Tilly Franklin – Endowment Model at Cambridge University (EP.363)

GAIN Organization

The GAIN organization, co-founded by Tilly Franklin, aims to inspire young women to pursue careers in investment management. Initially sparked by the realization that only 20% of job applications in her previous role were from women, Tilly and her colleagues sought to address this imbalance by engaging with high school and undergraduate women to introduce them to the field 1. GAIN has successfully reached about 25,000 young women, primarily in the UK, offering internships that have led to employment for over half of the participants.

Gain tries to get female investors in front of young women at a very early stage, so actually, when they're still in high school, and to give a very accessible talk about investing.

--- Tilly Franklin

The organization focuses on entry-level opportunities, providing pathways for women to enter the industry and build networks 2.

   

Challenges & Opportunities

Women in finance face significant challenges, including underrepresentation and limited influence on organizational culture. Tilly Franklin notes that with women making up only 25% of the workforce, their ability to shape policies is restricted 2. GAIN focuses on increasing female representation at the entry level, while other organizations like Level 20 and 100 Women in Finance support women in more advanced stages of their careers.

Gain is really trying to focus on that entry level point.

--- Tilly Franklin

Tilly also highlights the importance of thematic research in private equity, emphasizing the need for dedicated research teams to overcome the challenges of deal execution 3.