IQ-EQ's Crabtree on female fund managers and maternity leave

Ongoing challenges

Emma Crabtree, IQ-EQ’s chief commercial officer, has over 27 years' experience in financial service institutions. Looking back since the start of her career she firmly believes the fund management industry has “evolved” when it comes to diversity, but there were always be “ongoing challenges” with several centring around what happens to women after maternity leave.

One ongoing challenge for the fund management firms in particular is trying to get people to come back after having a child and taking the next step in their careers. Crabtree noted this was not new and that ten years ago, she was talking to CEOs of fund management firms saying that it was "really tough" to get and retain female fund managers. When it comes to returning from maternity leave, for example, Crabtree said it is vital for firms to give people the ability to balance their home life. She said it was crucial to give "people the environment where they feel confident enough ...