At Talent Finance, we’re proud to showcase our Women in Finance series, highlighting the voices shaping the future of the profession.
In this edition, we speak with Gwynneth Page, whose journey from engineering into finance has been defined by leadership, strategic insight, and resilience. She shares her experiences navigating a male-dominated industry, the lessons that shaped her leadership style, and her vision for empowering the next generation of women in finance.
You didn’t start your career journey in Finance so what drew you in?
I did a degree in Engineering and started my career on an engineering graduate scheme for a large defence engineering company. A few years in I had the chance to work on an integration project following an acquisition and the shining lights of Finance beckoned to me as I worked closely with finance team on that project. From that, still in the same company I took the opportunity to move over to Finance and continue my career journey there. I enjoyed the variety that being in Finance brought – no day is the same, I enjoyed the analysis, I got energy from the commercial discussions and found I could bring clarity to non-Finance colleagues as I could explain finance terminology in a way they could understand.
Did you always see yourself being a Finance Director?
I have always been ambitious and along with finding job satisfaction in the more strategic and commercial aspects of finance which meant as I became more senior, I ended up in roles that really motivated me. That passion has then led to more opportunities across different industries.
What has helped me progress?
Saying yes to projects outside of the traditional route, from being an engineer working on an integration project to taking on finance roles in transformation, compliance programmes. I have done other non-finance roles such as Programme Director and interim Managing Director. Each opportunity develops my skills and knowledge.
I also make sure that I make time for professional and personal development along with networking. Many of the companies I have worked for have provided excellent leadership development programmes however the two which were game changes were a neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) course and a Psychological Safety course. Both really resonated with me, and I have used both to significant effect in my career.
How do you navigate bias in a male-dominated industry?
From my engineering degree to working in male dominated industries all my life I have often been the only woman in the room but to be honest I have never really overthought this – my ideas, abilities and competency are as good as anyone else! Being resilient does help so If someone has spoken over me, I would call it out, even when I was younger. It helped that I have always had advocates in the room so if someone did talk over me, I would call it out and if that was ignored (which it has been a couple of times!) one of my male colleagues would then make sure I had the space to speak.
As I have progressed into more senior roles, this becomes easier to do and certainly the working world, in my experience, is more aware of inclusion than it ever has been. Speaking with confidence and gravitas always helps too – people always respond favourably if you have clear messaging and translate complex finance into clear business insights.
What moments shaped your leadership style?
When I was a graduate, I had worked on a specific idea and business case and presented it to the engineering director. He then took that work and presented it as his own with no recognition of my contribution – he received great commendation for this work from the leadership team. I was stunned that he would take my work and pass it off as his own. That really hit home so whenever I can since I have praised the colleague who had the idea or has done the work. Even if I have taken a colleague’s work and developed it, I have always given the praise, publicly, where it is due.
I have also worked with some wonderful people who have mentored me, with one of the most memorable being around personal brand. Personal brand is what people say about you when you aren’t in the room and how you want it to reflect who are truly are, not who you think you should be. My mentor said that it wasn’t about self-promotion but about clarity, reliability, and the value you bring. That really resonated and my personal brand reflects the leader that I truly am – with integrity, honesty, and collaboration. I also think colleagues would say that my honesty can be a bit too blunt sometimes, but I am comfortable with that too!
What do you think the future of Women in Finance is?
Finance is evolving rapidly – form the digital transformation to regulatory changes and the rising importance of robust data. This shift creates opportunities for women to step into leadership roles with fresh perspectives and diverse leadership styles. Collaboration across the business operations is ever more important rather than being in a finance ‘silo’ and diversity of thought and approach is needed more and more.
I would like to see more intentional support though: more sponsors for high-potential women, more flexible pathways into senior roles and more recognition that effective financial leadership does not come in one style or voice.
The future of the profession will be stronger when women feel empowered to lead as themselves, and not as a version of what leadership used to look like over the last 20 years.
Gwynneth’s career is a powerful reminder that there is no single path into finance, and that adaptability, conviction, and a commitment to continuous growth can open doors to leadership in even the most male-dominated environments. Her journey from engineering into senior finance roles shows how cross-disciplinary experience, strategic thinking and resilience can shape a dynamic and fulfilling career.
At Talent Finance, we’re proud to showcase stories like hers through our Women in Finance series, shining a light on the women who are redefining leadership, influencing meaningful change, and helping shape the future of the profession.
Connect with Gwynneth on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwynnethpage/
The views expressed are Gwynneth’s own and not those of Talent Finance Ltd.
