Since 2017, Louis Florentin-Lee OW and his colleagues at Lazard Asset Management, where he is a Managing Director, have invited Year 13 girls to their offices to meet asset managers and gain first-hand insight into the industry.

But far from being just a show-round and a talk, the visits include informal interviews, and for some, the offer of a week-long summer placement.

2026’s group attended the Lazard offices in January, spending four hours immersed in discussion, asking questions, exchanging stories, and exploring whether a career in finance might be for them.

Leading the conversations were Marina Leacock and Florence Haddad, two women at very different stages of their careers who nevertheless share an enthusiasm for their work. Marina, a director who has been with Lazard for nearly 20 years, described her path from a degree in civil engineering to early roles in subterranean environments, to discovering her passion for working with companies and individuals while researching a diverse range of investment opportunities. Florence, by contrast, has recently begun her journey as an Equity Analyst. Having studied geography at Cambridge and completed the firm’s post A Level placement scheme, she enjoyed it so much that she returned after university as an intern. Both speakers emphasised that while a solid grounding in maths is helpful, success in asset management relies far more on curiosity, communication, and a willingness to learn about almost any subject. Relationship building is central to the role, as is maintaining a strong awareness of global events, as geopolitical changes can have major impacts on markets and investment strategies. Having a variety of interests is key.

Lazard selected three girls for summer placements, each studying a variety of subjects at A Level and with plans to pursue degrees ranging from European and Middle Eastern Languages to PPE.

Chloe (Remove, WW) said: “During the inspiring morning at Lazard, I gained valuable insight into asset management and discovered a potential career path which I hadn’t previously considered. I was lucky enough to be selected for the work experience programme, which I am hugely looking forward to. Thank you to Louis, Marina, Florence, and the whole Lazard team for welcoming us and sharing their wealth of experience.”

Gina (Remove, CC) said: “I really appreciated the opportunity to hear the first-hand experiences of Lazard employees Marina and Flo and surprised to learn how much employers value diversity of thought and of academic background when hiring. I am very excited to have been chosen for work experience this summer and look forward to immersing myself in Lazard work life.”

Louis Florentin-Lee said: “We always look forward to the arrival of the Westminsters in July. Their maturity, curiosity, and enthusiasm shines through during their week with us. We are constantly impressed by their investment presentations, which clearly demonstrate their ability to grasp and explain a wide variety of investment topics such as microfinance in developing markets, the exploding demand for cybersecurity, the business model of academic journals and the growth potential of combi-ovens in commercial kitchens!”

This partnership, which also includes South Hampstead High School and Harris Westminster Sixth Form, reflects Westminster’s ongoing commitment to empowering young women. It comes at a significant moment in the School’s history, as it moves to full co-education, welcoming girls at 4+, 11+, 13+ and 16+.