[ I N D E P T H ]
industry events are great places to refine your skills, however valuable support can also be derived from the trading floor.
As Simmer adds:“ Mentorship is valuable, but sponsorship is where the true leverage lies. The relationship works when you’ re thinking about how you can contribute, how you can take something off their plate, how you can uplift them as they uplift you.
“ Some of the richest lessons I’ ve had didn’ t just come from supportive mentors and sponsors, but from moments that made me think,“ I don’ t want to lead like that”. Paying attention to those feelings, to the metacognition of what’ s happening, is incredibly powerful.”
In addition, while mentorship and sponsorship provide leverage at an individual level, networks can create momentum collectively.
As Carlyle observes:“ Women’ s networks have helped me build trusted relationships and collaboration opportunities that genuinely support career progression. Through them, I’ ve gained industry insight from outside my immediate environment, access to external mentors, and the encouragement that comes from visible representation.
“ They’ ve also created space for shared experiences, whether navigating leadership or balancing motherhood, which builds perspective, solidarity and confidence in equal measure.”
Looking ahead Modernisation and innovation are at the fore of capital markets, and it appears that these developments are only going to continue in
“ As everyone writes their own story, remember others are writing theirs too. The barriers are getting lower every day. There is space at the table and increasingly, we’ re building new tables altogether.”
EDEN SIMMER, HEAD OF GLOBAL EQUITY TRADING, PIMCO
the coming years. Looking ahead, Carlyle, Yildiz and Simmer all shared key messages for young women considering capital markets, highlighting the importance of curiosity and diversity.
“ My message to young women is to trust your intellectual instincts, stay curious, and recognise that markets ultimately reward preparation, discipline, and clarity of thought,” says Yildiz.
“ Capital markets are one of the most intellectually rewarding environments to build a career because they combine analytical rigour, real-time decisionmaking, and global perspective. If you enjoy understanding how macroeconomics, policy, and human behaviour translate into market outcomes, this industry offers a uniquely stimulating platform.”
This was also echoed by Carlyle, who emphasised the importance of mindset when shaping a career in this industry:“ What’ s mattered most in my trading career isn’ t a single skill, it’ s a mindset. Staying curious about markets, liquidity, and technology has kept me ahead as fixed income trading evolves. Emotional resilience is crucial: being comfortable with uncertainty, detaching from short-term noise, and learning from mistakes.”
Ultimately, on International Women’ s Day, the story isn’ t just about the barriers women have broken, but also the futures they’ re building.
As Simmer reflects:“ We’ re moving from a taskdriven society to a purpose-driven society. And there is purpose in investing, there is purpose in finance. Women search for meaning, and wealth may not create meaning, but it creates freedom. And freedom allows you to seek out the life you want to build.“ As everyone writes their own story, remember others are writing theirs too. The barriers are getting lower every day. There is space at the table and increasingly, we’ re building new tables altogether.”
56 // TheTRADE // Q1 2026