The industry has traditionally been very male dominated, so you do sometimes have to deal with being the only woman in the room.

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This can be a daunting prospect, especially early on in your career.
 
There has, however, been a notable shift and there is certainly more diversity now than when I first began my career. There are also companies, like Masthaven, making a determined effort to recruit and retain more diverse talent and there’s a greater emphasis on ensuring that women within the business are properly supported and given opportunities to progress their careers. 
 
A career in financial services is never easy, but I’m pleased that there’s probably more resource available to new starters now than there ever has been. The industry encompasses a wide range of roles, whether that’s in sales, marketing, credit, IT or HR, so there is something for everyone. Jobs such as mortgage broker or adviser also offer more flexible hours and can fit around family life.
 
There are also now more women in senior positions within financial services and therefore more role models for younger women. The glass ceiling still exists in our industry, but it’s beginning to crack. 
 
For any woman starting their career now, I would advise them to seek out employers that take diversity seriously and have programmes and schemes to support women in the business. 

Masthaven has a ‘women in leadership’ scheme which provides invaluable access to the resources women at the bank need to continue their career development. These schemes are also a great way to build your support network and find a community of other women who can help one another.
 
My final piece of advice is to be confident and put yourself forward. It’s often the case that if you don’t ask, you don’t get. Make it clear that you want to progress and don’t let self-doubt hold you back.