Tell us about your background

I was born and brought up in Glasgow and attended Boclair Academy. My mother was a social care manager, and my father was an engineer. I didn’t realise it at the time, but they both instilled a really strong work ethic in me that persists to this day.

Why did you choose Strathclyde?

I was looking for a university that was dynamic and had a strong vocational focus, perhaps it was the West of Scotland work ethic already starting to show through. Strathclyde fitted the bill perfectly and had a great reputation for being connected to business.

Where are you now? 

I started my career as a graduate with Prudential in Glasgow. I also got the opportunity to work in London which was an amazing eye opener to the scale of the opportunity in financial services in the UK.

After a few years there, I joined Clydesdale Bank, which was the start of a long and very enjoyable career in banking. I had the opportunity to work with some great people on challenging projects, often in functions that were male-dominated at the time, like IT and operations. While I travelled a lot for work, it was wonderful to be based in Glasgow, allowing me to enjoy the city and maintain my links with the university.

I left Clydesdale Bank to become the Chief Executive of TSB Bank in 2019 and then became Nationwide Building Society’s first female Chief Executive in 2022, which is where I am now.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

In the summer of 2025, I was made a Dame in the King’s Birthday Honours List. It came as a genuine surprise to me, and I was incredibly proud that my contribution as one of only a few female senior leaders in financial services was recognised. It was also fantastic to be part of a strong Scottish representation in that year’s honours.

The Chancellor recently appointed you as the UK Women in Finance Champion. What advice do you have for female leaders seeking senior positions in the finance sector?

Make sure you see, and be seen. Observe how others network and develop their skills, and learn from them. And find a good mentor who can help you along the way. However, it's just as important that you make yourself visible. Flexible working is great for allowing people to balance work with other responsibilities, but there’s a downside to working from home—people don’t see you in action or get a good sense of what you’re like to work with.

So, be visible in the workplace and pick up the best habits from the best leaders.

This case study was published in February 2026.