Female leadership disparity is a 'machine that needs to be fixed'

‘Any machine is calibrated in the spirit of its designer’

Isabel Baxter
clock • 3 min read

Gender disparity when it comes to female leadership roles in the workplace is a ‘machine that needs to be fixed’, delegates heard.

At an event hosted by female-focused charity One Loud Voice on Tuesday 4 March ahead of International Women's Day, a panel including Octopus Money CEO Ruth Handcock, Consumer Duty Alliance CEO Keith Richards, Law Debenture CEO David Jackson and FTSE Women Leaders Review CEO Vivienne Artz chaired by presenter Luisa Baldini broke down the systemic barriers for women adopting leadership roles. Handcock said that the overall systemic problem is that there are "so many adjustments that need to be made". A broken machine that ‘needs to be built by someone different' "I think of gender equ...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Cash ISA allowance cut risks hardening saver/investor divide, advisers warn

Cash ISA allowance cut risks hardening saver/investor divide, advisers warn

Govt policy shift reignites debate around role of cash ISAs

Sahar Nazir
clock 28 January 2026 • 5 min read
Depledge Strategic Wealth Management backs CISI financial planning push

Depledge Strategic Wealth Management backs CISI financial planning push

‘Financial planning is for every week’

Jenna Brown
clock 28 January 2026 • 2 min read
What a classic '80s movie tells us about today's language of financial advice

What a classic '80s movie tells us about today's language of financial advice

'Forty years is a long time in film. Even more so in financial services'

Roger Brosch
clock 27 January 2026 • 4 min read