Fearless woman

In 2022, to mark 50 years since women were first permitted to enter the London Stock Exchange, City Hive developed Fearless Woman, a year-long, multi-platform campaign to explore the past, present and future of women and investing

The campaign explored how women’s financial rights and recognition have evolved over the past five decades, and shone a light on the misconceptions, myths, and inequalities that persist around women and investing. 

While reflective, Fearless Woman additionally honoured trailblazing women and men across investment management who continue to champion higher standards, better balance, and a more equitable future for women in finance. The campaign also asked important questions of the investment industry, notably how to change negative narratives around women and investing, and if the industry could afford to bear the risk of not doing so. 

The campaign served as an important reminder about why gender representation and inclusion are essential elements of good culture, governance, and risk management. 

Despite progress, gender gaps in investment participation, representation, and visibility remain. Persistent misconceptions about how women approach risk continue to shape both investment behaviours and outcomes.

The misplaced belief that women are inherently more risk-averse not only impacts how female investors are perceived, but also influences how products are designed, how advice is delivered, and how women are viewed as professionals in the industry.

These are not simply ethical challenges; they are business risks. When a significant portion of society is underrepresented in decision-making, organisations lose access to diverse perspectives and are more vulnerable to groupthink, cultural blind spots, and inevitably reputational risk.

However, by embedding gender-inclusive thinking into an organisation's cultural DNA, the industry can move beyond outdated perceptions and ensure that our beliefs and subsequent approaches are influenced by evidence rather than misconceptions or stereotypes.

Content Summary
Myths and Facts

The video explores the myths that prevail around women and investing, and the impact they continue to have. While dispelling the misconceptions, the video also sets out how the investment industry can take action to bring about lasting changes to tackle the inequalities around gender and investing.

Meet the Fearless

Meet the women and men who continue to champion higher standards, better balance, and a more equitable future for women and investing.