On 26 August, 100 Women in Finance’s Zurich community of gathered at SIX Swiss Exchange to celebrate 25 years of advancing women in finance and to reflect on how investing, leadership and capital markets have evolved, and what may shape the next era.
The evening opened with Adam Matuszewski and Alexandra Roby from SIX, who shared perspectives on the evolution of financial markets, the growing role of technology and innovation, commercial mindset, and the importance of diversity in shaping the future of finance.
This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Zurich Committee Chair Alysa Kodisch, with Ulrika Robertsson-Rasheed, 100 Women in Finance Global Board Member, and Manon Duez from Vanguard. Looking back over the past 15 years, the discussion explored how the investment landscape has changed, the forces influencing investor behaviour today, and some of the developments likely to shape the future of finance.
Several themes stood out during the discussion:
- Technology is reshaping finance. AI, data and other technological advances are changing how information is accessed and analysed, how investment decisions are made, and how the financial industry operates.
- The investment landscape has become broader and more complex. The growth of alternatives, private markets and thematic investing has created new opportunities while also introducing new considerations for investors.
- Education and judgment remain critical. In a world of unprecedented access to information and increasingly sophisticated tools, financial literacy, discipline and long-term thinking continue to matter.
- Diversity and access to opportunity remain important. Broader representation and perspectives strengthen leadership, innovation and decision-making, while there is still more progress to be made across the industry.
- Relationships still matter. Despite rapid technological change, networks, mentorship, trust and human connection continue to play a fundamental role in professional and business success.
The SIX Exchange Bell carried particular significance for the occasion. Fifteen years ago, the Zurich committee of 100 Women in Finance, then 100 Women in Hedge Funds, brought the idea of a bell-ringing celebration to SIX for our 10th anniversary. What began as a 100WF initiative was embraced by SIX and has since developed into a tradition that continues to flourish. We are delighted to see how the concept has grown and especially pleased to return to where it began as we celebrate 100WF’s 25th anniversary.
Traditionally associated with significant capital-market milestones and new beginnings, ringing the bell felt particularly fitting for an evening that was both a celebration of how far we have come and a look toward what comes next.
A sincere thank you to SIX Swiss Exchange for hosting us and for their continued support, to all of our speakers and contributors, and to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a thoughtful and engaging one.
As we look ahead to the next 25 years, the mission of 100 Women in Finance remains as relevant as ever: advancing women, expanding opportunity and contributing to a stronger, more innovative and inclusive global finance industry.
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