Mortgage Soup fires the questions at Anne-Marie Lister – chief operations & people officer plus, Rebecca Hurdiss – senior credit risk manager, Michelle Boylan – senior change & transformation manager, and Manasi Nayyar – senior credit partner all from GB Bank.

Mortgage Soup: The theme for the recent 115th International Women’s Day was ‘Give to Gain’ and aimed to forge gender equality through abundant giving. The campaign celebrated women’s advancement through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring, or time. Which of these elements resonates most with you and why?

Anne-Marie Lister (AML): All of these things are important in the continued support and advancement of women. I’m passionate about advocacy and mentoring – particularly when working in sectors such as finance and technology which tend to still be dominated by men.

I’ve had some good managers (all men) in my time in these sectors however, the insight and support through mentoring from other women who have progressed through male dominated industries, who have held senior roles in businesses and have overcome challenges in doing so has been invaluable to me.

I’ve been lucky to find some truly inspirational women who have given up their personal time in support of me, who have been willing to challenge and champion me, outside of my sector too. I’ve both sought these and have been offered them.

Rebecca Hurdiss (RH): Mentoring resonates with me most strongly. Throughout my career, the most meaningful moments of growth have come from people who took the time to listen, challenge my thinking, and share their experience.

I see mentoring as a strong form of “giving” because its impact stretches far beyond the immediate moment. A small piece of guidance can shape decisions, open opportunities, and build self‑confidence.

Michelle Boylan (MB): Advocacy & Time, intentionally creating the time space to do this within the working agenda is important to me in playing my part in supporting females to grow and feel empowered including myself, being able to do this gives back to the individuals and ultimately the bank and our customers, so everyone wins.

Manasi Nayyar (MN): Mentoring and knowledge sharing resonate most with me. Throughout my career, I have benefited from colleagues and leaders who took the time to share their experience, guidance, and support. Their willingness to help others grow played an important role in building my confidence and developing my career.

As I progress in my role as a senior credit partner, I believe it is equally important to give back by supporting and mentoring others. Sharing knowledge, offering guidance, and encouraging those around us can make a meaningful difference in helping women navigate their careers and reach their potential.

To me, the theme “Give to Gain” reflects the idea that by investing our time and support in others, we help create a more inclusive and empowering environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

MS: As a Bank, what initiatives have you adopted and/or are considering supporting women and their careers at the Bank?

AML: Our business is growing and within that so are the opportunities for all employees, including the women in our team.

We are scoping out a mentoring programme internally for all employees identified with high potential and in particular for women in our team where there may be under-representation in our business – creating opportunities for progression across the business in broadening skills as well as into leadership roles.

MS: In your individual careers, what is the standout thing that has helped your advancement and what advice would you give to women forging a career in banking?

AML: For me, it’s having a strong network of people of all genders, who you can rely on to give you open and honest feedback, and help you with any blind spots you may have. Mostly importantly help challenge some of the often unhelpful self-perceptions you might have, and even some of the poor behaviour that you may be subject to which unfortunately can still be seen in some workplaces.

My advice would be:

• Always look for opportunities within your business. It may not be the most obvious opportunities which help you progress, remain open-minded, seek to learn.
• Find your voice and challenge any poor behaviour, micro-aggressions or gender-biased language which can be used to demean or belittle women. Name it when you see it. Call it out. I’m fortunate enough to work in a place in which this does not happen, but it hasn’t always been the case in my career.

RH: The standout factor in my career has been having leaders and colleagues who trusted me with responsibility early on. Being given time to learn, make decisions, and occasionally make mistakes built my confidence. That trust combined with constructive challenge has helped me advance in my career.

My advice to women building a career in banking is to stay curious, build relationships and have confidence in yourself.

MB: Early in my career, I was fortunate to work with a leader who recognised potential in me and took the time to coach and support my development. They consistently encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone, which was something that often felt challenging but ultimately played a significant role in my growth.

I attribute much of my advancement to their belief in me and their willingness to invest in me. Even when our professional paths diverged, their support remained constant and has had a lasting impact on my career.

Outside of my banking career, the summer job I held during university (in a team which was heavily male dominated) taught me the importance of teamwork.

Those early experiences showed me success comes from individuals working together. When people collaborate and support each other, the results are far more impactful and that includes how you personally grow.

My advice is to believe in yourself and your abilities, take opportunities that challenge you. Growth comes from stepping out of the comfy slippers and into the uncomfortable shoes.

If you make mistakes (which you will), own them, learn from them and continue moving forward. If you never take the chance on you, you may never discover what you are capable of.

MN: The key factor that has helped my career advancement is being open to learning and taking on new challenges. Being willing to step outside my comfort zone has helped me grow and develop in my role.

My advice to women pursuing a career in banking is to believe in themselves, stay curious, and not be afraid to take on new opportunities. Building good relationships and learning from others can also really help along the way.

MS: What barriers do women face in building their careers in the finance industry and what could be done to break down these hurdles?

AML: Leadership style, characteristics and strengths can differ across all people in businesses, but in particular between the different genders. It’s important that leadership capabilities continue to be recognised as essential in building and running a business and rewarded as such.

MS: What hopes have you for the future in terms of seeing more women, not only in the workforce, but in senior management positions in banking?

AML: Initiatives such as Women in Finance started to shine a light in the sector on gender balance and pay. The focus in schools and colleges on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and the encouragement of more young women into these subjects and areas will change things.

The redesign of apprenticeships in recent years, have also been invaluable in the support of more education in business opening up even more opportunities for not only women but also for people from different socio-economic backgrounds. However, it continues to be what happens in the workplace too.

‘Lift as we rise’ is one of my favourite quotes and something I am passionate about in my own leadership. More women in our sector, supporting women as they progress through shared experience, advocacy and mentoring, lifting as we rise will continue to change things.

However, it’s not just this. Culture and an inclusive environment are vital. GB Bank is exactly this. It’s an entirely authentic, open and transparent workplace. I’ve never felt more supported, challenged and championed by all of my colleagues, right across the business, but in particular by my ExCo team, who happen to be men.

RH: My hope is that seeing more women in senior roles becomes the norm rather than something we call out as progress or recognise on IWD.

MB: My hope for the future is to see even more women not only entering the banking industry but progressing into senior leadership roles.

I’ve been fortunate to have had support and encouragement throughout my career, and I would like to see that same level of opportunity available to the next generation.

I hope we continue to build environments where women feel confident to step forward, take on leadership roles, and support one another, so that strong female representation at senior levels becomes the norm rather than the exception.

MN: I hope to see more women not only joining the banking industry but also progressing into senior leadership roles. Greater representation at senior levels can bring diverse perspectives and help create a more balanced and inclusive workplace.

With the right support, mentorship, and equal opportunities for growth, I believe we will continue to see more women stepping into leadership positions in the future.

Pictured (L-R): Anne-Marie Lister, Manasi Nayyar and Rebecca Hurdiss.