The Stella Network is a community that supports gender diversity in financial planning. Using the LinkedIn platform, www.bt.com.au/stella, we currently have over 2000 members – men and women who believe that greater balance in the financial planning industry supports a better future for our customers, people and communities.
While Stella is a BT-funded initiative, it is open to all in the industry who support the goal of more women in financial planning.
When the Stella network launched in October 2013, only 20% of financial planners were female. The figure was around 26% in BT. By March 2016, BT had females making up 34% of its planners. The idea behind achieving gender diversity is that diversity is better for everyone. It’s better for those working in the industry - making sure that all the best ideas are being heard and better for clients who have greater choice in planners that they may connect with.
Building a Network primarily to support women in financial planning was important to meet the needs and desires of the women working in the industry. They want to be able to connect with those who had similar experiences and able to support one another by having a forum in which to discuss issues, meet at events and find information that is particularly useful for them in their roles.
The Stella Network provides networking opportunities through educational events for financial planners and inspirational speakers that members are unlikely to find elsewhere. It also provides a range of educational and inspirational content which is hosted on our website www.stellanetwork.com.au and promoted in our LinkedIn group www.bt.com.au/stella
Stella is also keen to undertake some research soon to find out what we can do better to redress the gender balance in the industry.
Please join the Stella Network at www.bt.com.au/stella and please fill out our survey here to make sure we’re supporting women in financial planning the way that best suits you.