
Applied Practice
Hands-on portfolio management: Simulate managing a model portfolio over 6 months.
Trading challenge: Design, test, and present a trading strategy.
Career Activism
Build resilience and navigate family planning.
Contribute to industry change via the Paying it Forward project.
Create a personalised career development team.
Career Capital
Connect with industry leaders.
Insights on transitioning to front office roles.
Master stakeholder influence and strategic networking.
Investor Mindset
Deliver client-centric solutions with confidence.
Develop the traits of a successful investor.
Learn from CEO / CIO panels on industry trends.
Leadership Brand
Craft a personal brand and articulate your value.
Develop leadership presence with keynote insights.
Own your professional narrative with confidence.
Private Markets
- Understand the lifecycle of a deal, from origination to execution
- Learn ways to contribute to the process as a junior professional.
- Evaluate private assets for long-term portfolios
Evaluate private assets for long-term portfolios.
Specialist Tracks
The Pathway Programme offers the opportunity to select a specialist track: Portfolio Manager or Trader. Each is designed to equip you with the essential technical expertise required for your chosen career path. While the full cohort collaborates on leadership and industry insights, your specialist sessions will deliver targeted, role-specific mastery.
Portfolio Manager Track
For those who aspire to architect investment strategies and steward client capital
- Develop portfolio construction and asset allocation techniques
- Hone ability to identify compelling investments
- Master nuances of risk management through real-world simulations
Trader Track
For those captivated by market dynamics and execution excellence
- Delve into mechanics of key asset classes – from equities to FX
- Learn to navigate pricing anomalies, liquidity challenges, and strategic execution
- Refine your instincts through live-market scenarios
Programme Structure
Format
- 60% in-person
- 40% virtual
Cadence
- Sessions meet every two to three weeks
- Each session is 90-minutes
- Programme runs from January to December
- Virtual sessions held mid- to late-afternoons based on cohort preferences. Total time commitment of ca. 100 hours, not including travel to/from event sessions.
Additional Benefits
- Group exercises
- Case studies
- Real-world application
Who is the programme for?
This programme is for ambitious women with high potential who:
- Aspire to become Portfolio Managers or Traders
- Have at least 3 years’ professional experience
- Have, or are working towards a CFA, CAIA, IMC, or similar
We welcome applicants from both investment and non-investment backgrounds – including research, sales, legal, investor relations, and operations.
Those from non-investment backgrounds are invited to attend a technical bootcamp and provided access to additional learning materials to ensure they are prepared for the technical sessions throughout the programme.
How firms support participants
- Assign a sponsor to each participant – Learn more about being a sponsor here.
- Check-in on participant progress and provide support to fill in content gaps.
- Provide on-the-job training for participants throughout the programme.
“The sessions have been very well rounded and targeted at the right level to accommodate different levels of experience. It was also great to have the chance to network after each of the live sessions as it’s a large cohort and I’m still meeting new members each time.”
– Cheng Zhang, 2024 Participant
Session Speakers
Learn from senior portfolio managers, traders, and C-suite leaders who bring real-world investment expertise and candid insight into every session. The Pathway Programme is led by Programme Director Shyla Hönigschmid-DeVeaux, with ongoing support from Helena Morrissey, Chair of Diversity Project, and an expert Steering Committee drawn from across the industry. Meet the Team here. Some of our past speakers have been:
Omotunde Lawal
Head of EMEA Corporate Credit and Head of Emerging Markets Corporate Debt, Barings
Simona Paravani
Global Chief Investment Officer of Solutions for Multi-Asset Strategies & Solutions, BlackRock
How to Apply?
Firm Nomination
Firms nominate candidates by completing a short online form.
Candidate Applications
After nomination, candidates complete an application form.
Final Decisions
Nominated candidates and their firm will receive the final selection outcome.
Invest in the next generation of women investment leaders – nominate a candidate today.
Programme Fee
Programme Team
Emma Smit-Hamilton
Shyla Hönigschmid-DeVeaux
We would love to hear from you!
If you have any questions or would like to discuss how this programme could benefit you or your organisation, please get in touch.
You can also attend an informational session to learn more about the programme from the Chair of Diversity Project, Helena Morrissey, and the Programme Director, Shyla Hönigschmid-DeVeaux.
Member Quotes
DP Pathway Participating Firms
