Accelerating Women’s Career Progression and Empowerment

International Women’s Day on March 8th is all about celebrating progress and pushing for more. This year’s theme, #AccelerateAction, is a call to speed things up—especially when it comes to career growth and opportunities for women. At the heart of this movement is women’s empowerment in their careers, and it’s something we’re deeply committed to here at Carbon.

Supporting Career Growth

At Carbon, we believe in making career growth accessible to everyone. That’s why we offer both internal and external coaching to help our team members develop their skills. If someone wants to take their career further, we’re happy to support them with funding for additional training and qualifications. We want to see our people succeed, and we’re here to help them get there.

Advice for Women Starting in Finance

We asked a few of our team members about their experiences and the advice they would give to young women starting their careers.

Suzanne Smith, Finance Team Leader

As a business, Carbon shows so much support when it comes to career progression. By allowing flexible working, Carbon makes it easier to navigate working alongside having a young family at home and they were a great support when I wanted to further develop my career by funding additional qualifications and training courses.

"If I were to advise a young woman just starting a career in finance, I’d suggest three key things:

• Be inquisitive – Learn about different roles within the business. It doesn’t matter what team you start in; you can move around the business until you find the position you’re most suited to and the one you enjoy the most.
• Be brave – Don’t be afraid to ask for additional support if you need it. Whether that be feedback on your current performance to help you excel or support with learning something new, never hesitate to seek the help you deserve.
• Be adaptable – Volunteer to help with projects as they arise. This not only broadens your knowledge but also helps you build relationships throughout the business. The more you adapt, the more opportunities you’ll have for growth."

Stephanie Chalmers, Client Support Team

"I was really proud when I passed R03, which is an exam all about personal taxation. I had heard that it was the most difficult exam to pass in the diploma, so initially, I felt a lot of self-doubt. However, when I passed it first time, it was such a relief, and I proved to myself that I was more than capable of completing the rest of my diploma."

Stephanie’s advice for young women starting their careers is to “keep a record of your achievements.” She suggests documenting the positive feedback you’ve received and the tasks you’ve completed successfully. “This record can be a valuable tool in managing self-doubt and imposter syndrome. When you need a confidence boost, simply reading through your achievements will remind you of how much you’ve accomplished. Plus, when it’s time to pursue a promotion or career move, you’ll have concrete examples of your skills and success at your fingertips.”

Pippa Smith, Operations Team

Since joining Carbon in March 2023, Pippa has been nominated an impressive 15 times on our quarterly Be the Best Board—a testament to her dedication, hard work, and the impact she makes every day.

“I take great pride in this achievement,” says Pippa. “It’s incredibly rewarding and motivating, and I feel it truly reflects the effort I put into my work.”

Pippa also pointed out that Carbon ensures female talent is retained and developed in many ways including:

• Offering targeted training and development based on individuals' career goals.
• Promoting a supportive and inclusive culture where every voice matters and employees feel valued.
• Work-life balance initiatives like flexible work options and initiatives that encourage personal well-being.
• Mentorship employees are paired with experienced mentors to provide guidance, support, and advice.
• Providing regular feedback and career guidance to keep growth on track.

Daria Dolecka, Client Support Team

Another example of dedication and achievement comes from Daria, who shares her recent success:

“I’m really proud of achieving my CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning last year, as it’s not only given me the knowledge I need to be better at my job, but also an amazing feeling of knowing I have the drive and discipline to achieve anything I put my mind to. I am now working toward my Advanced Diploma, with several exams scheduled for 2025. I think that studying while working full-time can be overwhelming and sometimes discouraging. However, I believe prioritizing your growth is always worth it for the knowledge, achievement, and confidence you gain in the end. I encourage anyone with a goal to put in the effort to achieve it.

I’m very grateful to the leadership team and my colleagues at Carbon for providing continued support and believing in me.”

Looking Ahead

As we mark International Women’s Day 2025, we’re reminded that accelerating women’s career progression is a collective effort. By creating supportive workplaces, championing growth, and encouraging work-life balance, we all play a role in meaningful change. At Carbon, we’re proud to keep pushing for progress and celebrating the achievements of the incredible women on our team—both professionally and personally.