IFSDG: How long have you been the Chair of WiBF Glasgow?
Cristina: I took up the Chair's role in
November 2011 after having been on the WiBF Glasgow management team
since April 2009, just a few months after it opened its doors in
Glasgow.
IFSDG: How many people support you with the WiBF
network?
Cristina: Our management team is
currently 7 strong but we have great links with the Edinburgh group
and good support through our national network which covers
London, Bristol and Dublin.
IFSDG: What is your vision for WiBF in
Glasgow?
Cristina: To provide a platform for women
to get together and expand their potential in their personal and
professional lives. WiBF is not necessarily just for those in the
banking or finance industries as I believe that the best
connections are often made when least expected and in less obvious
ways.
IFSDG: What is typically involved in WiBF in an
average month?
Cristina: We meet to discuss future events
once a month to help make preparations for our strategy and our
future events, including arranging locations and speakers. We do
this at the beginning of the month to allow us time to deal with
the marketing and circulation of the events to our network. The
roles within the management teams are shared so that we all work
together to deliver the events, from sending out emails and
contacting future speakers or venues to liaising with new members
or maintaining the links with our sister groups.
Our events tend to be on the last Thursday of the month by which
time, we are able to relax a little with a glass of wine or a
cocktail and enjoy what we have planned during the month along with
the other attendees.
IFSDG: Why did WiBF choose to set up a branch of
the network in Glasgow?
Cristina: The main group is based in
London and several years ago, due to a growing presence of Banking
and Finance organisations in the North, a Scottish branch was set
up in Edinburgh.
This was very successful but events didn't attract many people
from the West and it was proposed that the Scotland branch be split
over the two main cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, to provide better
coverage and events to our members. As a result, in early 2009, the
Glasgow group was born.
IFSDG: Three good things about having a Glasgow
presence?
Cristina: Glasgow is such a vibrant,
international city with a growing banking and finance presence.
Being here means that:
a. We are firmly on the UK banking and finance map,
b. We have access to first class facilities and people
c. ...and the restaurants and shops are great!
IFSDG: What is your biggest success to date?
Cristina: When I moved to Glasgow after graduating
from University in Italy, I would have never thought I would still
be here 15 years later. I'm very proud to be on the Board of the
Glasgow Print Studio and Chair of the WiBF Glasgow branch. But
probably the biggest achievement is being able to cope with the
Scottish weather :-)
IFSDG: What is the best investment you ever
made?
Cristina: Apart from several pairs of
Louboutin shoes, I would have to say my best investment has been my
education. Getting my MBA has opened several doors and has helped
me look at and deal with problems in a different way. What is it
that they say? "It's not a problem, but a challenge to
overcome."
IFSDG: Which business person or company do you
most admire and why?
Cristina: Tamara Mellon, OBE and
co-founder of Jimmy Choo. She had deep belief in her ideas when
setting out and had a vision to create a new concept. She followed
through on this concept and delivered a very successful company
within a few years. Although she faced several challenges along the
way, she always maintained her integrity and personal brand.
IFSDG: What did you want to be when you were a
child?
Cristina: A lawyer or an astronaut!
IFSDG: What do you do to relax away from the
office?
Cristina: I've recently started to learn
salsa dancing and, apart from proving a great way to keep in shape,
it has also led to the discovery of a completely different view of
Glasgow!
IFSDG: Blackberry or iPhone?
Cristina: iPhone
IFSDG: Suit or no suit?
Cristina: Perfectly cut dress :-)
IFSDG: Heels or pumps?
Cristina: Heels!
IFSDG: Wine or cocktails?
Cristina: Cocktails; make mine a French
Martini!
IFSDG: Sunshine or snow?
Cristina: Sunshine…missing the Italian
weather!
IFSDG: and finally, what three words to sum you
up
Cristina: Outgoing, Determined, Stylish