"To me, being a CFA charterholder means a lifelong commitment to excellence," said Jenny Atout Ahlzén.
CFA Institute / Let's Measure Up / Article 5 of 6
Jenny Atout Ahlzén, CFA, Measures Up — Jordan
"To me, being a CFA charterholder means a lifelong commitment to excellence," said Jenny Atout Ahlzén.
Venture capital groups are scarce in the Middle East. Jordan, a country known for its talented, hard-working people with an entrepreneurial spirit, is also known for its prominent gender gap.
Through BeyondCapital, Jenny and the team are hoping to create one of the region's first foundations for asset managers. BeyondCapital will provide a variety of services including helping finance entrepreneurs create new products to address early-stage funding gaps, building capability around fund management, and providing establishment support to first-time fund managers.
While this accomplishment is incredibly exciting in itself, what excites Ahlzén most is her work with female entrepreneurs and members of the investment management industry. Ahlzén hosts workshops geared towards women in finance in an effort to cultivate the next generation of female asset managers in Jordan. She invites investment managers, entrepreneurs, bank managers, and others to "Afternoon Teas" at Silicon Badia's offices in Amman. There, they discuss a variety of financial topics ranging from venture capital, entrepreneurial projects, and ways to empower women. By demystifying the venture capital process, Ahlzén strives to build Afternoon Tea participants' confidence and prepare the women she meets for a future as entrepreneurs or investment managers.
"After just a few sessions, we've received all sorts of positive feedback."
Jenny Atout Ahlzén, CFA
In fact, these Afternoon Teas have been so successful that men working in the investment management industry contact BeyondCapital about attending as well. There is no doubt that Ahlzén's actions are leading the investment management profession down a more inclusive and diverse path.
"I hope to see a future that is tech-enabled, where investment professionals are agile and nimble in adopting the latest technologies in the quest for serving clients. I see an industry that is inclusive and allocates opportunities to the most qualified individual, irrespective of gender or race. An industry that values diversity."
Jenny Atout Ahlzén, CFA
Ahlzén believes a female presence is essential to encourage a healthy future and growth for the investment management industry. When it comes to actions that build a better world for investing, Ahlzén's efforts are exemplary. When it comes to the future of the investment management industry, her efforts in mentoring female finance professionals will no doubt inspire other financial leaders to measure up.