Strategy
Illuminating Women’s Wealth Management Progress, Building Connections

Awards and networking gatherings run by this publication, held in Zurich and close to International Women’s Day, demonstrated how women are rising to the top in the world’s financial services industry. They also showed what still needs to be done.
The evolving role of women in finance is a major theme for
WealthBriefing, as demonstrated by prestigious events we
have hosted in Switzerland in recent days. And our coverage of
how women are pushing forward in wealth management is shown by a
rich collection of commentaries and reports (see examples
here, and
here) that we have published to coincide with International
Women’s Day.
Senior women from across Swiss wealth management gathered at UMA
Wealth’s offices overlooking Zurich Lake for a networking event
linked to International Women’s Day. Co-hosted by Rachel Fokes,
director of awards at WealthBriefing, and Geralda Kral,
managing director and group partner at UMA Wealth, the gathering
(see below) on Friday 7 March, was the ideal environment to
celebrate progress, foster connections, and reflect on the
evolving role of women in finance. (See
this link for more details.)
The event followed the WealthBriefing External Asset Manager
Awards
ceremony, (where this news service recognized female success
in a separate category), one of the most anticipated events in
the Swiss wealth management calendar. Held at the Park Hyatt
hotel in Zurich, the awards showcased the best of innovation and
excellence in the wealth management sector.
International Women’s Day originates from the labor movement in
the early 20th century. It was first proposed in 1910 by Clara
Zetkin, a German socialist and women’s rights advocate, at the
International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. Zetkin’s
vision was to create an annual day to advocate for women’s
rights, including suffrage and better working conditions. The
first International Women’s Day was held in 1911 in Austria,
Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, with more than
one million people taking part. In 1975, it was marked for
the first time by the United Nations. Today, it is a global
celebration of women’s achievements and a call to action for
gender equality.
“WealthBriefing’s commitment to gender equality and
empowerment aligns seamlessly with the values of International
Women’s Day,” Stephen Harris, CEO of ClearView Financial Media,
the publisher of WealthBriefing, said. “This is
reflected in its initiatives, including the Wealth for Good
program, which celebrates female success in wealth management.
Additionally, the organization honors outstanding women across
its global awards programs, shining a spotlight on the
achievements of women who are driving innovation and excellence
within the industry.”
Geralda Kral shared a poignant reflection: “For decades, women in
finance were expected to blend in – to conform to outdated
norms if they wanted to succeed. But times have changed.
Leadership today isn’t about how well you fit into a mold; it’s
about the impact you make.”
Networking power
The informal format of the networking event encouraged
participants to share their experiences, aspirations, and
strategies for success. Among the attendees were Carmen Kiavila
of Kiavila Avocats, Vanessa Neil, Geneva Chapter chair of the
British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, Karin Morgade, director and
relationship manager EAM International at Vontobel, Darlene Hart,
founder and CEO of USTAXFS Sarl, and Nadia Bargetzi, deputy
head of Wealth Management at Banque Internationale à Luxembourg
(Suisse) SA.
Rachel Fokes highlighted the value of such initiatives. “Bringing
talented women together fosters collaboration and strengthens the
networks that will drive our industry forward,” she said.
“International Women’s Day is a reminder of the progress we’ve
made and a call to keep pushing for greater inclusion.”
This publication plans more meetings aimed at
strengthening female connections in the wealth management world.
These initiatives underscore the organization's vision of
fostering a diverse, inclusive industry and ensuring that women
in finance can thrive both personally and professionally.
“At WealthBriefing, we are deeply committed to shining a
spotlight on the unique work of women at all levels in wealth
management. I am exceptionally proud of all the talented women
within our own organization who give it its special character.
Their contributions and perspectives are integral to our success
and to the industry’s future,” Harris said.
As the wealth management sector adapts to a changing world, such
gatherings demonstrate the power of collaboration and
authenticity. They’re a reminder that fostering diversity isn’t
just good ethics – it’s smart business.
Left to Right: Rachel Fokes, director of awards at
WealthBriefing, and Geralda Kral, managing director
and group partner at UMA Wealth.