The Diversity Project has launched its 2025 Pathway Programme, which for the first time includes a tailored track for Traders alongside the existing Portfolio Manager programme.
The first-of-its-kind trading track will welcome 10 participants in its inaugural year, who will attend two thirds of the main programme’s sessions, with the remainder customised specifically to trading. These specialised sessions will include focuses on ETFs, equities, derivatives, fixed income, data and modern trading platforms, as well as real life trading floor experience.
The Pathway Programme, which launched in 2023, is a cross-industry initiative designed to give talented women the greatest chance of progressing and succeeding as a Portfolio Manager or Trader. Spearheaded by Baroness Helena Morrissey, Chair of the Diversity Project, and backed by over 40 member firms, it seeks to drive real change by unlocking female talent to address the absence of women in money-managing roles, with 87.9% of fund manager positions currently occupied by men1.
This year’s programme will centre around eight themes, including “AI & Technology and Investing”, which is new for the 2025 programme, and the team-based model portfolio competition, which is back for its second year, as well as original themes such as “How to be a good investor” and “Career Activism”. There will also be interactive sessions on technical and behavioural skills, as well as networking opportunities with contemporaries, senior female fund managers and industry leaders.
With the programme now entering its third year and having already reached nearly 150 women, its success is beginning to be evidenced. 26 previous participants have already secured promotions, with 11 of these being promoted to portfolio manager roles or similar. In addition to helping women progress in their current roles, the programme is also succeeding in opening up front office roles to more women, with 37.5% of previous participants coming from outside of investment teams.
The 2025 Pathway Programme will also benefit from two new appointments including Shyla Hoenigschmid-DeVeaux, who has joined as the Pathway Programme Director. Shyla brings valuable experiences and insights to this role, joining from J.P. Morgan where she spent almost 10 years as a female Portfolio Manager herself. The programme also welcomes Emma Hamilton as the Pathway Programme Co-ordinator.
Baroness Helena Morrissey, Chair of the Diversity Project, says: “It’s exciting seeing the impact of the Pathway programme, with promotions already achieved by the 2023 cohort. After almost no progress in the representation of women in fund management roles over my thirty-six years in the industry, I am finally confident about a breakthrough. This is a programme brought to the industry by the industry based on what fund managers know it takes to succeed; Shyla’s experience as a recent portfolio manager will be invaluable here and we are delighted to welcome both Shyla and Emma to the team.
As we look to the programme’s third year, I fully admit to originally under-estimating the power of this new community. Pathway participants quickly realise they are far from alone in their aspirations to manage money and are forming friendships and connections that will help them throughout their career. It’s wonderful to see the programme go from strength to strength, thanks to a huge team effort with twenty-five industry experts helping to develop the curriculum along with a new specialised group creating the trader track. The whole effort shows the industry at its best and I am very grateful to everyone involved.”
Shyla Hoenigschmid-DeVeaux, Director of the Pathway Programme, says: “The Pathway Programme is a first of its kind opportunity to truly level the field and increase access for women into these important roles within the investment industry. I’m beyond excited for next year’s expansion of the programme to include women interested in trading as a career. This is an incredible chance for women to form lasting bonds across the industry and gain practical knowledge from those currently in the field on charting a successful career. Put simply, it’s a game changer.”
