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International Women’s Day in Action: The Brokerage and Premier Miton Inspire the Next Generation of Women in Finance

  • 3 days ago
  • 6 min read

At The Brokerage, International Women’s Day is more than a moment of recognition - it is an opportunity for young people to hear directly from women leaders about the realities of their careers and the journeys that shaped them.


This year, in partnership with Premier Miton Investors, The Brokerage brought together 25 young people from its talent network and leading professionals from the asset management industry for a powerful afternoon of conversation, reflection and connection.


The event placed young women at the centre of the discussion, creating space for honest conversations about confidence, representation and the realities of building a career in finance and beyond.

For many of the 16–18-year-olds in the room, it was their first opportunity to meet women leading in the industry. For The Brokerage, it was another step in its mission to ensure that talent — not background — determines opportunity.



Talent Network candidates at Premier Miton The Brokerage IWD 2026

Celebrating women who shape our lives and career journey

As part of the application process to attend the event, The Brokerage asked young people a simple but powerful question:


“Is there a woman who has inspired, supported, or influenced you in a meaningful way?”


The responses revealed the powerful role women play in shaping confidence, ambition and resilience in the lives of young people.


Below are a selection of the reflections shared by attendees:


“Growing up, I consistently witnessed my mother’s dedication and drive, which instilled in me the value of hard work and ambition. She always pushed me to strive for better, emphasising the importance of education and how it could open doors to endless possibilities. But most importantly, she made me believe in myself. Thanks to her, I’ve learned that with determination, any aspiration is within reach.”


“For International Women’s Day I would choose Naomi Osaka. I admire her because she is honest about how she feels, even with so much pressure on her. She does not pretend to be perfect and that makes her feel more real and relatable. She reminds me that it is okay to protect your mental health and take a step back when you need to. To me she represents quiet strength, self-respect and staying true to yourself even when millions of people are watching.”


“Because of my mum, I’ve learned that women’s voices matter and that leadership can be expressed through kindness, courage and everyday actions. She continues to inspire me to be confident, supportive and to make a positive impact in my community.”


“As a daughter of a Colombian immigrant parent, I would say that my mother is the woman in my life who has inspired me the most. Coming to a different continent and starting her life again while working hard for everything she has truly inspires me.”


“My auntie has inspired me to dedicate myself to my education and ensure that I can survive on my own. As an Asian woman the usual stereotype is to get married and be supported by a husband, however within my family all the women are making a living for themselves whilst also being happily married. I aspire to be just like my aunt and the women in my family. They know what they want and ensure they achieve it, showing me that you can be a strong, successful and independent woman.”


Creating space for confidence and courage


Hosted at Premier Miton’s London office, the event brought together a panel of senior professionals who shared their personal journeys into the investment industry — from early career uncertainty to leadership roles.


IWD 2026 The Brokerage careers panel

The insightful and uplifting discussion centred around two key themes: empowerment and giving back.


The panel explored the strengths women bring to asset management, highlighting how diverse perspectives strengthen decision-making, challenge groupthink and ultimately lead to better outcomes for businesses and clients. A particular point made about aways asking questions, being curious and not being afraid to speak up and find out more about a topic was key. No question is a stupid question was highlighted as a key take-way from the day.


A great point came from Simon, who said: "Turn imposter syndrome round - use it to motivate yourself. It's NOT luck you're in the job - you've earned it and you've worked hard to achieve it."


For young attendees considering careers in the city, hearing openly about the realities of professional life was invaluable.


A young person and The Next Gen Talent Network candidate said:


"I'm seeing thar the workplace has the potential to be a real community of growth, support and allyship."

Honest conversations about barriers


A defining feature of the session was the willingness of speakers to address challenges openly.


Through live audience polling and discussion, young people reflected on common barriers to confidence — including imposter syndrome, lack of representation and fear of making mistakes.


Panellists responded with candid stories from their own careers, sharing moments where they had felt out of their depth and how they navigated those experiences.


Rather than presenting success as a straight line, the conversation highlighted the importance of resilience, mentorship and self-belief. Results below from candidates showed that the fear of making mistakes was the biggest barrier to confidence in the workplace:



Graph showing barrier to confidence in the work place.


The power of mentorship and allyship


The second half of the discussion focused on the importance of community — the people who lift us up and open doors along the way.


Attendees reflected on individuals who had supported them in their lives so far, from teachers and family members to mentors and community leaders. This conversation created a natural bridge to professional mentoring and the importance of building supportive networks early in a career.


Speakers shared stories of mentors and allies who had influenced their own journeys, as well as the ways they now support others entering the industry.


The discussion reinforced a powerful message: success in finance, like many industries, is rarely achieved alone. Support systems, sponsorship and inclusive workplace cultures make a profound difference.


Brokerage alumni leading the conversation


A particularly meaningful aspect of the event was seeing the strength of The Brokerage community come full circle.


Premier Miton

The session was facilitated by Ayo Olufowobi, HR Associate at Premier Miton Investors, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advocate, mentor and proud alumna of The Brokerage network.


Ayo played an instrumental role in bringing the event to life — working closely with both organisations to ensure young people had the opportunity to hear directly from women leading in the investment industry.


Having once been part of The Brokerage early career community herself, Ayo’s involvement reflected the lasting impact of the charity’s work: young people who access opportunity through The Brokerage often return later in their careers to help create opportunities for others.


Also in attendance was former Brokerage candidate and now Premier Miton intern: Oghenemine Pearl Ejiro-Arigi. She spoke with wisdom and passion as she shared her advice with young people in the room on how to make the most of the day. The Brokerage are super proud of her as it highlights another example of how the network continues to grow and evolve as young people progress into professional roles.


Intern at The Brokerage IWD event

Moments like these demonstrate the strength of The Brokerage community — where early access, mentorship and industry connection create pathways that continue long beyond a first opportunity.





Thank you to the speakers who enriched the day:


The Brokerage is incredibly grateful to the speakers who generously shared their experiences and insights. The organisation would also like to thank the wider team at Premier Miton Investors for partnering with The Brokerage to make the event possible and for their commitment to supporting the next generation of diverse talent.

Finally, thanks go to The Brokerage staff who helped connect the Next Gen Talent Network to this enriching opportunity and supported the young people attending the session.

Moments like these remind us why partnerships between employers and organisations like The Brokerage are so important — they turn aspiration into access.


About Premier Miton


Premier Miton Investors is a UK-based asset management firm offering a range of investment strategies across equities, fixed income, multi-asset and absolute return. The company is committed to responsible investing and fostering a culture where diverse talent can thrive.


Reach out to The Brokerage today - we are the experts in driving real social mobility impact in the workplace and we work with wonderful partners such as Premier Miton to support them to achieve success: - https://www.thebrokerage.org.uk/workwiththebrokerage


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