Laurence Font of BNP Paribas CIB: Collection of experiences

“I think everything is possible. If someone wants to do something, they can do anything.”

Laurence Font

Born in Lyon, France, Laurence Font was awarded a scholarship to study in Germany for part of her master’s degree. She began her peripatetic financial career in New York, where she worked for three years. She then spent three years in Paris, four in Milan, another five in Singapore, five more in Rome and has now been in Mexico for eight years. These years of experience working on three continents have enabled Font, who is BNP Paribas Mexico’s Chief of Operations (COO), to develop a truly global perspective on the finance industry. And, through these years, she has learned any number of professional and personal life lessons.

Font’s ability to consider everything from many angles has been shaped and perfected throughout different points in her life. For example, even though her formal education was in computer science and applied mathematics, she moves comfortably across all areas that make up her field of expertise.

“My greatest added value is that I’ve always understood this business and can translate it into technology; I love being in the role of translating a requirement into a technical solution,” she says.

The finance industry needs more professionals with her career profile and skill set — but they seem to be few and far between. “We need young people who understand the business as well as the technology side to propose innovative solutions,” she emphasizes.

She believes shaping that professional profile is a challenge for current companies and today’s education system. In a world that is constantly changing, she points out that financial leaders must both learn to anticipate change and also create it.

“We also need to listen to young people and see how they can contribute to society as a whole on issues such as renewable energy, climate change or resource depletion,” she highlights.

Constant change

In addition to this multigenerational perspective, Font thinks that professionals have to move across different fields and grow horizontally within a company to avoid doing the same thing year after year.

She adds, however, that people usually find it difficult to understand change. “There is always a way to help and motivate people to change,” she says.

Font has put into practice everything she has ever learned. When she came to Mexico to work at Banorte, one of the largest banks in Mexico, she designed solutions that not only improved the company’s productivity, but also people’s lives.

“We explained, ‘If you do this, you get to leave at 5:00 or 6:00 PM, rather than 8:00 PM, not to mention that everything will be under control,’” she remembers. “I love explaining to people why we’re doing something and how it will make things better.”

She’s witnessed important and far-reaching changes in the world, including what came after the fall of the Berlin Wall when she was studying in Germany. However, the most significant change in terms of her career was the opening of the financial world to professional women.

“The culture of diversity and inclusion in finance has grown in recent years, also leading to innovation in both business and operations. Companies are seeing the benefits,” she emphasizes.

Strides and outstanding issues in gender equality

Despite such progress, Font believes we still have some way to go: “We have to push for diversity and inclusion, but without pigeonholing. Instead, we have to encourage professional growth through merit, not just to meet institutional program quotas. Let’s not force it for the sake of numbers,” she says.

She assures that this is fundamental at BNP Paribas — a company she started working for in Rome, then returned to in Mexico in April 2018.

“The last thing I want to hear is that I got this job because I’m a woman. I am COO because I fully deserve it and everyone is happy with my work. It might be a bit arrogant to say, but it’s the truth,” she asserts.

Font recalls that when she began her career in the U.S., the issue of being a woman did not come up. However, upon moving to Paris, she did face some gender equality issues.

“France has many policies that help working mothers. It excels in that. However, the work environment still needs change,” she observes.

“At that time, when a woman started a new job, she had to work harder than men to prove herself. However, once your work was validated, things were easier,” she remembers. “Now that the world has evolved, it’s much easier to be a woman in finance.”

You can do anything

Font’s biggest professional inspiration is a woman, although not in finance or technology. She’s a politician: Simone Veil, the president of the first European Parliament elected by direct universal suffrage in 1979. She also did so much for the women’s rights.

“I was inspired by her authenticity and perseverance, refusal to abandon her beliefs, as well as her great commitment to personal values and to the European Union,” she explains.

In fact, if Font wasn’t doing what she does today, she would’ve liked to get involved in politics: “I would like to prove that politics can be done with honesty while pushing for human values,” she says.

The human side has always been on her mind — like the time she watched the first movie that inspired her to leave her country: “America America, an Oscar-winning film about a young Greek man who dreams of starting a new life in America to escape oppression in Anatolia.

“I loved that movie because it addressed a very important immigration issue. Given that I was born in a democracy, where I could have my own religious or political beliefs, I was surprised to learn there are people who, for the same beliefs, couldn’t stay in their countries,” she says.

In her spare time, she also likes variety. She’s an Olympique Lyonnais fan and plays both soccer and tennis. “I have also won some pétanque tournaments (a sport played with two metal balls that is very popular in several European countries). It’s a very fun French game that can be played with friends,” she shares.

Font also likes poker and wine. “And in the eight years I’ve spent in Mexico, I’ve discovered mezcal (a liquor made from agave).”

This combination of expansive experiences, passions, tastes and hobbies has forged her personality. “My authenticity goes hand in hand with honesty. I can proudly say that I’ve always been very honest. In the finance industry, the future is honesty,” she states.

Self-confidence is vital: “I think everything is possible. If someone wants to do something, they can do anything,” she concludes.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Bloomberg.

Bloomberg invited the GETTERS of the financial market in Latin America to share their insightful stories about their careers, their success stories and the challenges they had to face while not only witnessing the development of this fast-paced environment, but actively contributing to its evolution by creating new tools, sharing best practices and inspiring change.