The Diversity Project has announced its third year of the Pathway Programme, which will include a theme on “AI and Investing Technology” and offer a track for traders in addition to portfolio managers.
The programme, which was launched in 2023, is aimed at addressing the lack of women in money managing roles. Currently, 87.9% of fund managers are men. It has now involved nearly 150 women, 11 of whom have reached a portfolio manager style role. Over a third of the women in the programme come from outside an investment team.
Baroness Helena Morrissey (pictured), chair of the Diversity Project, said: “It’s exciting seeing the impact of the Pathway programme, with promotions already achieved by the 2023 cohort. After almost no progress in the representation of women in fund management roles over my thirty-six years in the industry, I am finally confident about a breakthrough.
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Two new team members will also be joining the Pathway Programme as mentors, including Shyla Hoenigschmid-DeVeaux as director and Emma Hamilton as co-ordinator. Hoenigschmid-DeVeaux has spent over 10 years as a portfolio manager at JP Morgan, and was a founding chairperson for the EMEA chapter of the AWM Black Leadership forum.
“This is a programme brought to the industry by the industry based on what fund managers know it takes to succeed; Shyla’s experience as a recent portfolio manager will be invaluable here and we are delighted to welcome both Shyla and Emma to the team,” Morrissey said.
In the new trading-specific track of the programme, 10 participants will attend customised sessions including ETFs, equities, fixed income, and modern trading platforms. They will also have the opportunity to gain trading floor experience.
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“The Pathway Programme is a first of its kind opportunity to truly level the field and increase access for women into these important roles within the investment industry,” Hoenigschmid-DeVeaux said.
“I’m beyond excited for next year’s expansion of the programme to include women interested in trading as a career. This is an incredible chance for women to form lasting bonds across the industry and gain practical knowledge from those currently in the field on charting a successful career. Put simply, it’s a game changer.”
