Speaking to the publication after being named on the Diversity and Inclusivity Finance Forum’s (DIFF’s) School Leavers list, Edwards said she was now more honest and open about her background, including the fact she did not go to university and “probably didn’t follow the path that most people assume”.
Edwards said: “The person I am, the background I’ve come from, has shaped who I am today. Now, I want to create that empowerment for others, to feel that they can talk about their background and where they’ve come from and have different voices around the table represent our customer base.
“The more of us that are advocating and feel empowered to do that, that’s definitely a win, and something I’m seeing more and more of, especially with the likes of DIFF.”
The DIFF School Leavers initiative puts a spotlight on people in the sector who did not go to university, to promote the opportunities in the profession and social mobility.
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Gaining the confidence to be authentic
When asked about the biggest lesson she had learned over her career, Edwards said: “Sometimes people will say things to you that stick in your mind but are not true; they’re more of a reflection of them than a reflection of you.”
Looking back, she admitted she had not always been honest about her background, and if someone mentioned going to university, she did not correct them. If the conversation were in reverse, Edwards said she would want the person she was speaking with to feel they could be completely honest.
“Reflecting back, I probably dulled myself down a little bit more than I probably needed to. In the moment, that felt like the right thing to do, but all we can do is continue to learn and grow from those experiences and make sure we pay it forward to the people that we’re either working with, mentoring or coaching,” she added.
She said initiatives such as DIFF and Working in Mortgages were good examples of promoting this allyship.
Working with Brad Fordham, head of mortgage distribution at NatWest, has also boosted her confidence, Edwards said, adding that he was supportive in letting her be true to herself.
Naming her inspirations, Edwards said it would be “difficult to pinpoint” anyone, but said at the moment, Fordham was a huge support.
“I’ve seen myself grow massively within the last 12 months in terms of that empowerment and ability to be myself. To not shy away from things like my background, my accent, and [Fordham is] a really big advocate of that,” she said.
Edwards said the people she met at industry events were also inspiring, adding that she was “privileged” to hear from different people with different experiences.
“You can take many things away from everybody that you come into contact with; there’s probably been lots of people that have definitely helped me to get where I am today,” she added.
Advising school leavers who might be joining the sector today, Edwards said it was important to take time to get to know people, find people you can speak to openly and explore opportunities both within and outside the business. To leaders, she said it was their responsibility to make sure people had the right support and development conversations.
To make the sector more attractive and display its openness, Edwards said it helped to showcase the work being done and create a culture that made it okay to speak about different experiences. She also said elevating platforms like Working in Mortgages helped, as it showcased the ways the sector aimed to encourage others.
Overcoming insecurities
Edwards said she developed resilience and prided herself on her ability to “listen and seek to understand” different things about people.
She said it was vital not to make assumptions about people, but to understand individuals, their circumstances, and create the right culture to allow them to feel like themselves.
“We can always make an assumption based on what we think somebody’s been through, based on their background, and make a judgement.
“I don’t conform to thinking that people should fit into a stereotype, whether that be gender or any of those things. It should be based on the individual and everybody’s circumstances, whether that was in their childhood, or whether it’s something they’re going through now,” she said.
Edwards said she tried to “hold herself to account” often, which was not always easy, as she still experienced feelings of imposter syndrome.
“When I’m sitting in certain rooms, looking at certain faces that maybe don’t necessarily look like me or sound like me. You have those moments, but you have to find a way to stop, reflect and think: ‘No, actually, I can bring something to this’,” she added.
With her team, she aims to create a “leader-led environment”, rather than a managerial kind of environment, which she described as making everyone feel part of the team and playing a part in the overall vision.
She said this meant questioning how to collaborate, learning from each other and using different skill sets to get to the end goal.
Edwards continued: “If we all feel that we’re playing our part, and that creates a culture where, actually… you can be yourself.
“You spend a lot of time at work, right? So, you want to try and be yourself. I’d like to think that, from a team perspective, I’m starting to create that culture. It’s early days, but that’s why I’ve started to talk more about my background. If I do it, lead by example, then more people will start to do it as well.”
Celebrating wins
She said her current role was the biggest achievement of her career so far, and although she knew she was driven, she did not imagine she would become head of intermediary distribution, working with a “fantastic team” at a bank like NatWest.
Edwards added: “Some of the learnings for me, and something that I’m still not particularly good at, is taking a moment to actually take stock of some of the things I have done, because you could be so focused on the next achievement.
“It’s nice to be in the moment, be appreciative of where you’ve come from, where you are today, and congratulate yourself.”
