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Women in Leadership Profiles
We are delighted to share another 'Women in Leadership' profile with you this week. We have asked several females about their experiences and views on the importance of female representation in their industry.
Once again the focus this week is females working in an industry that is predominately male.
Name: Katie Whibley
Role: Executive Assistant to Chief Financial Officer, Wealth and Personal Banking
Company: HSBC
A bit about you:
I live in Maidstone and went to St Simon Stock Catholic School. I actually left when I was 16 and trained to be a personal trainer as I have always enjoyed keeping fit and working on my nutrition. I have a kitten called Zeusie and I have worked for HSBC for almost 7 years.
What is it like working in your company?
It is a great company to work for and they are extremely passionate about career progression. They also offer competitive employee benefits and long standing service awards.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field?
When I first left school I actually trained to be a fully qualified personal trainer however I decided I wanted a change in career with something that would allow me to progress. I then applied for a role as a cashier within the branch network at HSBC. From then onwards I have had a variety of customer facing roles within Kent before I decided I wanted to work in head office as an assistant.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position?
I only needed GCSEs and customer facing experience for my first role as a cashier at HSBC. I left school when I was 16 to do an apprenticeship so I never had A Levels however as long as you are keen to learn and have interactive people skills this is all that matters.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
Meeting different people, the flexibility and also the variety that no day is ever the same!
What obstacles have you overcome in your career?
Working with different people and adapting my style within a fast pace environment. As an assistant you might have the opportunity to work with a variety of senior executives and they are all have very different personalities.
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry?
It is important to have female representation within banking to create diversity and inclusion. It also drives inspiration from other women within the industry to promote themselves and network across the organisation which can help identify talent and new opportunities
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path?
You can create your own path to success by working hard and remaining dedicated to your goal. There are plenty of opportunities out in the world, but you need to drive this yourself as the opportunities will not come to you. Every new year I set my self a SMART goal (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timebound) on what I want to achieve within work. This helps me keep on track of my own professional development.
