International Women’s Day 2026 – Meet Linh Pham

What does International Women’s Day, and this year’s theme ‘#GivetoGain’ mean to you?

I like how this year’s theme focuses on actions and encourages an open mind-set on things we can do to create the momentum to advance gender equality, and how everyone stands to gain from these actions. The IWD website lists at least 27(!) ways you can give at work, at home, and in the community, so if everyone can find one inspiration from that and take action, we can already anticipate great changes and outcomes.

I also think it is important to highlight that these actions are what people can do in their everyday lives and throughout the year, and not just a one-off for the occasion of International Women’s Day.

What defining moments led you to a career in finance?  

I studied economics at university and spent a lot of time reading about the Global Financial Crisis in 2007-2008. It showed me just how central the banking sector is to the how the whole economy functions, and how the aftermath of changes and policies can have a long-lasting effect on how the industry is shaped to this day. Banking is important to businesses of all sizes, from retail customers to SMEs to large global institutions, and seeing how much the industry supports everyday economic activity is what makes it interesting to me and a key reason I want to be part of it.

How important do you think representation is, and what more do you think could be done for women in finance?

It is very inspiring to have a female CEO leading the company, it sets the tone from the top and shows that leadership at the highest level is genuinely accessible to women. I think it is also important to have role models at different levels of seniority in the business to continue inspiring people and widen the talent pipeline.

I think a lot of people would agree that there is still a long way to go for the industry to address the imbalance, especially at more senior levels, but I do believe that the finance industry is heading in the right direction with initiatives such as gender pay gap reporting, inclusive hiring and promotion, and offering flexibility to support retention.

How can colleagues and peers, regardless of gender, support a more inclusive environment? 

I think you can make the environment more inclusive by being intentional in the way you support each other’s growth. A simple place to start is looking at your day-to-day interaction and asking yourself who you could give more access, visibility or opportunities to?

I also think sponsorship is especially important, and it is not just from a senior leader perspective but also from a peer point of view. Actively recognising someone’s work and mentioning their names in the right rooms can support them build a brand in the organisation. Another area is offering stretch assignments, perhaps a project that might end up going to the same familiar faces but can help someone else grow quickly and build confidence if they are given the right support. This way you can also shares the skills and work to a larger group and the bank will benefit from more people gaining new knowledge.

What advice would you give to inspire other women to pursue a career in finance?

Once you identify a genuine interest in finance, simply dive in! I think it is very common to feel you have the perfect mastery of every technical skill before applying, but banking and finance is a vast ecosystem with many roles that benefit from a diverse range of backgrounds.

In the early years of your career, it is so much more important to get your foot in the door, observe and learn, and find your own specific strengths and niche as you go along. Keep an open mind and be confident in your abilities as you don’t know which opportunities may come up!