Barbara Pozdorovkina is chief growth officer at LMAX Group, which operates institutional foreign exchnage and crypto execution venues. The total group traded $6.5 trillion in its 2024 financial year, up 23% from 2023. She won Excellence in Exchanges and Trading Platforms (FX) at the Markets Media Group’s fifth-annual European Women in Finance Awards.

What are your responsibilities as chief growth officer?

As chief growth officer, I’m responsible for driving LMAX Group’s growth and strategic expansion, ensuring that we continue to challenge the status quo in capital markets and identify new opportunities for growth. My remit spans across our institutional FX and digital asset offering, product development, marketing, geographic expansion and strategic partnerships.

At its core, my role is about building for market relevance, distribution growth and embracing new frontiers, making sure we are positioned to lead as the industry evolves. Growth doesn’t happen by chance; it’s a deliberate outcome of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, which are all embedded in LMAX Group’s DNA.

You joined LMAX in 2012 – what has made you stay at the firm for so long?

LMAX Group has built its success on a foundation of technological innovation. Over the past 15 years, the company has gone through three key phases – foundation years, expansion and diversification – each driven by a relentless focus on seizing new opportunities.

I joined LMAX Group because it was, and remains, a place where you can make an impact. From day one, we’ve been building something truly different: a proprietary tech-enabled exchange business that first transformed the institutional FX market and has now become the leading cross-asset marketplace – capturing a significant share of both traditional finance and digital asset markets.

What keeps me here is two-fold. Firstly, every phase of LMAX Group’s journey has offered new challenges that demanded evolution, both in the business and in myself. The ability to grow alongside a company that continues to redefine capital markets makes it an incredibly exciting and fulfilling place to work. And secondly, the culture of opportunity that we have established has enabled me to constantly embrace new challenges and develop as a leader.

How did you become interested in digital assets?

Back in 2017 when we were exploring the potential to offer our clients digital asset trading as an extension to their FX strategy.

I was particularly drawn to how digital assets democratise access, enhance transparency and promote efficiency. For me, digital assets weren’t a departure from traditional finance (TradFi) – it was an evolution of it. That alignment between innovation, institutional rigour and the convergence of both worlds continues to excite me today.

What do you see as the most promising growth areas for LMAX Group?

We’re at an inflection point in capital markets as the fusion of traditional finance and digital assets accelerates. The most promising growth area for LMAX Group lies in leveraging our cross-asset expertise to build the leading player in capital markets.

We’re also seeing significant opportunity in asset tokenisation and cross-border payments, areas where blockchain technology can materially improve market infrastructure. As institutions become more active in digital assets, our ability to provide a trusted, regulated and technologically advanced platform positions us perfectly for the next wave of growth.

You have worked all over the world — how did you adapt to these different environments?

Experience working across different geographies has taught me that while markets differ, people are the constant. Success in any environment comes from listening, respecting local perspectives, and finding shared goals, which often lie in a shared sense of bringing value, driving growth and professional collaboration.

Adaptability is a key leadership trait. I’ve learned to approach each market with curiosity and humility, understanding that cultural differences can be powerful sources of creativity and innovation when harnessed well. That global perspective has been instrumental in shaping how we build and operate LMAX Group.

Did you always want to work in financial services? If so, why?

Not necessarily, my approach to my career has been industry agnostic. It just so happened that financial services provided me with incredible opportunities to develop and challenge myself throughout every stage of my career.

Ultimately, I have always sought opportunities that were not expected of me as part of my day-to-day requirement in any role – where I could provide value beyond my skillset at the time. This has been the case in financial services where the industry evolves so rapidly – it’s always interesting and I learn something new every day.

Why did you decide to do an MBA? (Pozdorovkina completed an MBA in strategy and entrepreneurship at the London Business School in 2003)

I pursued an MBA to broaden my strategic and operational perspective, grow and diversify. Having started my career in strategy consulting, I wanted to deepen my understanding of how to build and scale businesses from within.

The MBA was also an opportunity to step back and reassess, to challenge my assumptions, expand my network, and learn from diverse viewpoints. That experience strengthened my belief in continuous learning, something I’ve carried through my career and embedded into LMAX Group’s culture.

What advice would you give women who want to work in financial services?

My advice is to approach every professional situation through the lens of opportunity: what can I learn, how can I make an impact and add value, and where can I grow and develop new skills? Embrace change, stay curious and don’t be afraid of discomfort. Growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. Follow the three C’s: collected, courageous and compassionate.

To be collected is to create the mental space to think clearly and make sound decisions, both professionally and personally. It allows you to understand your emotions rather than react to them, giving you the clarity to keep improving and growing with purpose.

Being courageous is essential, especially as a woman navigating finance, technology, and the fast-evolving world of digital assets. Courage means having the conviction to take the road less travelled, to seize opportunities and take measured risks when they arise, as well as inspiring others to do the same. As you move into leadership, courage also means guiding your team through both successes and uncertainty, ensuring they feel supported every step of the way.

Finally, be compassionate, both to others and to yourself. By showing empathy and genuinely connecting with people, you foster stronger, more resilient teams. Remember, caring is not a weakness; it’s the foundation of sound judgement and effective problem-solving. And just as importantly, extend that same compassion to yourself.

How do you see the opportunities for women in digital assets versus traditional finance?

Digital assets represent a generational opportunity for women. As it’s still an emerging industry, the traditional hierarchies are less entrenched, meaning there’s more space to shape its culture and direction from the ground up.

In digital assets, expertise and ideas often speak louder than tenure, which creates a more level playing field for women who want to lead and innovate. At LMAX Group, we see this reflected in our diverse teams and merit-based culture. The future of finance will be defined by inclusion, and digital assets are already helping to accelerate that change.