Sculpture by Kristen Visbal, commissioned by State Street Global Advisors.

State Street Global Advisors and Treasury Today Group’s Women in Treasury Roundtables touch down in London.

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On 10^th May in the City of London, State Street Global Advisors and Treasury Today hosted the second in a new series of global roundtables dedicated to diversity and inclusion in corporate treasury. The London installation was a fantastic opportunity to share personal experiences and learn from each other in a facilitated dialogue, focusing on the data derived from the 2017 Treasury Today Women in Treasury Global Study.

State Street Global Advisors’ support of the diversity and inclusion dialogue is most clearly embodied in the Fearless Girl, a sculpture which has come to symbolise the indomitable strength of women and instantly garnered worldwide attention after it was unveiled on 8^th March 2017 (International Women’s Day). State Street Global Advisors’ Women in Treasury roundtables have been taken to a new level in 2018 as they have partnered with the Treasury Today Group and are proudly supporting our Women in Treasury Annual Global Study. They are taking us on the road with them throughout the course of this year as we bring our study statistics to life in dialogues with corporates in key locations. These events provide us with a rare opportunity to hear what the results mean in real terms for corporate treasury professionals and to come together to pave the way for a better and brighter working future.

Treasury Today’s Women in Treasury initiative was created six years ago and has been driving the diversity dialogue in the corporate treasury space ever since. The initiative now incorporates an annual Global Study into the corporate female experience along with global forums, regular profiles of female corporate finance professionals, a dedicated LinkedIn networking group, and now, this new series of intimate focus group sessions dedicated to discussing the study findings.

The London lunchtime session brought a group of more than 30 industry professionals together for a discussion around the key findings from the most recent Women in Treasury Global Study. The event began with a networking coffee session, where guests arrived at an opulent venue in the City of London and were photographed with a resin replica of the Fearless Girl statue.

This was followed by an introductory speech from Yeng Butler, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Cash Business at State Street Global Advisors as guests came together around a beautifully laid, full-length walnut table. “A year ago, we placed the Fearless Girl in the heart of New York City’s financial district,” said Yeng. “The impact this had around the world in respect to starting conversations about diversity was overwhelming. Our work with Treasury Today’s Women in Treasury initiative is building on this to ensure the conversation develops and to drive long-lasting change.”

Beginning with an expert session interview with Cornelia Hesse, Head of Controlling at BASF in Germany and a keen and inspiring supporter of development in the treasury industry, guests were fortunate enough to hear Cornelia’s key advice and learn from anecdotes from her career. The atmosphere was animated, as attendees asked candid questions of Cornelia and shared insights from their own triumphs and trials in the workplace.

After a break for some sumptuous desserts, Treasury Today’s Joint Publisher & Head of Strategic Content, Sophie Jackson then moved to facilitate a dialogue around the key findings from the Women in Treasury 2017 Annual Global Study. The London chapter of our Women in Treasury shared advice with the other treasurers in the room and there was an incredibly engaged, candid and supportive atmosphere in the room. We sought engagement with our Women in Treasury 2018 Global Study, and which we invite all female corporate treasury professionals to complete before the study closes on 17^th August 2018.

The Women in Treasury Annual Global Study roadshow events with State Street Global Advisors will continue throughout the course of the year in various locations across the world and the 2018 Women in Treasury Annual Global Study results will be released in September.

To learn more please contact Lisa Bigley, Global Head of Events – lisa.bigley@treasurytoday.com