International Women's Day 2022 - Victoria Liddle's story

For International Women’s Day 2022, CGWM talked to allies and colleagues that identified as women about their experiences.

Here is Victoria Liddle’s story.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’ve been working in the investment industry for 22 years in various front, middle and back-office roles. I absolutely love the industry. It’s so fast paced and dynamic which is why I’ve been in it for so long.

I’m also a working mum of two. As you can imagine, there’s lots of juggling involved which is why International Women’s Day and the empowerment of women is so important to me. I want to work in the industry and be a mum.

Tell us more about your job. How do you serve our clients?

At Canaccord, I undertake two roles: I’m the Head of Investment Controls and a Compliance Officer for the international business, based in the Isle of Man. Both of my roles involve fixing and solving things which I really enjoy doing. There are new challenges, new stakeholders and often tight deadlines which makes my job so exciting. As a result of the work we do in investment controls and compliance, we’re able to better protect our colleagues in the business and achieve good client outcomes (whether they be internal or external stakeholders).

What brought you to CGWM and what keeps you here?

On the Isle of Man, CGWM is renowned for having a strong team and a stellar reputation, so having the opportunity to work for the firm back in September 2017 was a no brainer for me.

Along with the firm’s growth and strong brand presence, it’s my colleagues that keep me here. CGWM has some of the nicest and most genuine people in the industry and it’s such a pleasure to work with colleagues not just in my department or even on the Isle of Man office but across the whole business. There’s a real sense of camaraderie here.

The variety of my role keeps me here too. I joined as a Compliance Officer, but the firm has allowed me to grow and develop and in May 2019, I became the Head of Investment Controls. For a lot of people, work can be a juggle, but it’s great knowing that we’re all needed to do our bit to ensure we’re collectively a successful team.

As a working mum, flexibility is important to me. Prior to the pandemic, CGWM was flexible with my working arrangements which I really appreciated, and it’s that respect and understanding which gives me another reason to stay.

This year’s International Women’s Day focuses on #BreakTheBias. What does this mean to you?

Break the bias to me means doing what I do, on a regular basis. I’m a working mum on a small island so it’s all about pushing forward even in the smallest ways to break barriers and stereotypes.

It also means being open and transparent with allies and those in positions of power about what challenges I and other women face. These discussions may be awkward but are needed so we can achieve the equity we need for more women to come into the work force, particularly in senior and/or fee earning roles.

Something I’m passionate about is sharing my journey. Young women entering the industry should be able to see that as a woman, you can be a mum or raise a family while being in a high pressure role.

What are some of the key changes you’d like to see in the financial services and wealth management industry?

I’d like to see more women in front office roles. The talent is there, we just need to encourage and support more women to come forward to get involved.

We all also need to continue removing the stigma surrounding mental health. For all genders, poor mental health is an alarming issue. We need to ensure that workplaces continue to remove the stigma attached and be safe places where individuals can get sign posted to the support they need. 

Is there a particular type of equity, diversity and inclusion project that you’ve been involved in that you’d like to talk about?

The diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I) committee which I’m part of has been reinvigorated this year. I’m really excited with some of the awareness and events we will be holding.

As part of the DE&I committee, I’m a co contact for the Working Families’ Network. I’m hoping the network will act as a medium where people can share their experiences, find support amongst one another and are able to feel a sense of community, irrespective of their location in the CGWM network.