{"id":19672,"date":"2021-07-13T20:01:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-14T03:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/copperleaf-test.majortom.dev\/asset-management-is-for-women-too-featuring-sarah-sayer\/"},"modified":"2023-01-30T16:59:34","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T00:59:34","slug":"asset-management-is-for-women-too-featuring-sarah-sayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/copperleaf-test.majortom.dev\/en\/blog\/asset-management-is-for-women-too-featuring-sarah-sayer\/","title":{"rendered":"Asset Management Is For Women Too (featuring Sarah Sayer)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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One thing I have been noticing more and more is the number of women entering the field of Asset Investment Planning & Management (AIPM)<\/a>. In fact, many of Copperleaf\u2019s clients are women who are taking a leading role in their organizations in planning and managing their asset investments more strategically, to minimize risk and create the highest value for their organizations.<\/p>\n

Certainly the prevalence of women is not evident by attending an asset management conference\u2026yet. But it occurred to me that this is a great role for women in a field where you might not expect to find many women! And I believe this is the beginning of an exciting trend and would like to highlight some of these women\u2014and the interesting work they\u2019re doing\u2014to establish some role models and shine a light on this as a possible career path for young women.<\/p>\n

In this article, we are featuring Sarah Sayer<\/a>, Investment Planning Manager at Affinity Water<\/a>. Affinity Water is the UK\u2019s largest water-only supplier, serving over 3.6 million people with more than 950 million liters of drinking water every day.<\/p>\n

How did you get involved in the field of asset management?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was fortunate to secure an undergraduate placement with a subsidiary company of BAE Systems. Post-graduation, I returned to their graduate program where I was able to gain experience in many different parts of the business before being offered a permanent position as a structural engineer. I spent a few years commuting to Madrid to oversee structural trials of my company\u2019s products. This was in the shadow of the Ariane 5 space rocket which meant I could genuinely call myself a \u2018rocket scientist\u2019! As I gained experience, I met people who had numerous PhDs in things I couldn\u2019t spell, let alone understand. I learned that I was good at translating between the seriously clever folk and management. So I changed direction and moved into program management\u2014a discipline I\u2019ve been in ever since.<\/p>\n

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Every moment of my working day is paid for by the customers we supply water to, so honesty, integrity, and doing the right thing are my highest priorities.<\/p>\n

Sarah Sayer
\nInvestment Planning Manager
\nAffinity Water
\n<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What attracted you to this field?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I was 13, following a presentation at school, I joined the Air Cadets. I was learning about combustion engines and powered flight (as well as taking aircraft controls on occasion!), and loved it. I was fascinated by aerodynamics, fluid mechanics and jet engines\u2014so my passion for mechanical engineering was born. I gained work experience at an aircraft restoration company at London Biggin Hill Airport and designed a hybrid helicopter while studying for my A-levels. I\u2019m delighted that my three-year old son has inherited my love for flying machines!<\/p>\n

What are the most rewarding aspects of the work you do?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love working for the water industry. As a quasi-public service, it passes the \u2018pub test\u2019: I can be proud about what I do and bore people to death over a socially-distanced pint in a beer garden. Every moment of my working day is paid for by the customers we supply water to, so honesty, integrity, and doing the right thing are my highest priorities.<\/p>\n

In my investment planning role, it\u2019s not just about making sure I do a good job, it\u2019s also about helping the company make the best possible decisions. I am often in awe of my colleagues who have worked in the water sector for decades\u2014their knowledge and love for the industry is humbling and I too hope to be admitted to the hallowed halls of water industry fame one day!<\/p>\n

I love working with newer staff members and supporting them through mentoring or coaching to help them achieve their goals. I hope, and try, to make a positive difference every day to a colleague, a customer, my boss, or the assets that bring water to our customers\u2019 taps.<\/p>\n

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I have a mantra that goes through my head all day, every day . . . ‘Spend our customers\u2019 money wisely.’ That\u2019s my job, and something I\u2019m trying to get everyone to think about!<\/p>\n

Sarah Sayer
\nInvestment Planning Manager
\nAffinity Water
\n<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019m also a professional review interviewer with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers<\/a>, with whom I am chartered. I passionately believe in challenging the demographics of the institution and giving junior engineers the best chance to showcase their achievements in their chartership interviews. I see it as my job to give them the best possible chance to become chartered.<\/p>\n

Where are you (and your team) making the biggest impact?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have a mantra that goes through my head all day, every day. My colleagues must be fed up of hearing me say it! \u201cSpend our customers\u2019 money wisely.\u201d That\u2019s my job, and something I\u2019m trying to get everyone to think about! Get value out of everything, don\u2019t go to meetings in threes just because you might miss something, use facts, evidence, and data to quantify benefits and risks to make your case, and be proud to deliver a high quality outcome\u2014whether a report, a presentation to your CEO, or a set of minutes from a meeting.<\/p>\n

What do you think are the biggest challenges?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the water industry, the biggest challenges are:<\/p>\n