Women in Finance: Embracing Change and Driving Progress

15 September 2025

Businesswoman walking purposefully along a city pavement in soft evening light.

As a part of our ongoing ‘Women in Finance’ initiatives, our Deputy CEO, Amy Bryant, sat down with our Market Development Directors, An Kelles, Director – GCC, and Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa, Market Development Consultant – Africa, to discuss the landscape for women working in financial services within the regions we oversee. They pulled on personal experiences, gave their reflections on the industry and looked ahead to the future.

The aim of our ‘Women in Finance’ podcasts is to create a space to share insights, discuss challenges, inspire other women and, most importantly, to connect.

The podcast forms part of our wider initiatives, such as our ‘Perspectives: Women in Leadership’ event series in the GCC and South Africa, and our ‘Women in Alternatives’ events.

Amy BryantDeputy Chief Executive Officer, Jersey Finance

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Dr Rufaro NyakatawaMarket Development Consultant – Africa, Jersey Finance

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An KellesDirector – GCC, Jersey Finance

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Perspectives from the Gulf region

An Kelles, our Director – GCC, addresses common misconceptions about women working in finance in the Middle East. She highlights the progress Gulf countries have made through legal reforms that promote gender equality and empower women across different industries. She also notes that safety is not a concern for women doing business in the region – even when traveling alone. Finally, An talks about the importance of networking initiatives such as Jersey Finance’s ‘Perspectives: Women in Leadership’ series, which helps build strong female networks and lasting professional relationships throughout the region.

01:12- 03:04

Views from South Africa

Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa, our Market Development Consultant in South Africa, highlights the country’s progress in advancing women in finance. She acknowledges the male dominance that has historically shaped certain sectors but credits the government for leading efforts to improve gender representation, especially in state-owned enterprises. However, she notes that private companies still fall behind when it comes to women in senior roles. Rufaro also points out that traditional gender roles create structural barriers for women, though initiatives like National Women’s Day, which has become Women’s Month in South Africa, are helping raise awareness and create opportunities for women to grow into leadership positions.

03:04 - 08:13

Emerging measures and global trends

The conversation turns to the policies and initiatives shaping financial sectors in these regions. In the GCC, government-backed vision plans are driving gender inclusion in both education and employment. In South Africa, corporate governance reforms now require companies to publish diversity reports, pushing for greater accountability. Both regions also emphasise the growing impact of technology and fintech, which are opening up financial tools and opportunities for women. These innovations have also created more flexible work environments – an important step for women managing both careers and family responsibilities.

08:13- 21:10

Looking ahead

The podcast looks to the future, calling for more women in leadership roles such as board positions. An and Rufaro agree this could help change gender dynamics within organisations. They also point out that the gender pay gap remains a global issue that still needs to be addressed.

21:10- 24:22

Inspiring women in finance

The episode closes with An and Rufaro reflecting on the women leaders who inspire them. Rufaro admires Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Deputy President of South Africa and former Executive Director of UN Women, while An talks about Jiskala Khalayl, Executive Director of the Qatari Business Women’s Association.

24:22 - 27:33