Celebrating female leadership in FX: Nicolette Yuen (Blackwell Global)

Ultra-modern, highly technologically advanced, and at the cutting edge of the world of financial services and technology, the FX industry heralds executives who are ambitious, enthusiastic and upwardly mobile.

In its relative infancy compared to the hierarchical, wood-paneled institutions of traditional banking, FX represents all that is urbane and fast moving, hence the lack of a metaphorical ‘glass ceiling’. With this dynamism comes the rise to success of several ladies whose prominence in senior management positions across the entire FX industry, from social trading, to interactive educational systems, to signal provision, platform engineering, events, and brokerage.

FinanceFeeds spoke to Nicolette Yuen, Marketing and Communications at Blackwell Global an international electronic trading company with a very large presence in the Asia Pacific region, and has offices in New Zealand, Cyprus, Britain and Singapore.

How did you get into the industry and where did it all start?

My ex-classmate was working with Blackwell Global, and she was telling me about her great working environment. The attitude was work hard, play hard, together as a company. Such an attitude! How can I not be keen to join in?

Have you faced any challenges and how did you overcome them?

I first joined the company as a graphic designer/art director, but I was growing out of that role, having been in that line for quite a few years. My main challenge was bridging my desire to learn and contribute more within the peripheral scope of marketing, with the available roles and opportunities within the company.

It took half a year of holding dual roles to prove to the upper management that I could handle communications. Of course, it was the nurturing environment at Blackwell Global that paved the way for my transition into Corporate Communications, and now as Marketing Manager.

Any interesting anecdotes from your own background and how this helped you succeed?

As an art director at an advertising agency, I always felt restricted to my job scope. I can do so much more! The more you know, the more you realise you don’t know. And this gets me continually learning and growing, not just with work but in all aspects of my life.

Any views on the role of women within the financial services?

There are many roles within the financial services sector, and regardless of the role or seniority, women provide diversity of opinion and skills. Innately, women have different perspectives, modes of communication and working styles, and this contributes to a more cohesive, balanced working environment, especially so in an industry that is perceived to be male-dominated.

Any additional thoughts or information that you would like to share?

Serious and sassy can coexist!

Nicolette Yuen, emerged in Art for most of her professional career since 2003, as a Director first, and then Account Manager at her very own firm, In Between Days, from 2007 to 2011. Blackwell Global hired Ms. Yuen as Art Director and Graphic Designer at that point, but her skills captured the company’s interest, moving her to the role of Corporate Communications since September 2013.