• Home
  • Admin/Tech
  • Benefits
  • Buzz
  • DB
  • DC
  • Diversity
  • Investment
  • Law & regulation
  • Risk reduction
  • Events
  • Whitepapers
  • Spotlights
  • Digital Edition
  • PPTV
  • Newsletters
  • Sign in
  •  
      • Newsletters
      • Account details
      • Contact support
      • Sign out
     
    •  

      You are currently accessing ProfessionalPensions via your Enterprise account.

      If you already have an account please use the link below to sign in.

      If you have any problems with your access or would like to request an individual access account please contact our customer service team.

      Phone: +44 (0) 1858 438800

      Email: [email protected]

      • Sign in
  • Follow us
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Newsletters
    • YouTube
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Events
    • Upcoming events
      event logo
      WSB Webinar: Tackling financial wellbeing in the workplace

      This webinar will explore how employers can help employees take control of their finances through the provision of financial education and guidance. It will look at how such financial education programmes should be delivered to ensure maximum engagement as well as the content such offerings should include.

      • Date: 23 Feb 2021
      • Webinar
      event logo
      Webinar - LGIM Climate Solutions: how we measure climate risk and alignment in investors’ portfolios

      As investors move to incorporate a greater focus on climate change into their portfolios, there is an increasing requirement to be able to quantify and report on the climate credentials of investments and to what extent they are aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement.In this webinar, LGIM explain how they quantify portfolio alignment with the Paris goals, using a combination of historical and forward-looking measures.

      • Date: 24 Feb 2021
      • Webinar
      event logo
      Admin & Data Forum 2021

      This concise half-day event will explore a variety of different issues affecting scheme managers, through a combination of informative presentations and interactive panel debates, including GMP equalisation, the pensions dashboard, the accuracy and quality of members data and the latest trends in scheme administration.

      • Date: 04 Mar 2021
      event logo
      Defined Benefit Consolidation Conference

      Professional Pensions is hosting this concise digital event on the 25th March to provide a crucial update on where the current regulation stands on DB Consolidators, assess the different models available, what the expected funding levels are and the governance requirements. This event will be a combination of short presentations followed by live Q&A’s with our expert speakers allowing plenty of time to answer your questions.

      • Date: 25 Mar 2021
      • Digital Conference
      View all events
      Follow our Professional Pension Events

      Sign up to receive email alerts about our events

      Sign up

  • Whitepapers
    • How DC schemes can gain exposure to different asset classes in a low-return environment

      So far, DC plans have largely been focused on the onset of auto-enrolment and changes to the regulatory framework - be it the ‘charge cap,' ‘pension freedoms' or consultations around ‘value for money', says Annabel Tonry, Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM).

      Download
      Pension freedoms three years on

      In 2015 George Osborne, then the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, decided that those age over 55 could take much more of their pension in cash. This has since opened up a range of possibilities for DC scheme members in the world of pensions.

      Download
      Find whitepapers
      Search by title or subject area
      View all whitepapers
  • Spotlights
  • Digital Edition
Professional Pensions
Professional Pensions
  • Home
  • Admin/Tech
  • Benefits
  • Buzz
  • DB
  • DC
  • Diversity
  • Investment
  • Law & regulation
  • Risk reduction
 
    • Newsletters
    • Account details
    • Contact support
    • Sign out
 
  •  

    You are currently accessing ProfessionalPensions via your Enterprise account.

    If you already have an account please use the link below to sign in.

    If you have any problems with your access or would like to request an individual access account please contact our customer service team.

    Phone: +44 (0) 1858 438800

    Email: [email protected]

    • Sign in
  • Industry

Rona Train: The best job I will ever have

Rona Train: The best job I will ever have
  • Stephanie Baxter
  • Stephanie Baxter
  • 11 September 2018
  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  • LinkedIn  
  • Send to  
0 Comments

Hymans Robertson partner Rona Train was named Adviser of the Year at the inaugural Women in Pensions Awards. She speaks to Stephanie Baxter about building her career in pensions.

What does winning the Adviser of the Year award at the Women in Pensions Awards 2018 mean to you?

I was genuinely delighted to win the award and proud to be able to share it with all of my colleagues at Hymans Robertson who have supported me over the past 14 years. It's wonderful that PP is recognising the great work that women in our industry do and to win the very first of these awards makes it extra special for me. 

Since winning the award, I've written a blog for our intranet that I hope will inspire others, both women and men, to grasp new opportunities when they come along and to be positive about what they can achieve.

I was so disappointed to miss the awards dinner. It was my daughter's 21st birthday and we were dining in Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom in Florida - her choice, not mine! But that's typical of the need to juggle both work and home life that we all face on a day-to-day basis!

What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?

Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure of working with a wide range of people from a variety of firms and backgrounds. My most important lesson from a business point of view is to treat everyone, whatever role they are in, as a future prospective client! In today's world where people increasingly move between roles within the industry, you never know when someone who is promoting their product or service to you today may be someone you are promoting your product or service to in the future. If you treat them with respect and engage them on both a personal and professional level, they are much more likely to remember you and want to do business with you in the future. 

And from a personal point of view, I guess my greatest lesson has been to continually challenge myself about whether I am adding the most value I can in any role. We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. I often use the example that Roger Federer is a great tennis player, but couldn't compete with Chris Hoy on a bike. Throughout my career, I've learned to build on my strengths and surround myself with people who can successfully plug my weaknesses. Doing this enables people to develop successfully and ensure that they build effective and efficient teams. 

The Women in Pensions Awards Winners Series

  • Victoria Bell: Supporting women and recognising their potential

  • Margaret Snowdon: Stick to your principles and have courage

  • Avgi Gregory: Everyone needs a champion and a mentor

  • Tina Kripps: Be true to your values

  • Jill Ampleford: How LCP is creating a workforce where everyone can flourish

  • Laura Bottega: Perseverance, passion and the will to succeed

  • Naomi L'Estrange: Open and honest communication

  • Rona Train: The best job I will ever have


What has been your greatest achievement, or one you are most proud of?

This is a tough one. I get the greatest feeling every time I win a new client, and seeing my clients happy and successful always makes me feel incredibly proud. However, I am most proud of becoming a partner at Hymans Robertson in 2015.

As a firm, Hymans Robertson aims to give people "the best job they will ever have" and that's certainly been the case for me. We have such a supportive culture and we truly value our people. To be part of the amazing and diverse group of people who will help shape the business for the future and take Hymans past its 100th birthday in 2021 makes me feel very proud indeed. 

What has been your experience working as a woman in the pensions industry?

I've been lucky in that I've always had a very positive experience of working in the industry. Thankfully, I'm not intimidated by walking into a room full of men but I know others can be! The number and quality of women across the pensions industry is growing and I really believe that the industry now offers a positive and supportive culture. 

What is your top tip for women looking to progress or start a career in the pensions industry?

I hope you'll indulge me with a couple here!

Our industry has changed beyond all recognition in the period since I started work in 1986. With a technological tsunami on the horizon I'm sure it will continue to change at an ever increasing pace. Women (and men!) need to be flexible, adaptable and willing to try new things if they want to succeed. By choosing to be excited by change and not frightened of it, women will have an increasingly important role to play in the financial services industry to ensure good decision making. We must be prepared to think differently from the herd and be visionary. 

Always try to work closely with a mentor or sponsor who will help you to develop yourself and explore the areas you need to work on. Critically, it's important to learn how to get others to speak up for you rather than doing it for yourself.

And finally, have fun! You spend around a third of your life at work during your career. Do something you enjoy. 

Women in Pensions Awards

alt='Women in Pensions Awards 2018'

The Women in Pensions Awards aim to shine a spotlight on the work of the inspirational and ground-breaking women in pensions as well as the organisations and mentors that support them.

The inaugural awards were presented at the Hilton London Bankside on 26 June.

To see the full list of winners and read more about the awards, visit the Women in Pensions Awards website.

  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  • LinkedIn  
  • Send to  
  • Topics
  • Industry
  • diversity
  • Women in Pensions Awards
  • Women in Pensions
  • Rona Train
  • Hymans Robertson
  • XPS Pensions Group

More on Industry

The best of PP's news from 15-19 February, 2021.
Five stories you may have missed this week

This week’s top stories included the release of new guidance from the GMP Equalisation Working Group, while Zedra acquired pensions executive support provider Inside Pensions.

  • Industry
  • 19 February 2021
A quarter of schemes do not have an adequate cybercrime breach plan
Pension schemes 'underprepared' to combat cybercrime and fraud

UK pension funds are “underprepared” to combat the risks of cybercrime and fraud, according to research by Crowe.

  • Industry
  • 19 February 2021
The report sets out areas where further support, guidance or intervention could be beneficial
PPI and Phoenix warn joint industry approach is needed if climate change goals are to be reached

The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) and Phoenix Group have warned a joint approach is needed across the pensions industry and the government to improve scheme engagement with climate change.

  • Industry
  • 18 February 2021
The UK recorded a compound annual growth rate of 4.6% in the last decade and is now the third largest global pension market, having slipped behind Japan during a difficult 2020.
World's largest pension markets show Covid resilience; UK drops to third place

The UK recorded a compound annual growth rate of 4.6% in the last decade and is now the third largest global pension market, having slipped behind Japan during a difficult 2020.

  • Industry
  • 17 February 2021
Excess deaths in week five of 2021 were 5,526 higher than if mortality rates had been the same in 2019, bringing the total number since the start of the pandemic to more than 100,000.
CMI: Excess deaths surpass 100,000

Excess deaths in week five of 2021 were 5,526 higher than if mortality rates had been the same in 2019, bringing the total number since the start of the pandemic to more than 100,000.

  • Industry
  • 17 February 2021
blog comments powered by Disqus
Back to Top

Most read

Updated: GMP Equalisation Working Group publishes guidance on tax issues
Updated: GMP Equalisation Working Group publishes guidance on tax issues
Zedra acquires Inside Pensions
Zedra acquires Inside Pensions
Deutsche Bank agrees £570m buy-in with L&G
Deutsche Bank agrees £570m buy-in with L&G
TPR flexes powers after 8,200 quarterly AE breach increase
TPR flexes powers after 8,200 quarterly AE breach increase
Investment management 'not fit for purpose' in delivering sustainable wealth creation
Investment management 'not fit for purpose' in delivering sustainable wealth creation
Trustpilot

 

  • Contact Us
  • Marketing solutions
  • About Incisive Media
  • Terms and conditions
  • Policies
  • Careers
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Newsletters
  • YouTube

© Incisive Business Media (IP) Limited, Published by Incisive Business Media Limited, New London House, 172 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5QR, registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 09177174 & 09178013

Digital publisher of the year
Digital publisher of the year 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2017
Loading