Lisa Schirf, Managing Director, Global Head of Data & Analytics at Tradeweb, won Trailblazer at Markets Media Group’s 2023 Women in Finance (U.S.) Awards.
What have been the main drivers of your success?
I have found that the main drivers of my career success have been being open to different ways of thinking, knowing my key strengths and leveraging those skills, and being willing to work hard. There are no true shortcuts, and being able to anticipate both the challenges and opportunities ahead is key for solving big problems and creating value. Diversifying your knowledge base and asking the right questions will also help you achieve things that no one has done before. Just as important, however, is prioritizing balance in your life, including your health. A positive attitude especially when faced with challenges helps as well.
Who have been the main influences in your career?
The many influences on my career come from all aspects of my life. At work I have had a lot of great managers and mentors – both men and women – who took the time to invest in my development and success. Outside of the workplace, a strong network of friends and family also has played a consistent and continued role: My parents taught me key life lessons early on, and my husband has been a true champion of my career journey. And of course, my boys have inspired, energized, and grounded me to be a better leader. Finally, my educational experience at Villanova and MIT, time studying abroad in France, and early jobs, including my first job as a fixed income portfolio manager and second career role as an investment banker, were foundational influences in my career.
As a trailblazer, how do you pave the way for future generations?
One way to pave the way for future generations is to normalize breaking out of your comfort zone and taking risks. In 2013, I left a role in the financial sector to found a startup, teach myself to code, and work in venture investing with a group of MIT alumni. Most people from the finance world were skeptical of my choices at that time, but years later many of those same people came to me to ask how they could do what I had done. Since then, I have helped guide a number of women and men to make similar changes in their own careers by sharing my advice and many of the resources I have relied upon during my career.
What’s something you’re really proud of and why?
I am very proud of my team at Tradeweb and everything that we have already built and continue to build. Advancing our business goals around data is a group effort – no one person can achieve success in this space alone. We rely on each other and are invested in promoting a supportive and protective culture. And that team culture, which is reflective of Tradeweb’s culture, is a key to our success.
What’s your advice to the next generation of women in finance?
Be curious and stay up to date on what’s happening both inside and outside of your industry. Focus on learning from every role you are in, even if you feel like you are not currently in the right job. You can always add knowledge and experience to your unique toolbox, which you can eventually leverage into a unique role in the future. Also, don’t be scared to try new roles – “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World” by David Epstein is a great read on this.
