Individual Achievement: Asha Patel, Instinet

Asha Patel, Executive Director & Sales Trader at Instinet, won Individual Achievement at Markets Media’s 2025 European Women in Finance Awards. We caught up with Asha to learn more.

Asha, what does receiving the Individual Achievement Award mean to you personally and professionally?

Receiving the Individual Achievement Award is deeply meaningful to me both personally and professionally. It comes at a milestone moment—after 17 years in the industry and in my role at Instinet, following my start at Nomura. I’ve been with the same firm since graduating, yet have continually carved new paths to keep learning, growing, and contributing in meaningful ways. I’m a completely different person from the 21-year-old who first stepped onto the trading floor, and I’m grateful to receive this recognition now, at a stage in my career where I feel I can make the greatest impact.

On a personal level, this award reflects the commitment I’ve made to my own development in recent years. I’m passionate about inspiring younger colleagues and the individuals I mentor across the City, and I hope this recognition shows them that dedication and focus can pay off. Most importantly, it’s a proud moment to share with my two young daughters—to show them what’s possible and to encourage them to make their own impact as they grow. I’m also deeply thankful to my dad, brother, and husband, whose constant encouragement has given me the confidence to keep moving forward without limits.

Looking back, what key decisions or turning points do you think led to this recognition?

Looking back, one of the key turning points was my decision in 2022 to refocus on my professional development. With strong support from Instinet’s management, I enrolled in a series of management and leadership courses with BPP and began public speaking training through the Nomura Public Speaking Society. I also made a conscious effort to take advantage of the many learning opportunities available within Nomura, attending sessions that offered valuable insights and helped me grow both professionally and personally.

Beyond formal training, I sought to expand my exposure to governance and board-level experience. This began organically when I took on a charity ambassador role, which led to a voluntary secretary position with a charity. Within a year, that evolved into a trustee role, where I now work closely with an inspiring chairman. Building on these experiences, in 2023 I was appointed to my first industry board position with Sustainable Trading.

While many of these initiatives took place outside of my day-to-day responsibilities, they’ve significantly broadened my perspective, strengthened my leadership skills, and enhanced both my personal and professional profile. Most importantly, they’ve enabled me to bring greater insight, confidence, and value to my work at Instinet.

What qualities or skills have helped you succeed in your role as Executive Director & Sales Trader?

My success has been built on a strong client-focused approach and a commitment to excellence in service. I take great care to understand each client, their firm, and their business needs in depth—this attention to detail ensures I can deliver the best possible outcomes for them. I have always worked in a collaborative way across the firm, ensuring we can work together to best service clients.

Equally important has been my ability to learn continuously from others, drawing on the knowledge and experiences of colleagues and mentors throughout my career. I’ve made it a priority to share those learnings and experiences with others—both within the firm and externally—so that we can all grow and achieve more together.

Who have been the most influential people in your career journey so far?

Several people have had a profound influence on my career journey.

First and foremost, my parents instilled in me a strong work ethic. They dedicated 17 years of their lives working seven days a week, twelve hours a day, to give me the opportunities they didn’t have themselves. Their sacrifices allowed me to focus on my education and build a career they could only dream of. From them, I learnt that hard work and commitment are imperative – values that continue to guide how I approach my work today.

My brother was also a key influence early in my career. By paving the way ahead of me, he helped guide me to early internships and supported me through the application process into the industry, generously sharing his network and advice.

Professionally, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with exceptional leaders. Adam Toms, who first interviewed me for the Lehman graduate programme in 2008 and later offered me a role at Nomura after the acquisition of Lehman’s EMEA business, played a pivotal role in my development. He provided opportunities well beyond my sales trading remit, giving me early exposure to broader aspects of the business that shaped my understanding of the industry and accelerated my exposure. He was able to see things in me that I couldn’t yet see and stretched my thinking to enable me to create differentiated service to clients which I carry through to today.

Another major influence has been Colin Gee, my line manager throughout my entire career. Colin has led with trust, empowering his team to work with autonomy while always being a supportive and objective leader. His belief in me has allowed me to take ownership of my career path and confidently expand my responsibilities.

Finally, I owe much of my success to the incredible team at Instinet and my clients—both in EMEA and globally. Their collaboration, encouragement, and shared drive for excellence have been invaluable, enabling new ideas and initiatives to thrive.

Finally, what advice would you give to young women considering a career in trading and financial markets?

My advice to young women considering a career in trading and financial markets is simple: don’t be afraid to pursue a path that might be different from those around you. This industry offers incredible opportunities for growth, challenge, and impact—but it starts with having the confidence to take that first step.

Invest time in speaking to people across the sector and make the most of the many insight days, internships, and networking opportunities now available. Every conversation is a chance to learn and to understand what the industry is really like. Be curious, ask questions, and seek out mentors who can help guide and inspire you.

Above all, believe that you belong here—your perspective and skills are valuable, and the industry needs diverse voices to keep evolving.