One of the UK’s most influential business leaders, Baroness Helena Morrissey, DBE, will speak in Guernsey this Thursday 7 November at a lunch briefing hosted by PwC Channel Islands.
Helena (pictured) is an inspirational leader in business, diversity, family life and in encouraging others to succeed, and continuously demonstrates an exceptional ability to drive innovation, foster collaboration and deliver results.
Author of the best-selling book, ‘A Good Time to be a Girl’, Helena started her City career in New York, and upon returning to London, she found herself the only woman in a team of 16 fund managers.
When she joined Newton Investment Management, Helena was mentored by its founder, Stewart Newton, who taught her the power of true diversity of thought. Seven years later she was appointed the firm’s CEO: over the next 15 years, profits more than trebled and assets grew from £20bn to £50bn.
In 2010, Helena launched the 30% Club to improve the gender balance on UK corporate boards, championed by the chairmen of those boards. Now women represent over 30% of FTSE350 directors, up from less than ten percent. The UK is the only country to have achieved such progress without legislation. There are now eighteen 30% Clubs throughout the world and the initiative has broadened to help with all career stages from schoolroom to boardroom.
In 2017, Helena was named the Financial Times Boldness in Business Person of the Year and on 3 September 2020 she was created Baroness Morrissey, of Chapel Green in the Royal County of Berkshire. As of 2021, Helena was announced as Chair-designate of FTSE250 company AJ Bell.
Helena, a financier, campaigner, author and mother of nine, has been described by Forbes magazine as one of the world’s 50 greatest leaders.
Commenting on the forthcoming briefing, PwC Guernsey Office Leader and Partner, Evelyn Brady, who will host this Thursday’s event at St James, said: “We are thrilled to bring such an influential speaker to Guernsey to talk about what makes a successful leader and to understand her perspective on how to overcome challenges in the financial services industry, as well as hearing Helena’s views on the importance of resilience.
“Alongside our own firm’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, it will be hugely rewarding to hear the insights on these matters from such a high calibre and influential leader, while learning more about her extraordinary career and the obstacles she herself overcame.”
