Valérie Nöel, global head of trading, Syz Group spoke to Best Execution about her award for Excellence in Equities Trading at this year’s glittering European Women in Finance Awards, held at the Langham Hotel in London.
How do you feel about winning this award?
Winning an award for ‘excellence in equity trading’ is the result of years of hard work, dedication, passion and expertise. The feeling of this recognition is immense.
Which of your achievements are you most proud of?
It’s undoubtedly the ability to persistently pursue this career with unwavering passion, spanning over three decades in the world of trading. I’ve navigated the ever-changing landscape of trading since 1994, weathering the storms of the internet bubble, the subprime crisis, the era of pink and blue ‘tickets’, the rise of algorithms, and the advent of digital assets. Throughout this journey, I’ve remained resolute in upholding my core values: authenticity, integrity, curiosity, and hard work.
What do you personally want to achieve to further support diversity in the workplace?
My personal aspirations revolve around leading by example, sharing knowledge, and demonstrating that with hard work and determination, nothing is insurmountable.
How are you seeing diversity impact the industry?
We can see far-reaching positive effects. In finance and on the trading floor, the presence of diverse teams broadens the spectrum of perspectives and points of view, which ultimately contributes to better decision-making and more effective risk management. This diversity fosters intellectual stimulation, imparts wisdom and encourages reflection, which is very important.
What still needs to change for the better?
First of all, it is essential not to regard change as inaccessible. While progress has been made on diversity and inclusion in various sectors, there is still room for improvement. Pay disparities and under-representation of certain groups in senior positions are persistent problems. To bring about constructive change, we need to tackle these challenges with perseverance, increased awareness and education.
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