“Advancing and celebrating women’s equality gives us an opportunity to consider changes needed to diversify our business and empower us all,” says Jacqui Brown, Chief Operating Officer at Close Brothers Invoice Finance. She’s reflecting on the theme for International Women’s Day 2025.
International Women’s Day, an annual event held on the 8th of March, is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year, the theme is ‘Accelerate Action’, and emphasises the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality.
“The business community knows how important equal representation is,” says Jacqui. “It makes us adaptable, improves our culture, and positively affects our customer experience. Making sure that continues means identifying and removing the barriers to equality of opportunity.”
Close Brothers is committed to diversity and inclusion, something which is demonstrated by our continued recruitment, promotion and support of women in various roles. Jacqui has worked for the business for over 30 years, and in her role as a director, she champions these values.
“Having women in senior executive positions and in boardrooms has a positive impact on the way businesses work,” she says. “Having diverse representation gives a wide range of opinions and approaches, enabling more holistic debates and decisions to be made.
“It’s great to see an increase in women at management levels across all sectors, but more needs to be done to achieve gender parity. We must keep up the momentum for women everywhere in the world.”
Thinking about her own career path, Jacqui adds, “I take pride in working for Close Brothers and in what I have achieved during my career. For me, being asked to be a director was certainly a highlight!
“Lots has changed since I joined the organisation, but I know there is further to go before we reach gender balance, both in business and in society. It’s important to celebrate the progress we have made and highlight opportunities that are open to women so that we can keep this momentum going.”
Jacqui advises women to continually push their boundaries, engage in open dialogue with their colleagues and networks to advance their careers in finance. “Believe in your own potential, but take advantage of the advice, support and development opportunities available to you.
“Mentoring, joining diversity groups, or having access to courses creates opportunities for continuous learning and expanding support systems. Grow your team of cheerleaders and, when applying for senior positions, ask yourself ‘If not you, then who?’”
