Women in Finance: How Maths Powers Careers at CIBC

At F4S, we’re passionate about helping students discover the real-world possibilities behind the subjects they study in school. On Tuesday 28 April 2026, we were delighted to host a M4G Virtual Assembly in partnership with CIBC, where students heard directly from four inspiring women working across global financial markets and corporate banking.

Students were joined by:

• Caylor Chen – Fixed Income Trader
• Mathilde Lauze – Credit Financing Trader
• Lucy Brown – Global Credit Financing Sales Director
• Jenny Milyutina – Executive Director, Corporate Banking

Together, they shared honest insights into their career journeys, their experiences studying maths and STEM subjects, and what it’s really like working in finance today.

Bringing Finance to Life
One of the most engaging parts of the session was how each speaker explained complex financial roles in simple, relatable ways. Caylor Chen compared fixed income trading to a savings account, explaining how traders buy and sell financial products such as bonds and swaps in global markets. She shared how her role involves making quick, data-driven decisions while also building financial models and improving systems behind the scenes.

Mathilde Lauze described trading like running a second-hand fashion store — assessing the value of products, understanding demand, and deciding the right price to buy and sell items. Her analogy helped students understand that trading is not just about numbers, but also judgement, instinct, and learning through experience.

Lucy Brown used a fruit market analogy to explain how salespeople and traders work together on a trading floor. While traders analyse the market and pricing opportunities, sales teams communicate with clients, build relationships, and help connect people with the right financial solutions.

Meanwhile, Jenny Milyutina gave students insight into corporate banking and how companies —
much like individuals — need financing to grow, invest, and operate. She highlighted how her work supports large insurance companies and financial institutions with funding solutions and long-term partnerships.

Maths Is Important — But It’s Not Everything

A key message throughout the session was that careers in finance are about far more than being “good at maths.” Lucy Brown addressed one of the biggest misconceptions about finance careers: “Everyone says, ‘You work in finance, you must be amazing at maths.’ Maths is one part of what I do, but it’s definitely not the biggest part.”
The speakers also reassured students that nobody enters these careers knowing everything. Learning on the job, asking questions, and gradually building confidence were all highlighted as essential parts of professional growth.

Different Paths, Shared Confidence
Another powerful takeaway from the session was that there is no single “perfect” route into finance.
The speakers came from incredibly varied educational and cultural backgrounds: Caylor studied physics in both China and the UK before transitioning into finance. Mathilde moved from France to the UK after studying business and finance. Jenny built her career in Toronto before relocating to London. Lucy followed the UK state school and university system, studying business finance before working her way onto the trading floor.

What united all of their journeys was a willingness to stay open to opportunities and continue learning.
Several speakers admitted they had no clear idea what career they wanted at age 12 or 13 — something many students found reassuring. Instead of having everything planned out, they focused on subjects they enjoyed, explored opportunities as they arose, and learned through experience.

Encouraging More Girls into STEM and Finance
The assembly also tackled the intimidation many young women can feel around STEM subjects and finance careers. Caylor reflected on how different educational cultures shaped her confidence in maths, explaining that in her experience growing up in China, STEM subjects were viewed as a normal and expected pathway for everyone — not something to be afraid of.

She encouraged students not to decide something is “too difficult” before even trying: “Sometimes you just need a little bit of blind bravery in order to be good at something.”

The speakers also discussed how the finance industry itself is evolving. They challenged outdated stereotypes of trading floors being overly aggressive or unwelcoming environments, explaining that collaboration, teamwork, and communication are now central to success. Most importantly, students were able to see successful women thriving in roles across trading, sales, and corporate banking — helping make careers in finance feel more visible, accessible, and achievable.

Inspiring the Next Generation
At F4S, we know that hearing directly from professionals can transform how young people think about their future careers. Sessions like this help students connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities, while also building confidence and aspiration.

A huge thank you to the team at CIBC and to all four speakers for sharing their stories so openly and honestly.