Virtual Panel: Bridging Asset Management's Gender Gap

Fill out the form on our Resources page to view our panel discussion and Q&A with senior leaders where we explored bridging the gender gap in asset management technology and operations.

According to recent research, women account for nearly half of the entry level workforce in asset management but that dwindles to about one in five in the C-suite. Research has also shown that companies with more gender diversity outperform on measures of profitability and value which prompts the question: what can we do to bridge the gender gap in our industry?

This virtual panel, moderated by Citisoft's Danielle Castrechini, aims to:

• Share actionable ideas to advocate for ourselves and our colleagues, fostering more equitable workplaces.
• Encourage candid conversation and reflections on gender biases in our day-to-day professional lives.
• Inspire women pursuing leadership roles in financial services.

	Darcie James Maxwell | Head of Canadian Operations, Data and Analytics Solutions, BNY Mellon and CIBC Mellon Darcie James Maxwell is Head of Canadian Operations, Data and Platform Solutions, BNY Mellon. She is also a member of the CIBC Mellon leadership team. As Head of Canadian Operations, Data and Platform Solutions, BNY Mellon, Darcie works with institutional and wealth investors to assess and analyze their business strategy, business requirements, current state environment and technology choices, bringing forward alternatives that designed to meet their business needs. She works across our Canadian and global organization to translate a client strategy into operational reality.
	Shannon Daigh | Executive Director, Global Head of Middle Office Product, J.P. Morgan Asset Management Shannon Daigh is Global Head of Middle Office Product at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. She stands as a seasoned professional in the financial services industry, boasting an impressive track record with nearly 20 years of experience. Her expertise spans various facets of investment management, including derivative and FX operations, with notable contributions at Bridgewater Associates and Goldman Sachs. Prior to her current role, Shannon served as a Principal Consultant at Citisoft.
	Suhaila Harji CFA | Head of Investment Operations and Systems, Wellcome Trust Suhaila Harji is Head of Investment Operations and Systems at the Investment Trust. She joined Wellcome in 2023 from PGIM Investments, where she was Chief of Staff with oversight responsibility for governance, product, compliance, operations, strategy, change and business management functions for the international business. Suhaila has spent over 12 years in the asset management industry, starting at JPMorgan Asset Management. Since then, she has held senior strategy roles at Ignis Asset Management, Legg Mason, Merian Global Investors & PGIM Global Investors where she was on the Executive Committee for 7 Years. She is a CFA Charterholder and an Ambassador for the Diversity Project.

Our commitment to gender equity

In 2021, Citisoft formalized our social responsibility policy, and since then, we have continuously worked toward the goal of recruiting more women, retaining female leaders, and having candid conversations about the challenges around gender equity in our industry.

In celebration of Women’s History Month last year, we initiated a meaningful dialogue by featuring the experiences and challenges of eight women at Citisoft in a four-part blog series. The conversations that ensued were impactful, leading us to broaden the discourse across our global client base this year.