- BAFT Women in Transaction Banking was created to address the absence of a unified platform supporting women across trade and payments within transaction banking.
- The initiative focuses on networking, education, mentorship, and public speaking to promote women’s professional growth and visibility in the industry.
- Since its launch, WTB has expanded globally, hosting numerous events and establishing a cross-institutional mentorship programme to strengthen female representation in senior roles.
When I joined BAFT in March of 2022, I confess that though I was a subject matter expert on all things payments and cash management, I wasn’t too knowledgeable about trade and its role in transaction banking. As I began to research, join various trade-related committees and council meetings, and speak with my counterparts, I realised that there was a whole other world in the banking sphere.
Nearly every product we buy and use is a result of transaction banking. While I’m still nowhere near a trade expert, I have a much better understanding of how trade, payments, and operations all play an integral part in the world’s economy. And I continue to learn more every day.
In May 2023, at BAFT’s Global Annual Meeting, I was in the elevator with another woman from BAFT. I asked her, “Why are there ‘Women in Payments’ and ‘Women in Trade’, but nothing for women in both? Nothing for women in transaction banking?” She answered, “Well, why don’t you start something?”
I took that as my new challenge as we headed back from the conference. On the trip back, I casually mentioned it to a colleague of mine and pondered on what we should call the new initiative. She said, “Keep it simple. Women in Transaction Banking. WTB for short.” The name was set.
There were certain questions I had to address before I could proceed: Who is the target audience for the program? What are the goals and objectives of WTB? How would we achieve those goals and objectives? What does the governance for this require?
I decided to put together a business plan for WTB. In the slight reprieve before conference season, this became my summer project.
I decided that WTB would be under the BAFT umbrella, specific to BAFT members. The Governance Board would be geographically diverse and include women from all facets of transaction banking, from banks to solutions-providers.
I noticed that although women are present in early and mid-level positions, senior roles in transaction banking are still dominated by men.
WTB’s goals and objectives were simple:
- To assist women in achieving personal and professional growth, and establish a solid career path; and
- To assist banks and solutions providers in recruiting, developing, and retaining female talent in the transaction banking industry.
Once this was established, I began to think of ways to achieve these goals. Networking came to mind as a widely acknowledged tool for career progression. However, networking opportunities were often informal and geographically limited, making it difficult to build a community of professional women across regions.
I also realised that cross-institutional mentorship opportunities were rare. Many women lacked access to mentors outside their own organisations, particularly mentors who could offer a broader industry perspective.
I found mentorship invaluable. I once had a mentor tell me, “The more you’re visible ‘outside’ your organisation, the more valuable you are perceived as ‘inside’ your organisation.” This stuck with me: giving women the opportunity to be seen and heard in professional conference settings is one way for them to be visible and perceived as valuable to their organisations.
With these in mind, WTP’s strategies were established as follows:
- Networking. Give women opportunities to network outside the workplace.
- Education. Provide conference sessions, webinars, and workshops on issues of particular interest to women in the industry.
- Mentorship. Design a cross-institutional program for connecting mentors and mentees. I noticed that this type of program was rare in the industry. The first cohort launched in March 2025, and the next cohort launches in February 2026.
- Public speaking. Build a database for women interested in speaking at our conferences, as keynote speakers, moderators, and panellists.
Once I submitted this business plan, I presented to the Board of Directors in October 2024. It received unanimous approval and support. WTB was born.
In May 2024, at our Global Annual Meeting, and after the WTB Governance Council was established, we officially launched WTB with a breakfast fireside chat. 85 professionals showed up for the early-morning launch, and it was a grand achievement!
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Since its inception, WTB has had 21 events globally, including webinars, networking events, panel sessions, fireside chats, table topics, and keynote addresses. This year, we will introduce WTB to the Africa region at the BAFT Africa Forum in Nairobi, and to Canada at an event in Toronto.
The next cohort of the Mentorship Program will launch in February. There will be a panel session on the ‘Art of Networking’ at the BAFT International Trade and Payments Conference in New Jersey in February, and a dynamic lunch panel session at the BAFT Global Annual Meeting in Orlando in May. There will be a follow-up webinar on ‘Positioning Yourself for the Position You Want’ in April.
And we’re just getting started.
