Creating a Constellation of Successful Women in Finance

Gabelli100 | Apr 19, 2021 | Gabelli School of Business

The lack of female role models at the top in finance makes it difficult to recruit, retain, and promote more women in the field. The issue of gender balance and attracting more women to the finance space was the focus of a Gabelli School Virtual Centennial Speaker Series event sponsored by the Gabelli Center for Global Security Analysis.

Katrina Dudley, senior vice president at Franklin Mutual Series and co-author of the forthcoming book, Undiversified: The Big Gender Short in Investment Management, moderated the discussion, asking participants about their unique pathways into finance and for the advice they’d give to young women entering the workforce.

Melissa Casson, of Black Creek Investment Management Inc., Monica Erickson, of DoubleLine’s Global Developed Credit Group, and Katie Koch, of Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) agreed that building a “knowledge advantage” on leading edge technology, learning from mistakes, and being “comfortable with what makes you uncomfortable” are all critical for success. However, investing in relationships topped the list.

“Women in particular tend to overinvest in what they know and be the subject-matter experts,” said Koch. “When you transition into your career, you’re going to have to balance [what you know] with who you know. Don’t underinvest in your network. Invest in it aggressively.”