We welcomed four inspiring alumnae to share their insights into the world of finance.

Speaking to our audience of alumnae and Downe House students, our panel offered a deep dive into the world of finance – from embracing unexpected opportunities and ambitious career moves to balancing family life, developing resilience and adapting to the opportunities created by technological innovation.

Their reflections revealed curiosity, resilience, hard work and people skills matter just as much as technical expertise.

Martha Back (DH 1994) Investment Director at Rathbones Group Plc 

Camilla Farrell (DH 2017) Investment Banking Analyst at Lincoln International

Camilla Hughes (Brooks, DH 1987) Founding Partner at Gara Strategic Advisory

Alexandra Wyatt (DH 2009) Executive Director, J.P. Morgan 

Our panel shared perspectives from across the financial ecosystem – from investment banking and mergers & acquisitions to wealth management – offering insight into the opportunities and pathways within the industry.

They reflected on pivotal moments in their own careers, highlighted the skills and personal qualities that underpin success in the sector and explored the trends shaping the future of the sector.  

From Uncertainty to Opportunity

While Camilla Hughes and Camilla Farrell knew from an early stage that finance was the career they wanted to pursue, Martha Back and Alexandra Wyatt discovered their paths more gradually as their interests and experiences developed.

Martha’s journey started with uncertainty. “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she admitted. But shadowing her father at work in the city changed everything. Fascinated by the unpredictability she observed, she asked him why certain things were happening in the markets. He replied simply, “Every day is a different day.”

After studying Geography at university, she joined the graduate scheme at Cazenove, rotating through departments including sales and corporate finance. She eventually discovered her real passion lay in working directly with private clients. “You get paid to talk to people and be nosy,” she joked. She values learning what clients want from life – their ambitions and dreams – and helping them turn those goals into reality.

She describes finance as an industry that demands technical rigour but also emotional intelligence. Wealth management is growing both in scale and sophistication and there’s a lot of regulation, and consequently a lot of exams. But markets rise and fall, so clients also need reassurance; you must be confident in your decisions and calm under pressure to instil confidence in your clients.

A Career Built on People and Trust

Camilla Hughes reflected on a career spanning four decades. At school, Economics was a relatively new subject, but she immediately loved it. Encouraged to aim high, she applied to Oxford to study PPE; she’s always preferred to take on stretching challenges that carry the risk of failure, rather than opt for safer choices more easily within her reach. Four years later she graduated with a 2:1, but she was unsure of her next move.

Her first role was managing a clothing company, where she enjoyed working across both the financial and operational sides of the business, from stock control to sales. Her interest in numbers led her into finance and she moved onto a trading floor, learning directly from colleagues around her, including her manager. There was no formal graduate programme at her firm, but through what she described as a series of accidents, she moved into corporate finance and found herself advising companies on IPOs, fundraising and strategy.

What has kept her motivated, is her genuine fascination with how companies operate and what drives their success, alongside a natural curiosity about the people working to build successful, thriving businesses.

Her role involves helping clients define their objectives, advising on major strategic decisions and securing the funding needed to realise those ambitions. Communication remains central throughout – particularly when engaging with investors, where the ability to articulate a clear and compelling narrative is essential. At its core, she sees finance as a client-focused profession, built on understanding people: who they are, what motivates them and why they make the decisions they do.

Later in her career, she returned to investment banking after raising four children. Despite time away from the industry, she found that the core principles had remained remarkably consistent – as had many of the people and challenges. She also recognises that experience gained across a wide range of environments and contexts builds a unique perspective, a highly adaptable skill set and the kind of sought-after expertise that sets her apart.

Learning to Adapt

Camilla Farrell always knew finance was for her. She deliberately shaped her education with a future in M&A in mind, studying Maths, Economics, French and Spanish at A Level before going on to Durham University. She spent a year abroad in Madrid while studying Economics and Spanish, choosing to use the opportunity to complete two work placements – one in property, where she was involved in valuations, and another in a law firm’s finance function – gaining valuable early experience in finance.

Her path might have been disrupted when the Covid pandemic caused her internship to be cancelled. But this setback turned into an opportunity when the firm offered her a permanent role instead. Their graduate scheme was the ideal bridge between education and the real world of work, building foundational skills and giving her exposure to the breadth of financial services, while also enabling her to qualify as an accountant.

Now working in investment banking at Lincoln International in their M&A team where she focusses on consumer businesses, she believes adaptability has become one of her most valuable skills. She notes, one of the advantages of being early in your career is that no one expects you to know everything. Asking thoughtful questions demonstrates engagement and genuine interest, while also helping you understand what is being asked of you – making you more effective and efficient in your work. Just as importantly, it helps develop the habit of becoming a fast learner. The important thing, she added, is not simply to ask questions, but to listen carefully to the answers. She advises, “Show that you can adapt, you're inquisitive and you're willing to put in the work.”

The Technology Revolution

Alexandra works in technology investment at J.P. Morgan. She described how her own career pivot emerged from observing disruption firsthand.

When she left Downe House, she was interested in becoming a journalist, and secured internships at major publications including the Financial Times, The Guardian and Time Out. But she quickly recognised traditional media was being displaced by technology. “That led me into technology, innovation and change,” she explained. Today, she works at the intersection of finance, private investment and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

She has always built her career around growth industries, keeping a close eye on the global economy to identify where opportunities are emerging. While AI is reshaping industries, she doesn’t believe it will eliminate the need for people. Instead, she sees adaptability as the defining skill of the future. At a recent conference, one speaker echoed Darwin’s famous insight: it's not the strongest of the species or the most intelligent that survive, but the most adaptable.

Alexandra believes AI will become an enabler, removing repetitive tasks. But human intuition, judgment and relationships are still essential. Her advice is to stay flexible, keep innovating and remain genuinely curious.

Rejection, Resilience and Confidence

One of the strongest themes throughout the discussion was resilience. As Camilla Hughes mentioned, “Gone are the days when a firm offers you a job for life.” Our panel spoke openly about rejection, failed applications and moments of self-doubt. Martha noted, “You will fall over,” but she advises “Just get up, smile and carry on.”

Alexandra recalled applying for numerous jobs before eventually finding the right opportunity. The key is persistence and being creative in your approach, “Don’t give up and be a bit entrepreneurial.” She recommends attending events and conferences, reading up on the subject and building relationships with people in the areas that interest you.

Camilla Hughes’ advice is to stay curious about the world around you, remain observant and be willing to adapt to change. With that mindset, she believes you can handle almost any situation. For her, success comes from being enthusiastic, passionate and inquisitive – and from having the confidence to ask difficult questions. Sometimes, she said, the most valuable person in the room is the one brave enough to pull the handbrake and ask whether the problem should be approached in a completely new way.

Remaining Open Minded

Our panel also challenged the idea that careers must follow a single traditional route. Graduate schemes remain highly competitive – with as many as 5,000 applications for 15 places. But our panel also discussed different routes into finance, including degree apprenticeships, internal promotions and opportunities within smaller firms.

Camilla Farrell recommends considering degrees like hers that include a year out in industry. She learned invaluable skills while working in Madrid, and her degree led to an internship which turned into a permanent role.

Martha’s team includes one colleague who joined the firm through the graduate route and another who joined as an entry-level client service executive, and both are progressing at the same pace.

Camilla Hughes advises against focusing solely on the big-name banks, noting that many lesser-known firms also offer outstanding training programmes and opportunities for development. She also suggested exploring finance roles within corporate organisations as a way to build invaluable experience, particularly early in one’s career.

Finding Mentors

Martha noted, even after many years in the industry, she remains committed to learning “I love what I’ve been doing for 27 years and I’m still learning.” When faced with challenges, she often turns to colleagues who have navigated similar situations for insight and perspective.

Martha suggests identifying a more experienced colleague to approach for advice, highlighting that it’s always flattering to be asked to be a mentor. Alexandra reflected on the setbacks she faced and how important mentors were, especially early on, “A lot of individuals gave a lot to me.” It’s why she’s keen to give back in a similar way.

Camilla Hughes also dedicates time to coaching individuals and teams, with a particular focus on supporting women. She emphasised that no one is expected to have all the answers, and that there are always people around you who can offer support and guidance. “Everyone has huge potential,” she said, “trying to do it alone is not normally the answer.”

The Value of Qualifications

Working in a highly regulated industry, qualifications are often an essential requirement for many roles in finance. Professional credentials can open doors and provide the technical foundation needed to progress, particularly in specialist areas. However, our panel also emphasised these qualifications are most valuable when they support a clear sense of direction and purpose, rather than being pursued simply for their own sake.

While qualifications undoubtedly matter in such a regulated sector, the speakers agreed that communication skills, curiosity, adaptability and determination are often what truly distinguish successful people in the industry.

Embracing Change with an Open Mind

As the conversation concluded, the panel encouraged our alumnae and students to remain open-minded and flexible about their futures.

Camilla Hughes reflected on how dramatically the industry has evolved over the years. Since the early 2000s, she’s witnessed technology transform the sector, with the pace of innovation accelerating even further today. Yet despite this change, the core purpose of finance remains the same: providing the advice and financial solutions that help individuals and businesses achieve their goals.

In some respects, processes are becoming simpler as automation takes over routine functions. At the same time, however, the solutions clients require are becoming increasingly complex, demanding greater expertise, more nuanced advice and more sophisticated, tailored approaches.

One of the most significant shifts has been in wealth management. Twenty or thirty years ago, there was a far clearer distinction between the corporate world and private individuals. Today, the upper end of the private client market has, in many ways, overtaken smaller corporates in sophistication and scale. As a result, individuals are seeking increasingly advanced financial solutions, driving significant growth across the wealth management sector.

Opportunities Ahead

Looking to the future, all four alumnae spoke with enthusiasm about the opportunities that still lie ahead.

Martha is planning to expand her role to take on more and grow her team. She’s also using AI technology to streamline routine tasks, freeing up more time to focus on her clients and her team.

Camilla Farrell hopes to deepen her expertise within a specialist sub-sector and become recognised as a trusted adviser, building long-term relationships with founders and entrepreneurs.

Camilla Hughes is looking forward to many more years in the industry. Through her new consultancy, she is committed to helping companies succeed – particularly within the UK stock market. Her work focuses on supporting the next generation of high-growth businesses as they scale and evolve, helping them progress to become successful listed companies.

For each of our panel, finance has offered not only professional success, but also constant intellectual stimulation and the opportunity to meet fascinating people. “It’s also so much fun,” Alexandra reflected. One of the things she values most about her role is that it keeps her closely connected to global events and developments, making the work constantly stimulating and full of new challenges. She recommends finance as a rewarding career path and is excited by the opportunities ahead for UK-based businesses to drive innovation and accelerate economic growth.

Our panel’s experiences reflect an industry that is constantly evolving, but also one full of opportunity for those willing to stay curious, adaptable and open-minded. For the next generation considering careers in finance, the discussion offered an encouraging reminder that there are many routes to success – and that confidence and curiosity can open unexpected doors.