Caroline Joannes, Trader / Index Strategist, Instinet won Rising Star at Markets Media Group’s 2022 Women in Finance (U.S.) Awards.

What was your reaction to winning the award?

I was extremely honored to even be nominated for the Rising Star award. And actually winning it came as another great surprise. I’m really grateful.

Please tell us about your current role and daily responsibilities.

As a member of the Global Program Trading team, I’m embedded with the trading desk, spending the majority of my time producing Index insights and analytical content for our clients’ and traders’ daily use. I investigate and publish daily analysis on upcoming corporate actions and rebalances that reach our clients across the Americas. Being close to the indices means being very close to the ebbs and flows of the market on a daily basis, which is really exciting to me.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in finance?

Well, I earned my B.S. degree in Finance and Mathematics at Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business and I’ve always enjoyed math and working with numbers, so combining that with my curiosity about the economy and stock market felt like a perfect match. On top of that, it’s exciting to be working on all of this for the firm that pioneered electronic trading. I like being part of such an innovative and fast-moving part of the industry.

Who have been the main influences in your career?

The team I work with at Instinet has definitely influenced my career. Particularly my manager Larry Weiss. Although starting my career during the pandemic was challenging, my colleagues have been extremely supportive and eager to share their knowledge with me. They’ve been a great source of mentorship and have given me a chance to lead with my analysis in the Index space.

What’s something you’re really proud of and why?

I’m proud of how far I’ve come in the past few years, and more importantly, for having my hard work recognized and receiving attention. It’s gratifying that colleagues and clients appreciate my assessments of how the indices not only conduct themselves, but also create major “liquidity events” in the market calendar. The Indexes are important not only to people who trade the benchmarks, but really every market participant, because they have such a major effect on liquidity flows.

Where does the financial-services sector stand when it comes to gender equality?

I think the financial services sector has definitely come a long way in terms of gender equality, but I think there is always more progress that can be made in the future. Your Women in Finance awards program has so much momentum and visibility in our industry. You’re doing a lot to showcase the various female accomplishments taking place, which is important. And, thank you for doing it.

What are your future goals?

My own future goals involve learning and constantly challenging myself. I also hope to one day be a resource and mentor for other young women joining the industry. I think it’s so helpful to have a bond like that, especially when you are starting out. Having access to that kind of advice and guidance is so helpful in modeling the personal skills and best practices needed to succeed in this business.

What advice do you have for the next generation of women in finance?

As far as advice, I’d encourage other young women to challenge themselves and ask lots of questions, because there is always something more you can learn. Push yourself to know more. In this industry especially, there are rapid changes and developments happening every day. Keeping on top of information is key.