Can you tell me about your journey into the securities finance industry?
I started out studying biochemistry at a university in London, with a completely different idea of what I thought I wanted to do career-wise. During my studies, I was fortunate enough to gain work experience at both pharmaceutical and financial services companies. However, it was the financial services industry that better appealed to me — one that blended technology, data, and problem-solving in a way that really resonated with how I like to think and my more-analytical mindset. One of the companies I spent time at was a trading platform; I accepted a full-time role there after my studies, which gave me my first real exposure and insight into financial markets and how electronic trading impacted the ecosystem.
I first started in the post-trade space, where I helped to support and prepare market participants for the rollout of MiFID II, giving me a strong foundation in both the regulatory and operational side of the market. It was an exciting time, as regulation was driving major change across the industry and accelerating the move toward greater electronification. Once MiFID II went live in 2018, I moved internally into a sales role, focused on real-money clients in the corporate bond space, where I spent the next five years expanding both my knowledge and professional network.
I joined Tradeweb in 2023, initially part of the generalist sales team, covering a broad range of UK-based clients and products, from cash bonds to derivatives, and most importantly repo. This is where my real passion lay, and I was given the opportunity to specialise my sales efforts there. It is such a dynamic area of the market, sitting at the crossroads of innovation and market structure. Seeing how the market, our clients, and dealers have embraced electronification — transforming how trades are executed, improving transparency, and driving greater efficiency across the industry — has been a real highlight.
As a young professional, what aspects of your role or the industry do you find most exciting?
Working in sales at an electronic trading platform gives you a unique exposure and opportunity to regularly engage with senior stakeholders across both the buy and sell side; working to understand how clients think, what their pain points are, and how technology can genuinely make a difference.
What I enjoy most about my role is partnering with clients to identify and solve challenges that not only benefit them, but the broader market as well, whether that is through unique functionality, automation or workflow enhancements. These conversations often spark ideas that lead to real innovation. The repo market is still in the early stages of electronification compared to more mature markets, and that makes it even more exciting to be involved in shaping its evolution.
Many companies offer various training and development opportunities for their employees. How has your company supported your growth?
Tradeweb has been hugely supportive in allowing me to seek out different opportunities at the firm and move from a more general sales role to specialise in repo. There is a real culture of encouraging people to explore various areas of the business and pursue what genuinely interests them. I have had the chance to take part in public speaking training, which has been invaluable in helping to build my confidence for external events and client meetings. I have also had the chance to do external training sessions and courses to deepen my understanding of both financial markets more generally and repo specifically. This hands-on learning was a great way to expand my technical knowledge.
What misconceptions about working in the financial industry have you encountered, and how do you address these challenges?
I am lucky to have been supported by both male and female colleagues and managers throughout my career, who have championed my development and created an environment that is open and transparent. The industry has evolved significantly in recent years, and it is encouraging to see the meaningful progress being made around diversity, inclusion, and opportunity.
One example is our Global Women’s Network, which plays an important role in building community and promoting inclusion across the firm through a mix of internal programmes and client-facing events that bring colleagues together to share experiences and perspectives.
What advice do you have for other young professionals aspiring to pursue a career in
your industry?
Do not be afraid to take detours or sidestep into new opportunities. My career has not followed a straight line – I started in biochemistry, and by staying curious and open to new opportunities, I found my way to an industry that I am truly passionate about. Today, I am in a role that blends technology, data, and problem-solving in a way that really excites me. Every experience builds new skills, relationships, and perspectives, and you never know where it might lead. Most importantly, seek out mentors and colleagues who challenge and support you along the way!
Looking ahead, where do you see yourself in the next five years in terms of your career goals and aspirations?
The repo market has reached a clear inflection point in which electronification is moving from 'nice-to-have' to 'must-have', and it is only going to accelerate. However, there are still pockets of the market that remain dominated by legacy infrastructure and manual processes. My ambition over the next five years is to continue to lay the foundations for a truly digital repo ecosystem, with clients continuing to adopt new digital tools and leveraging technology to unlock greater efficiency and value.
Technology is evolving fast, and I am excited to see how it continues to shape this market. Whether that is through new products, greater efficiency, or expanding our footprint globally, there is so much opportunity ahead. Having seen milestones like Tradeweb’s first digitised US Treasury repo trade and becoming the first electronic platform to connect repo and IRS markets, I have seen firsthand how innovation can redefine what is possible. For me, it is about staying adaptable and open to wherever that journey leads, continuing to learn, build, and help our clients capture the value of digital transformation in securities finance.
← Previous interview
BNY
Gesa Johannsen
Next interview →
Standard Chartered
Margaret Harwood-Jones
Image: Ellie Brennan 