Celebrating International Women's Day 2025
We kicked off our International Women’s Day with our event Rise Up: Women and Business and Finance, which brought together young women in year 10-12 to explore the world of business and finance.
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Queen Mary academics: Dr Eileen Tipoe, Dr Lilian Schofield and Dr Lisa Diane Morrison
This event was a collaboration between the School of Economics and Finance and the School of Business and Management, offering a day of academic exploration, career insights, and networking. With over 115 attendees, the day provided guidance on how to navigate the journey from sixth form to university and beyond into a successful career.
One of the key themes of the event was the importance of female representation and voice in business and finance. Women remain underrepresented in leadership roles across these sectors, and increasing diversity is essential for fostering innovation, inclusivity, and success. By engaging with accomplished female academics and professionals, students saw first-hand the impact that representation can have and why their voices matter in shaping the future of these industries.
Some event highlights include:
- Academic presentations and interactive sessions led by leading female academics, including Dr Lilian Schofield, Dr Lisa Diane Morrison, and Dr Eileen Tipoe.
- Inspiring talks from student societies, including 'Women in Consulting' and student speakers discussing internships and employability.
- An alumni panel featuring Festina Nushi (School of Business and Management graduate), Jessica Abbott and Maryam Ayandipo (School of Economics and Finance graduates), who shared their experiences about university and their career journeys.
- Networking opportunities over lunch, where students connected with Queen Mary staff, students, and alumni to discuss their aspirations and gain further information into career progression.
- An optional campus tour, giving students a glimpse into university life and the academic resources available at Queen Mary University of London.
Student spotlight
As part of the celebrations, we also spotlighted two inspiring students in economics and finance on our Instagram reels.
First, we spoke to Swati, a second-year Economics student, who shared the women who inspire her, why she loves studying economics and finance, and the impact she hopes to make in the field. Next, we spoke to Laibah, a third-year Economics, Finance & Management student, who offered advice for young women entering these fields, discussed how she found her support system at university, and shared the impact she hopes to have in the future.
These are just some of the many ways the School of Economics and Finance continues to champion and celebrate the achievements of women, empowering them to break barriers and make their mark in traditionally male-dominated industries.