The finance industry has long been viewed as a male-dominated field, with senior leadership roles often feeling out of reach for women. However, professionals like Joanna Jones, a Financial Controller at Star Live, are proving that change is possible. In a recent conversation, Joanna shared her journey into finance, the challenges she has faced along the way, and her thoughts on how the industry can become more inclusive and supportive of women in leadership.

A Career Path Unplanned

Joanna’s route into finance was anything but traditional. Originally from Poland, she moved to the UK with the primary aim of improving her English. Initially, she had her sights set on studying law, but she recognised that mastering legal language as a non-native speaker would be a significant challenge. Instead, she turned to her strengths in mathematics, realising that numbers are universal and would provide a stable career path. The decision, however, did not come easily—at first, she even questioned whether she had made the right choice or had “sold her soul to the devil!” Yet, as she progressed through her studies, finance became increasingly logical and rewarding, opening up a world of opportunity.

Climbing the Finance Ladder

One of Joanna’s most formative experiences was securing a placement whilst at University, at global corporation, Caterpillar, where she was part of a small but highly efficient finance team. This experience gave her invaluable exposure to both the corporate world and the advantages of working within a close-knit team. It was here that she discovered her preference for management accounting over financial accounting, finding its strategic nature more engaging and impactful.

After completing her degree, she landed her first full-time role at Home Retail Group through a recommendation from a former colleague. While working at this large organisation, she quickly noticed the barriers that existed within the finance world. Senior leadership roles felt distant and unattainable, and she became increasingly aware of the lack of structured support to help employees bridge the gap from entry-level positions to executive roles.

Gender Disparities in Finance

Throughout her career, Joanna has observed the challenges that women continue to face in the finance sector. Despite working for multiple companies over a 15-year period, she has never had a female FD or CFO as a manager. as a manager. She believes that several factors contribute to this disparity:

• Confidence Gap: Men are more likely to apply for roles even if they meet only a portion of the criteria, whereas women tend to wait until they feel fully qualified.
• Lack of Mentorship: Senior leaders, who are predominantly male, do not always take an active role in mentoring and supporting women’s career progression.
• The "Boys' Club" Culture: Women frequently find that their ideas are only validated when echoed by male colleagues.
• Career Interruptions: Maternity leave and childcare responsibilities often put women at a disadvantage in terms of career progression, particularly when flexible working options at senior levels are limited.

Changing Perspectives

Over time, Joanna has learned that confidence and effective communication are key to breaking into leadership roles. She has worked on developing a more assertive approach to workplace discussions, ensuring that her expertise is recognised without feeling the need to apologise for any gaps in knowledge. She has come to understand that trust and self-assurance are critical qualities in finance leaders—traits that men often seem to embody more naturally due to societal conditioning.

A Call for Greater Support

To drive meaningful change, Joanna advocates for:

• More mentorship opportunities for women at all levels of finance
• Flexible working arrangements that allow women to remain in senior roles while balancing family life
• A proactive approach to challenging unconscious bias in hiring and promotions
• The creation of professional networks where women can share experiences, support one another, and discuss solutions to common barriers

Looking to the Future

Despite the hurdles, Joanna remains determined to achieve her goal of becoming a CFO. Her drive is fuelled not only by personal ambition but also by the desire to set an example for her children—proving that gender should never be a barrier to success.

Her story is a reminder that while progress is being made, there is still work to be done. A shift in workplace culture and attitudes is essential to creating a truly inclusive finance industry. Through mentorship, advocacy, and structural change, the sector can become a place where women are given equal opportunities to lead and succeed.

Would you be interested in joining a women’s business network to support and uplift each other? Let’s start the conversation and drive real change together.