22 July

We Can Be talks to Payden & Rygel

We Can Be empowers young women to make informed decisions about their careers and introduces the City as a viable career choice.  

In this blog series, we chat to City businesses who open up their offices to young women every year.

This month, we hear from collegues at Payden & Rygel about their We Can Be journey. 

Frances Mayo, Business Development at Payden & Rygel

Why does We Can Be matter to you?

We Can Be matters to me as a woman and mother in the Asset Management industry. We Can Be plays an important role in showcasing the variety of careers available to young women in the City and breaking down unhelpful stereotypes which can deter women from seeking a career in Financial Services.

We Can Be provides valuable access to the City for young women who may otherwise not have that opportunity. 

How does Payden play a role with We Can Be?

Payden are Twinned with Barking Abbey school and have enjoyed a growing relationship with them for over five years.

Our whole office looks forward to hosting a new cohort of We Can Be students in the office for a day packed full of games, investment activities, networking, and presentations from employees across all areas of the business.

Throughout the year we have supported the students with their Duke of Edinburgh Expedition, hosted essay writing competitions and provided work experience – we are always looking for new ways to engage with the students to support their future careers.

Tell us about your career journey? 

I fell into my career. I studied Philosophy at University and still hadn’t figured out what I wanted to do.

I was looking for any job when I ended up as a receptionist at an Asset Manager. I was exposed to the wide range of departments within the industry and studied for some industry qualifications before moving on to a role in operations at BNY Mellon.

Over my career I’ve had roles in operations, marketing, client service and now work in Business Development which incorporates all the experience I’ve gathered over the years. 

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to build a successful career in male-dominated industries?

I know it’s cliché but believe in your capabilities – speak up and don’t be afraid to have a voice. Ask lots of questions you’ll soon realise other people don’t know as well. Seek out people who will support and mentor you.

If you had a message for young women aspiring to leadership roles, what would it be?

Say yes to opportunities that push you out your comfort zone and start building your network now.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Recognise your strengths and lean into them. 

Diana Sparks, Senior Associate RFP Coordinator at Payden & Rygel

Why does We Can Be matter to you? 

We Can Be matters to me because it is brilliant to see first hand how impactful it can be towards students thinking about their future. For me, when students start to realise that there is a vast choice of roles that suit different skills and qualities (not just maths/ numbers), it’s lovely to see them believe in themselves a bit better and think ‘oh there actually is something for me here’.

How does Payden play a role with We Can Be?

At Payden & Rygel, our people play a great part in representing a diverse group with several different types of careers, all in one place. We Can Be helps us address this and encourage young women to feel more comfortable working in a banking environment, asking questions, and figuring out things that they probably wouldn’t if they did not have opportunities like this for them, which makes us proud to be part of this initiative.

Tell us about your career journey? 

Some might say I had quite a ‘typical’ start into banking, I studied Economics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and a few months after graduating I began my Audit Graduate Programme which I intended to pursue for the full 3 years. Less than a year later, I realised this was probably not a well thought out start to my career at all, and moved into a Custodian bank to pursue a completely different role (which I found very difficult in terms of finding my feet/ settling in!). After a couple more moves around and a few years later, I saw a role for Payden & Rygel posted on LinkedIn and applied, it was taken down 24 – 48 hours later, so I was lucky to catch it when I did, and just over 2 years later I am happy to say I found a place to work that encourages me to grow and do well!

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to build a successful career in male-dominated industries?

Don’t apologise for making mistakes early in your career whilst you figure things out, men do it to! Try your best to find allies, overtime things will form naturally, and enjoy it when things get challenging.

If you had a message for young women aspiring to leadership roles, what would it be?

Be confident, listen and learn, that doesn’t mean being the loudest person in the room, and learn something from those in leadership roles and take those things with you for your future.

What advice would you give to your younger self? 

95% of the time, the nervousness isn’t worth it. Be kinder to yourself.

Find out more about We Can Be 2026 here