PIMFA Women’s Symposium 2026: Financial services leaders say authenticity is key to leadership

Senior financial services figures speaking at the Personal Investment Management & Financial Advice Association (PIMFA) Women’s Symposium 2026 said leadership increasingly requires authenticity and adaptability, as expectations around workplace culture continue to evolve.

The panel discussion featured Liz Field, chief executive of PIMFA, Hannah Gurga, director general of the Association of British Insurers (ABI), Lisa Kidd Hunt, managing director and head of international services at Charles Schwab UK, and Claire Limon, managing director of 2 Plan Wealth Management Limited.

Opening the discussion, Limon described leadership as “enabling, supporting and influencing individuals to achieve a common outcome or goal”, adding that balancing long-term strategy with remaining connected to teams was one of the biggest challenges leaders face.

She said: “It’s about being real and approachable.

“But then even more difficult when you’ve landed it is then taking off again and making sure you’re keeping that full beam look on the future direction you’re going.”

Kidd Hunt reflected on leading teams through crises, including the aftermath of 9/11 while managing teams across Washington DC, and said emotional intelligence becomes particularly important during periods of uncertainty.

Kidd Hunt added: “As a leader, especially in a time of crisis, you need to often make very quick decisions, often unpopular decisions.

“And emotional intelligence […] is probably one of the biggest elements that you draw from in a time of crisis.”