Sarah Davidson

I attribute my success to growing as a leader and being a big advocate for women and my team in general. I've come from a background where there's not always a lot of senior women, though I think things are changing for the better. I really encourage people to speak up and pride myself on being at a level where I can protect and offer people an opportunity to step outside their comfort zone. I encourage my team and everybody around me to use their voice - if you have perspective, share it, you don't need to wait. I think it's a tough industry, and I've gotten to a point where I can provide a safe space for people to come up behind me, where I can share what I've learned and help people succeed themselves. Trusting your instincts is massive for women as well, and don't be afraid to speak up. It's not only what I've achieved myself, but also what I can give back and how I help others. I'm really passionate about that.

The best career advice I've received is to trust your instincts and do not be afraid to speak up. I think it's really important that you trust your own judgment and use your voice, and don't be afraid to speak up. I also have a fun one that I kind of live by: dress for the job that you want, not the job that you have. And that's not just about clothing, it's more about how you show up, the standards you set for yourself, and the attitude that I bring every day. That's something that resonates with me.

I think AI is a massive piece across really the entire business. My company is all about how we can improve, how we can automate, and what we can use with AI in our day-to-day business and longer term. Technology is really transforming our industry, and it creates huge opportunities for efficiency and innovation, which is great. But I think the important thing is we still need to be continuing to invest in people just as much as technology - that's the challenge. I believe that companies or organizations that address both, that are willing to develop both technology and people, are the ones that are going to succeed. It's an exciting time. I'm using Claude for my daily work as well, and I'm encouraging the team to use it, and looking at all our manual processes and how we can improve and support the investment teams better. I think it's important not to forget about the people, because the people are what makes it happen.

I would say integrity, authenticity, and courage are most important to me. I always believe in doing the right thing, and that's in and out of work - it's just my everyday life. Being true to who you are and having the courage to speak up is essential. As a leader, I try to encourage that safe space so people feel comfortable speaking up and saying their truth, and also creating opportunities for others. I'm really passionate about just being who you are and not being afraid. I'm definitely someone who stands by that, and I try to create that safe space so everybody else around me or behind me can do the same.