10 Lessons from Women Leading Quantitative Finance

Discover the key takeaways from Selby Jennings' Women in Quantitative Finance panel

Quantitative finance is one of the fastest developing areas of financial services, with demand for technical talent continuing to grow across investment banks, hedge funds, asset managers and fintech firms. Yet while the industry has made progress, women remain underrepresented across many quantitative roles, particularly at senior levels. 

According to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, women hold around 35% of senior management roles in financial services, but representation remains significantly lower across quantitative and front-office functions.

To explore this topic, Selby Jennings hosted ‘Women in Quantitative Finance: Career Progression, Challenges & Leadership’, bringing together senior quantitative leaders from HSBC, Société Générale, Emcore, and Citi. Drawing on experience across buy side, sell side and academia, the panel shared practical insights into building successful careers in quantitative finance.

The discussion encouraged an open exchange of ideas, but rather than attributing comments to individual speakers, we've summarised ten key lessons that emerged, offering practical advice for aspiring quants, experienced professionals and hiring managers alike.

1. There is no single path into quant finance

One of the strongest themes throughout the discussion was that there is no "typical" quant career.

The panel included professionals who began in engineering, mathematics, physics and academia before moving into quantitative finance. Some discovered the industry through university career fairs, others through research, and some only realised quant careers existed after completing advanced degrees. Several panellists even admitted they didn't even know quantitative finance existed while studying mathematics or engineering. One recalled walking into an engineering careers fair expecting technology companies, only to discover banks recruiting STEM graduates into quant roles. It was a reminder that awareness, rather than ability, is often the first barrier.

Organisations therefore benefit from being able to attract talent with diverse academic backgrounds, while candidates should never feel discouraged if they feel their career path has been somewhat unconventional, because everyone follows their own path. 

• Takeaway: Quant finance values problem-solvers. Your route into the industry matters less than your ability to learn and apply analytical thinking.

2. Technical ability opens the door, curiosity drives long-term success

Strong mathematical and programming skills remain, and will always remain, the foundation of a strong quant career. However, the entire panel agreed that technical excellence alone is rarely enough.

The professionals who continue to progress are those who ask questions, read widely, stay curious about financial markets, and constantly expand their knowledge beyond their immediate role.

Markets evolve, technologies change, and new asset classes emerge, meaning continuous learning is part of your role.

• Takeaway: Hiring managers should look for curiosity alongside technical capability, while candidates should view learning as a career-long investment.

3. Great quants understand the bigger picture

Building a model is only part of the skillset. 

Several panellists spoke about the importance of understanding why a model exists, who will use it, and how it contributes to investment decisions, trading strategies or risk management. Technical expertise may get you through the door, but understanding the commercial context allows you to ask better questions, develop more effective solutions and contribute more strategically as your career progresses.

For those transitioning into quant finance from academia or other STEM disciplines, this often means learning the language of financial markets alongside developing technical skills. Understanding business problems you're solving is just as important as knowing how to solve them.

• Takeaway: The strongest quants combine analytical thinking with an understanding of the business problems they are solving.

4. Communication is a competitive advantage

Quantitative finance is often viewed as an individual discipline, but the reality is highly collaborative.

Quants work alongside traders, portfolio managers, technology teams, model validation specialists, and senior stakeholders. Explaining complex ideas clearly is often just as valuable as developing them.

As professionals move into more senior positions and leadership roles, communication becomes an increasingly important part of the role.

• Takeaway: Technical expertise may secure your first role, but communication helps build influence throughout your entire career.

5. Confidence often comes after opportunity, not before

There are many career moments that our panellists had where success depended less on solving mathematical problems and more on making decisions, taking ownership and leading people.

While developing technical expertise is of course essential, progressing into senior roles requires confidence and the ability to support others.  Several of the panellists said they didn't begin their careers set out on becoming leaders, and confidence wasn't something they had from day one. Instead, it developed over time by taking on new challenges, learning from setbacks and saying yes to opportunities before they felt completely ready.

Their experiences highlighted that leadership isn't a destination reached once you've mastered every technical skill. It's something that's built gradually through experience, resilience and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone.

• Takeaway: Leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about having the confidence to keep learning, make decisions, and help others succeed. 

6. Mentorship should never stop

Mentorship emerged as one of the most valuable career accelerators discussed throughout the panel, but not simply from a technical perspective.

The panellists instead reflected on how mentors helped them with career transitions, build confidence, develop leadership skills, and understand the unwritten rules of working within large organisations. In many cases, these moments extended way beyond coding or quantitative modelling and covered everything from networking and increasing visibility to recognising when to put yourself forward for new career opportunities.

Mentorship also evolves throughout one’s career. While early-career professionals often benefit from technical guidance, more experienced quants look for mentors who can challenge them and help them grow as leaders. Many of the panellists are mentors themselves and are now creating the support network they may not have had earlier in their careers.

One of the most rewarding outcomes after the panel event was when attendees told us they had found a potential mentor through the evening, reinforcing just how valuable conversations like these can be in building stronger, more connected quant communities.

• Takeaway: Build relationships throughout your career and be prepared to become a mentor yourself as your experience grows.

7. Being good at your role isn't always enough to get noticed 

One practical lesson that particularly resonated across the panel was that doing excellent work is, of course, important, but people also need to know about it.

Several panellists reflected on realising that career progression wasn't solely determined by producing the best code or solving the most complex mathematical problems. Those who progressed often paired strong technical ability with visibility, building relationships across the business, volunteering for new initiatives, asking questions and taking opportunities to contribute beyond their day-to-day responsibilities.

That visibility wasn't about self-promotion for its own sake. Instead it's about helping others understand the value of your work and demonstrating that you can contribute beyond your immediate responsibilities.

For leaders, this means recognising talent that may not naturally seek the spotlight and creating opportunities for them to gain exposure. For those starting out in their careers, understanding how to become more visible, put yourself forward and build relationships can be just as important as developing technical expertise.

• Takeaway: Career progression is shaped by both performance and visibility.

8. Representation starts before recruitment

The panel all agreed that improving diversity in quantitative finance begins long before graduate hiring, and a lack of visible female role models can reinforce the perception that quantitative finance is a career for a particular type of person, even though the reality is far more diverse. 

Many speakers reflected that they only discovered quant careers later in their education, highlighting the need for greater awareness of STEM pathways and quantitative finance among school and university students. 

One panellist reflected on research suggesting that girls who excel in mathematics are often encouraged towards teaching, while boys with the same aptitude are more likely to be encouraged towards finance. Whether intentional or not, these early messages influence career choices years before recruitment begins.

The discussion highlighted the importance of challenging these assumptions through greater outreach, visible role models and conversations that demonstrate the breadth of careers available to mathematically minded students. The more young people can see successful professionals with different backgrounds and career journeys, the easier it becomes to imagine themselves following a similar path.

• Takeaway: Expanding the future quants talent pool starts with earlier education, outreach, and visible role models.

9. Long-term careers require continuous reinvention

One theme that emerged throughout the discussion was that a career in quantitative finance is a marathon, not a sprint. Markets evolve, technology advances and business priorities change, meaning the most successful professionals are those who continue learning and adapting throughout their careers.

Several panellists also reflected on how the industry has changed over the past two decades. While quant roles remain demanding, organisations are placing greater emphasis on flexibility, wellbeing and supporting employees through different life stages, making it increasingly possible to build a long and rewarding career without following a single path.

• Takeaway: The most successful quant careers aren't built on working the longest hours. They're built on continuous learning, adaptability and finding a sustainable way to grow over the long term.

10. Nobody is a stereotypical quant 

One message throughout the discussion that came out clearly was that there is no single personality, background or career path that defines a successful quant.

The panellists came from engineering, academia and mathematics, with careers spanning research, trading, systematic investing and leadership. Several said they hadn't even planned to work in finance, but what united them wasn't a particular background, but curiosity, resilience and a willingness to keep learning.

For women considering the profession, this also means not being put off by outdated perceptions of what a quant is or who belongs in the industry. 

• Takeaway: There is no single definition of a successful quant. The industry thrives with different perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking. 

Thank you to our panellists

These insights were drawn from Selby Jennings' ‘Women in Quantitative Finance: Career Progression, Challenges & Leadership’ event.

We'd like to thank our panellists for sharing their experience and perspectives so openly:

• Sandrine Ungari, Managing Director, Global Head of Quantitative Investment Strategies Structuring, Société Générale
• Dr Silvia Stanescu, Head of Quant Investment Research, Emcore
• Joan Omeru, Senior Quantitative Finance Analyst, Citi
• Julie Zysman, Head of FICC Quantitative Analytics, HSBC

Their willingness to share honest reflections on career progression, leadership and the future of quantitative finance made this discussion possible, and we hope these collective takeaways inspire the next generation of quantitative talent. We’d also like to thank our very own Consultant Shannon Paige for hosting the panel. 

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