Hi {{first_name}},

Last week marked International Equal Pay Day. But for us, the conversation around equal pay, ambition and success doesn't stop after one day.

Our co-founder Mélanie joined Oh! She Can Drive podcast, to discuss some of the things women in finance aren't always told: working hard isn't always enough, visibility matters more than you think, how to approach salary conversations, and why being successful doesn't mean changing who you are to fit in.

Because there’s no longer one playbook for success.

For a long time, the message was simple: work hard, keep your head down, and success will follow. But today, it’s also about voicing your ambition, saying what you want out loud, making your work visible, and knowing how to advocate for yourself.

It’s not about changing who you are to get ahead. It’s about understanding what you bring to the table — and making sure other people see it too.

Especially when it comes to pay, don't assume the numbers are fixed. Know what the market is paying. Understand the value you've delivered. And when you walk into a salary conversation, bring the benchmarks and the facts.

Because success isn't just about getting the job or the title. It's also about making sure you're valued for the work you do.

Listen to Mélanie on Oh! She Can Drive

P.s. Mel mentions in the podcast our Salary Benchmark. If a salary negotiation is around the corner for you, make sure you have the right numbers in hand: Download our 2026 Salary Benchmark

5 years of FxF: Success, redefined

Five years of Female x Finance has taught us one thing: there’s no one way to be ambitious, and no one definition of success. So we asked our community member and ambassador Benedetta, who works in Investment Banking, what success really looks like behind the job title.

For Benedetta, one of her proudest achievements has been working on a huge, complex transaction with a team that trusts her, seeing the impact of her work and finally feeling: I own what I’m doing.

But that success comes with a reality you don't always see from the outside: being overstaffed, overwhelmed, sleep-deprived and still expected to perform through very long days.

So, what has she learned along the way? These are the 5 things she wishes more women knew when going from university into their first job:

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1. Make what makes you you your signature.
Remember who you are, bring it to the desk and don't feel like you need to become someone else to succeed.

2. Find your people & and keep them close.
Find the people you can always talk to, especially when things get hard. Be there for them too. It goes both ways.

3. Have a life outside of work.
A sports class, a concert, dinner with friends — have something you love lined up. The shift from university to full-time work can be huge, and you need things outside your career to look forward to.

4. Stay connected.
Make a real effort with your friends and the people you meet throughout your career. You never know where your next opportunity, introduction or friendship will come from.

5. Walk in prepared, but know you don't have to do it alone.
Especially in banking, the hours can be intense and there will be moments when you feel completely underwater. Reach out to people who have been there before. Your network isn't only there to create opportunities; it's also there to support you through the hard parts. ⭐️

5 years, 6 cities, one big celebration!

Next month, we turn 5 (crazy right??) and there was no way we were celebrating without you.

So we’re taking the birthday celebrations on the road and popping up across 6 cities, bringing together the women who have built, joined and grown this community with us.

Expect champagne, new connections, inspiring women, and a few surprises along the way. Each city will have its own twist, but one thing stays the same: it’s a chance to celebrate how far we’ve come — and everything that’s still ahead.

Find your city, click the image and save your spot.