Women in Business: Finding Your Own Path

By Joanne Bottrell, Senior Chartered Financial Adviser in Sedulo Wealth’s London team.

When I look back on my career in financial services, one of the things I appreciate most is the importance of having confidence in your own abilities, learning from the people around you and being open to opportunities you might not have considered for yourself.

I have worked in financial services for almost 30 years, beginning my career with Midland Bank (now HSBC) in 1997. I started in a technical paraplanning role before qualifying as an Independent Financial Adviser. Throughout that time, I have learned a great deal about the profession, the people within it and the kind of adviser I want to be.

Having joined Sedulo’s London Wealth team 12 months ago, I have also had an opportunity to reflect on what has shaped my career, the people who have influenced me and what I value most in my work.

For me, a career is about more than qualifications or job titles. It is about building relationships, doing work you believe in and continuing to learn along the way.

Recognising your own potential

One of the defining moments in my career came when I was working in a technical role supporting financial advisers.

At the time, I had a particular perception of what being a financial adviser involved. Having started my career in the 1990s, I associated the role more closely with sales than with the profession I know it to be today. I was already undertaking much of the work involved in advising clients, but I had not necessarily seen myself in that role.

Then someone told me I would make a great financial adviser.

They explained that I was good with people, genuinely cared about helping them and had strong technical knowledge. They saw something in me that I had not fully recognised in myself.

It made me look at my skills differently. My technical understanding and ability to connect with people were not separate from being a good adviser; they were central to it.

I do what I do because I want to help people. I want to give clients confidence in their decisions and help them navigate what can sometimes be complicated financial situations. Money is rarely just about numbers. It is connected to people’s lives, families, aspirations and security. That remains a big part of what motivates me today.

For women in business, I think this is particularly important. There can be an unspoken pressure to prove yourself, demonstrate that you belong in the room and get everything right. It can be easy to focus on what you have yet to achieve rather than recognising the experience and knowledge you already bring.

You do not need to have everything figured out before taking the next step. Sometimes, you need to be willing to recognise that you have something valuable to offer.

Learning from the people around you

A lot of what I have learned throughout my career has come from observing other people.

I have watched different advisers and professionals do their jobs. I have learned from the things they have done well, but also from the things I felt could have been done differently. Both have been valuable.

Seeing different approaches has helped me work out what I believe makes a good adviser, how I want to work with clients and the kind of professional I want to be. It has also taught me that being willing to reflect on what works and what doesn’t is an important part of developing your own judgement.

I have never believed that success means copying someone else’s style or trying to become a version of them. It is about taking the lessons that are useful to you, understanding what aligns with your own values and developing an approach that feels right for you.

I would encourage anyone building a career to be curious, ask questions and learn from the people around them. You will not agree with everyone or want to work in exactly the same way, but there is usually something to take from the experience.

The challenges of being a woman in financial services

Having worked in financial services for almost three decades, I have seen how much the industry and the opportunities within it have evolved. My own experience has not always been straightforward, and it has taught me a great deal about resilience, recognising your own worth and the importance of being in an environment where your contribution is valued.

It has also reinforced how important it is to support others and help create opportunities for people to develop and progress.

Everyone has their own circumstances, challenges and ambitions. What matters is having the opportunity to demonstrate your abilities, being listened to and being judged on the value you bring.

Over the past 12 months at Sedulo, I have been reminded of how important the working environment can be. I have found the culture open to different personalities, perspectives and ideas, with a willingness to think outside the box.

For me, that matters. People should be able to contribute, challenge ideas and bring their own perspective without feeling they have to fit a particular mould. A positive working environment does not mean everyone thinks the same way. It means people are willing to listen, respect different viewpoints and recognise that good ideas can come from anywhere in the business.

My experience at Sedulo has reinforced how much the right environment can help people develop and do their best work.

Understanding clients as individuals

One of the things I enjoy most about being an adviser is getting to know my clients and understanding what matters to them.

People come to financial advice with different experiences, priorities and concerns. For some, the focus might be retirement planning; for others, it could be protecting their family, managing their wealth or making decisions about the future. Their relationship with money is often shaped by their circumstances and what they have experienced throughout their lives.

I believe it is important not to make assumptions about how someone will approach money or respond to advice. Every client is different. My role is to listen, ask the right questions and understand their individual needs before helping them consider their options.

Good financial advice is not about taking a one-size-fits-all approach. It is about building trust, explaining things clearly and helping people make informed decisions that are right for them.

That personal side of the job is just as important to me as the technical knowledge behind it. You need to understand the numbers, but you also need to understand the person sitting in front of you.

Supporting others coming through the profession

Over the years, I have tried to make myself available to colleagues who want guidance on their career choices, professional qualifications or the next steps they might take.

I enjoy helping people understand the opportunities available to them and encouraging them to consider paths they may not have thought possible.

Looking back at my own career, I recognise the value of having people who are willing to share their experience, offer advice and encourage you to consider something new. Sometimes, a conversation or a different perspective can make you look at your options differently.

I think it is important that we do the same for others. The profession benefits when people are supported in developing their skills, building their confidence and finding the areas in which they can thrive.

You do not need to have all the answers to help someone else. Sometimes, being available to listen or sharing something you have learned along the way is enough to make a difference.

What success means to me

My view of success has evolved throughout my career. It is less about reaching a particular position and more about building a career that reflects my values, doing work I enjoy and continuing to develop.

I still want to learn and progress, and I think it is important to remain open to new ideas and opportunities, whatever stage of your career you are at.

I also think it is possible to be ambitious while appreciating what you have already achieved. You can have years of experience and still have plenty to learn. You can be confident in your abilities while recognising that other people have valuable perspectives to offer.

If I were to offer advice to someone starting out, particularly a woman entering financial services, it would be to stay curious, learn from the people around you and not feel you have to have your entire career mapped out from the beginning.

Build your knowledge, find people whose judgement you respect and develop your own approach. Do not be afraid to ask questions or explore an opportunity because you are not sure you tick every box. You may have more to offer than you realise.

I would also emphasise the importance of how you treat people along the way. Professional knowledge and qualifications matter, but so do integrity, empathy and the ability to build lasting relationships.

Looking ahead, I want to continue developing as an adviser, building trusted relationships with my clients and helping them make informed decisions about their financial futures. I also want to keep learning from the people around me and supporting colleagues who are developing their own careers.

Looking back over my time in financial services, I know how much the people around you, the opportunities you are given and the willingness to keep learning can shape your career. I am pleased to be at a stage where I can draw on my own experience while continuing to develop and contribute in ways that matter to me.

About the author

Joanne Bottrell is a Senior Chartered Financial Adviser in Sedulo Wealth’s London team.